Unité 8: English for Legal Purposes

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 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.

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!”

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.

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.

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.