Unit 8: English for Legal Purposes

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Aims and Objectives

In this unit you will learn and practise vocabulary related to legal terms.

You will practise the following skills and functions:

  • being discreet

The grammar focus of this unit is:

Vocabulary

Vocabulary Practice

Exercise not available in this language version.

Listening Comprehension

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:

Legal secretaries can work in many different areas of the law, including litigation, corporate law, criminal law, property, labour law, bankruptcy, immigration, and family law.

AHi, Michelle. I haven't seen you since we finished the secretarial course. I hear you got a job.
MYes, I started work as a legal secretary for a law firm in November.
AThat sounds important. How were you able to get a job like that?
MI did another course and specialised in legal terminology and procedures, and got myself a certificate. I applied for jobs in law firms, corporate legal departments and government offices. Then I got this job.
ASo what sort of work do you do? Isn't it boring?
MNot at all. Mostly I have the same duties as other secretaries. I prepare correspondence and legal papers such as summonses, appeals, deeds, wills, affidavits and briefs. I'm responsible for reviewing and proof-reading outgoing documents. I attend court, meetings and conferences to take notes, minutes and dictation as well. So you see, it's not at all boring.
AIsn't that a lot of responsibility?
MYes, I suppose it is, but I work under the supervision of a lawyer.
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. How does Michelle's friend know that she has a new job?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. How did Michelle get a job as a legal secretary?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. What did Michelle have to do to get the job ?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. What sort of work does she do?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Who supervises her work?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:
AlexHello Jack. Where are you off to?
JackI'm going to court and I don't want to be late.
AlexCourt! What have you done wrong, then?
JackNothing! I'm going to work. I'm a court recorder.
AlexWhere did you get that idea from?
JackWell, I was told about court recording work by a friend. I applied for a training programme to learn about stenography and was admitted. It was quite hard but I was certified last June.
AlexIsn't it a drawback to be blind?
JackNot really, you see blind stenographers use a special stenography machine for the blind. Everything is stored in computer memory and can be recalled with voice output.
AlexWhich courthouse do you work at?
JackI'm freelance. My speed is over 200 words per minute so I'm contracted by courts of law, legislative assemblies and committees. I prepare dictated reports, correspondence and statistics which require knowledge of legal terminology.
This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Where is Jack going?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. What has Jack done wrong?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. What do blind stenographers use?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Who does Jack work for?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. What sort of documents does he prepare.?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:

A man with a record for burglary was arrested by the police and taken to court on a charge of theft. The lawyer said: My client merely inserted his arm into the window and removed a few small items. There is no evidence it was he himself. His arm is not himself, and I cannot see how you can punish the whole individual for an offence committed by his arm.

The judge said: Well, using your logic, I sentence the defendant's arm to one year's imprisonment. He can accompany it or not, as he chooses.

The defendant smiled. With his lawyer's assistance he detached his artificial arm, laid it on the bench, and walked out.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Why was the man in court?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. What did the thief steal?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. What was the magistrate's verdict?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. How did the defendant remove his arm?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Did the defendant go to prison for the crime?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:
Transcript:

A man named Smith was injured when he and his horse were struck by a car at an intersection. Smith sued the driver and claimed damages. In court, he was cross-examined by the driver's lawyer. The lawyer said: Mr Smith, you've told us all about your injuries. But according to the accident report, you told the investigating officer at the scene that you were not injured at all?

Mr Smith said: Well, let me explain. When the officer arrived at the scene, he first looked at my horse. He said “Looks like he has a broken leg,” and then he took out his gun and shot the horse. Then he came up to me and asked me how I was doing. Of course I immediately said “I'm fine!

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Who sued whom?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. What happened?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. What did the accident report say?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. When the officer arrived at the scene what did he do?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Why did the officer shoot the horse?
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. To work as a legal secretary you must specialise in legal terminology.


    ?
  2. A legal secretary prepares legal papers.


    ?
  3. A legal secretary's work is very boring.


    ?
  4. A court recorder works in a court room.


    ?
  5. A court recorder doesn't use a stenography machine.


    ?
  6. To be a court recorder you must be certified.


    ?
  7. There are special stenography machines for the visually impaired.


    ?
  8. A court recorder doesn't need a high speed on the stenography machine.


    ?
  9. Witnesses give testimony.


    ?
  10. Private detectives are sometimes used in divorce cases.


    ?

