Chapter X the law in practice Unit 33 Law Firms

Before you read

Discuss these questions.

1 Is there a system of legal assistance and legal aid in your country?

2 Is there a need for such a system? How great is that need?

3 How is it funded and when is it available?

Part 2: Text a Law Firms

Most towns in the United States have small firms of attorneys who are in daily contact with ordinary people, giving advice and acting on matters such as consumer affairs, traffic accident disputes and contracts for the sale of land. Some may also prepare defences for clients accused of crimes. However, in both the United States and other industrialized countries, lawyers are becoming more and more specialized. Working in small firms, lawyers now tend to restrict themselves to certain kinds of work, and lawyers working in large law firms or employed in the law department of a large commercial enterprise work on highly specific areas of law. One lawyer may be employed by a mining company just to prepare contracts for the supply of coal. Another may work for a newspaper advising the editors on libel matters. Another may be part of a Wall Street firm of over a hundred lawyers who specialize in advising stockbrokers on share transactions.

Text b Law Firm in Practice

Read the text and retell it using the italicized words.

Law firms advise businesses, governments, public sector bodies and financial institutions. They provide a wide range of services for organizations in the key areas: finance, banking, property, commerce, marketing, advertising, litigation and disputes, taxes, employment and employee benefits, insurance.

A law firm acts for companies in relation to the whole spectrum of corporate law (company creation, shareholders agreements, joint ventures, and strategic alliances). It also expertises in banking and financial services.

Experienced lawyers of the firm deal with all types of property transactions including investments, leasing and development projects. They ensure professional expertise in intellectual property matters: copyright, patents, know-how and confidential information.

Commercial litigation practice of the lawyers covers all kinds of disputes: lawsuits, arbitration or alternative dispute resolution. The lawyers conduct these disputes, prepare the case and assist the client.

The taxation group of a law firm offers a comprehensive corporate tax planning and advice service.

Vocabulary

consumer n потребитель

employee benefits n пособия / выплаты работникам

libel matters n материалы, содержащие пасквиль

stockbroker n биржевой брокер

strategic alliance n стратегическое объединение / альянс

Vocabulary

associate n помощник партнера

boutique n (небольшой) модный магазин; law boutique n небольшая высокоспециализированная юридическая фирма

clerical work n канцелярская работа

clerkship n работа клерка / секретаря

day-to-day affairs n повседневная работа

Debtor-Creditor n должник-кредитор

full partner n полный партнер

on occasion иногда, время от времени

paralegal n помощник юриста без диплома юриста

senior partner n старший партнер