Unité 8: English for Legal Purposes

Buts et Objectifs

Dans cette unité, vous apprendrez et pratiquerez le vocabulaire du droit.

Vous pratiquerez les compétences et les activités suivantes :

être discret

L'objectif grammatical de cette unité est :

LA VOIX PASSIVE ET ACTIVE

Vocabulaire

	la déclaration sous serment
	l'appel
	le dossier
	le cambrioleur
	l'affaire, la cause
	d'entreprise
	le tribunal
	les dommages
	l'acte notarié/transférer par acte notarié
	l'accusé
	le divorce
	la preuve
	coupable
	l'emprisonnement
	innocent
	le juge
	judiciaire
	le jury
	la loi
	l'avocat
	légal
	législatif
	l'homicide involontaire
	l''hypothèque
	le meurtrier
	le notaire
	le délit
	le précédent
	le procès, les poursuites
	les procédures
	le procureur/le plaignant
	les droits
	la sentence
	l'avocat/le conseil juridique
	la citation
	le témoignage
	le vol
	le voleur
	arrêter
	inculper
	réclamer
	codifier
	commettre
	contre-interroger
	ordonner (par jugement)
	intenter un procès, engager des poursuites
	le tribunal
	le verdict
	le testament
	le témoin

Pratique du vocabulaire

Exercice 1: Testez-vous

Complétez avec la traduction correcte des mots ci-dessous.

contre-interroger [?]
la sentence [?]
l'emprisonnement [?]
arrêter [?]
le voleur [?]
la preuve [?]
l'avocat [?]
le notaire [?]
le meurtrier [?]
l'acte notarié/transférer par acte notarié [?]
le témoin [?]
commettre [?]
législatif [?]
le cambrioleur [?]
l''hypothèque [?]
le divorce [?]
le dossier [?]
légal [?]
les dommages [?]
innocent [?]
codifier [?]
l'appel [?]
l'accusé [?]
inculper [?]
le jury [?]
le délit [?]
l'avocat/le conseil juridique [?]
la citation [?]
intenter un procès, engager des poursuites [?]
le vol [?]
le juge [?]
le tribunal [?]
la loi [?]
les procédures [?]
l'affaire, la cause [?]
le tribunal [?]
les droits [?]
ordonner (par jugement) [?]
judiciaire [?]
coupable [?]
la déclaration sous serment [?]
le testament [?]
le procès, les poursuites [?]
le verdict [?]
le procureur/le plaignant [?]
le témoignage [?]
réclamer [?]
d'entreprise [?]
le précédent [?]
l'homicide involontaire [?]

Compréhension écrite

Exercice 1: Questions à choix multiple

Choisissez la réponse correcte.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

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.

A	Hi, Michelle. I haven't seen you since we finished the secretarial course. I hear you got a job.
M	Yes, I started work as a legal secretary for a law firm in November.
A	That sounds important. How were you able to get a job like that?
M	I 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.

A	So what sort of work do you do? Isn't it boring?
M	Not 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.

A	Isn't that a lot of responsibility?

M	Yes, I suppose it is, but I work under the supervision of a lawyer.

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

How does Michelle's friend know that she has a new job?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How did Michelle get a job as a legal secretary?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What did Michelle have to do to get the job ?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What sort of work does she do?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Who supervises her work?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercice 2: Questions à choix multiple

Choisissez la réponse correcte.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

Alex	Hello Jack. Where are you off to?
Jack	I'm going to court and I don't want to be late.
Alex	Court! What have you done wrong, then?
Jack	Nothing! I'm going to work. I'm a court recorder.
Alex	Where did you get that idea from?
Jack	Well, 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.
Alex	Isn't it a drawback to be blind?
Jack	Not 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.
Alex	Which courthouse do you work at?
Jack	I'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.

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

Where is Jack going?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What has Jack done wrong?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What do blind stenographers use?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Who does Jack work for?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What sort of documents does he prepare.?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercice 3: Questions à choix multiple

Choisissez la réponse correcte.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

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.

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

Why was the man in court?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What did the thief steal?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What was the magistrate's verdict?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How did the defendant remove his arm?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Did the defendant go to prison for the crime?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercice 4: Questions à choix multiple

Choisissez la réponse correcte.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

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!”

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

Who sued whom?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What happened?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What did the accident report say?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
When the officer arrived at the scene what did he do?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why did the officer shoot the horse?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Compréhension générale

Exercice 1: Exercices VRAI/FAUX

Pour chacune des phrases ci-dessous, choisissez Vrai ou Faux.

Exercice 2: Complétez les phrases

Exercices d'expression orale. Complétez les phrases que vous entendez, selon l'exemple.

Pratique de la grammaire

Exercice 1: Transformation

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

Exercice 2: Transformation

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

Exercice 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.

Exercice 4: Sélections

Choisissez la réponse correcte.

Consolidation

Exercice 1: Exercices VRAI/FAUX

Pour chacune des phrases ci-dessous, choisissez Vrai ou Faux.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

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.

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

Common law developed in Britain and then spread to continental Europe.

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

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

[?]
Codification is the essence of civil law.

[?]
Common law systems are codifying their laws.

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

[?]
Civil law relies on laws made by judges.

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

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

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

[?]

Exercice 2: Dictée

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.

Exercice 3: Exercice à trous

Écoutez attentivement l'enregistrement et complétez le texte avec les mots que vous avez entendus.

Enregistrement :

Transcription :

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

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.

Exercice 4: Exercice à trous

Choisissez l'expression correcte pour compléter les phrases suivantes.

Cet exercice peut également se faire uniquement au niveau phonétique ou oral :

Secretaries may ____ in many different areas of the law.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Lawyers delegate some of their ____ to their secretary.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Lawyers ____ divorce agreements.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Some employers train ____ secretaries on the job
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Because secretaries frequently ____ with the public, they should be courteous.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Lawyers are responsible for legal work, but they ____ their tasks to legal secretaries.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Legal secretaries understand legal terminology and have organisational ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The civil law system is used in ____ more countries than common law.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The judge's role is ____ to the application of the law.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The jury could not ____ on a verdict.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The murder case went ____ the Court.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
He was____ he had the right to remain silent.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The ____ of a Notary is to authenticate documents.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
The Notary has the responsibility to protect ____ fraud.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
A ____ in England is a kind of lawyer.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Civil law is ____ codified.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
In civil law, every law of the country is written ____ the law.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
His solicitor is seeking compensation ____ the Defendant.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
A stenographer gets a professional ____.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Crime doesn't ____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Liste de vérification

Utilisez la liste ci-dessous pour vérifier si vous avez bien profité de cette leçon. Vous devriez être capable de :

utiliser les termes juridiques courants dans les situations quotidiennes