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Press ‘Play’ to listen to the instructions:

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

In this exercise, change the sentences from Active to Passive. All the sentences are in the Present.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

The lawyer supervises her.
She is supervised by the lawyer.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?
  10. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 2: Transformation

In this exercise, change the sentences from Active to Passive. All the sentences are in the Past.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

The lawyer supervised her work.
Her work was supervised by the lawyer.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?
  10. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 3: Transformation

In this exercise, change the sentences from Active to Passive, using the Indirect Object as subject of the passive. All the sentences are in the Past.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
Example:

My friend told me the name of the company.
I was told the name of the company by my friend.

  1. A.
    B. ?
  2. A.
    B. ?
  3. A.
    B. ?
  4. A.
    B. ?
  5. A.
    B. ?
  6. A.
    B. ?
  7. A.
    B. ?
  8. A.
    B. ?
  9. A.
    B. ?
  10. A.
    B. ?

Exercise 4: Selections

Chose the correct answer.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  2. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  3. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  4. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  5. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  6. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  7. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  8. a. 
    b. 
    ?
  9. a. 
    b. 
    ?

Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:
Transcript:

European Union law comes from multiple sources and borrows from both common and civil law systems.

Common law developed in Britain. Whatever the Monarch or other legislative body decreed became law. This was interpreted in the light of particular situations and new opinions and decisions became law.

The essence of civil law, which is used in many more countries than common law, is that every law of the country is written into the law by the legislative body. The judge is limited to applying the law to the facts of a given case. Because the facts of each case may vary an unwritten system of judicial precedent has developed. Now there seems to be a convergence of the common law and the civil law systems. Common law systems are increasingly codifying their laws, while civil law systems are beginning to admit the existence of judicial precedent. Perhaps in the future, the distinctions between the two will have dissipated to the point that they appear the same.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Common law developed in Britain and then spread to continental Europe.


    ?
  2. European Union law comes from both common and civil law systems.


    ?
  3. The civil law system is used in many more countries than common law.


    ?
  4. Codification is the essence of civil law.


    ?
  5. Common law systems are codifying their laws.


    ?
  6. Civil law systems never admit the existence of judicial precedent.


    ?
  7. Civil law relies on laws made by judges.


    ?
  8. In the future, common law and civil law will appear the same.


    ?
  9. In civil law an unwritten system of judicial precedent has developed.


    ?
  10. In a civil law system, codification is the responsibility of the legislative body.


    ?

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Recording:
Transcript:

Now there seems to be a convergence of the common law and the civil law systems. Common law systems are increasingly codifying their laws, while civil law systems are beginning to admit the existence of judicial precedent. Perhaps in the future, the distinctions between the two will have dissipated to the point that they appear the same.

?

Exercise 3: Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:
Transcript:

European Union law comes from multiple sources and borrows from both common and civil law systems.

Common law developed in Britain. Whatever the Monarch or other legislative body decreed became law. This was interpreted in the light of particular situations and new opinions and decisions became law.

The essence of civil law, which is used in many more countries than common law, is that every law of the country is written into the law by the legislative body. The judge is limited to applying the law to the facts of a given case. Because the facts of each case may vary an unwritten system of judicial precedent has developed.

European Union law comes from multiple ? and borrows from ? common and civil law systems.

? law developed in Britain. Whatever the Monarch ? other legislative body decreed became law. This was interpreted in ? light of particular situations and new opinions and decisions became law.

The essence of ? law, which is used in many more countries than common law, is that every law of the country is written ? the law ? the legislative body. The judge is limited ? applying the law to the facts of a given case. Because the facts of each case may vary ? unwritten system of judicial precedent has developed.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:
  1. Secretaries may ____ in many different areas of the law.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  2. Lawyers delegate some of their ____ to their secretary.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  3. Lawyers ____ divorce agreements.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  4. Some employers train ____ secretaries on the job
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  5. Because secretaries frequently ____ with the public, they should be courteous.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  6. Lawyers are responsible for legal work, but they ____ their tasks to legal secretaries.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  7. Legal secretaries understand legal terminology and have organisational ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  8. The civil law system is used in ____ more countries than common law.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  9. The judge's role is ____ to the application of the law.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  10. The jury could not ____ on a verdict.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  11. The murder case went ____ the Court.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  12. He was____ he had the right to remain silent.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  13. The ____ of a Notary is to authenticate documents.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  14. The Notary has the responsibility to protect ____ fraud.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  15. A ____ in England is a kind of lawyer.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  16. Civil law is ____ codified.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  17. In civil law, every law of the country is written ____ the law.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  18. His solicitor is seeking compensation ____ the Defendant.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  19. A stenographer gets a professional ____.
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?
  20. Crime doesn't ____ .
    a. 
    b. 
    c. 
    ?

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

  • use vocabulary related to common legal terms for daily situations
Version 2.0 (2011-12-07 01:36 CET)
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