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1).Answer the following questions. ( For  information  use   texts A  of Units 21,23,24 (Legal English-2).

1.What is a crime? A crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority.

2.What are the two elements of a crime? Most crimes consist of two broad elements: 1) mens rea 2) actus reus.

3.What are torts? A tort, in common law jurisdictions, is a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act.

4.What are the reasons for torts? There are a number of specific causes of action, including: contract-based actions; statutory causes of action; torts such as assault, battery, invasion of privacy, fraud, slander, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress; and suits in equity such as unjust enrichment and quantum meruit.

5.What is the essential purpose of the law of torts? The fundamental purpose of tort law is to make someone whole through monetary compensation for any harm caused intentionally or negligently by another.

6.What is the main difference between torts and crimes? Generally speaking, a tort is a wrongful act that injures or interferes with an individual’s person or property. A tort can be intentional or unintentional (negligence), or it can be a tort of strict liability.  crime is a wrongful act that the state or federal government has identified as a crime. A criminal case is a criminal proceeding.

7.Why is it often difficult to distinguish between torts and crimes? Tort law is the area that determines whether or not a person should be held legally responsible for someone’s injuries or damaged property. This area of law also governs the types of damages an injured person is able to collect, such as medical expenses or lost wages. Tort disputes are settled in civil court settings with one party seeking compensation from another. Crimes are different from torts in that those who have committed a crime have acted against society rather than just an individual person. Crimes are actions that a state or the federal government has deemed illegal. As mentioned above, crimes can also be torts in some cases.

8.What is the purpose of punishment? One purpose is obviously to reform the offender, to correct the offenders moral attitudes and antisocial behaviour and rehabilitate him or her, which means to assist the offender to return to normal life as a useful member of the community. Punishment can also be seen as a deterrent because it warns other people of what will happen if they are tempted to break the law and so prevents them from doing so. However, a third purpose of punishment lies, perhaps, in society’s desire for retribution, which basically means revenge.

9.What are four basic justifications in Western culture? In Western culture, four basic justifications have been given: retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and incapacitation.

10.What is a gradual trend toward sentences in Western countries? Most penal historians note a gradual trend over the last centuries toward more lenient sentences in Western countries.

2).Choose the right variant.

1. It looked like my signature on the cheque but it was not – someone had ______ it.
2. a) forged b) cheated c) framed     d) reproduced

2. Wrongs done against people or property in civil law are called ______.
3. a) torture b) torts c) litigants    d) plaints

3. When you are legally responsible for something, you are said to be ______.
4. a) lawful b) legal c) leasehold           d) liable

4. ______ is the part of legal profession having the right of audience in court.
5. a) Arbitration b) Accounting c) Advocacy         d) Assessment

5. The person charged with the criminal offence is the ______.
6. a) traitor b) defendant c) arsonist    d) spy

6. The scientist was able to betray secrets to another country and so committed ______.
7. a) piracy b) perjury c) treason   d) forgery

7. Like clothing, money that needs to be “cleaned up” is subject to ______.
8. a) soaking b) laundering c) pressing             d) rinsing

8. In Great Britain you are assumed to be innocent until shown by a court, otherwise the prosecution has to prove your
9. a) charge b) accusation c) guilty       d) guilt

9. A criminal case is brought by a ______.
10. a) prosecutor b) defendant c) attorney   d) court

1. A person who sets fire to property illegally is called a|an
2. a) offender; b) arsonist; c) kidnapper; d) drug dealer

3).Fill in the gaps  with the right word from the table.

1.The shop decided to install closed – circuit television in an effort to combat the problem of shop-lifting.

2.He was arrested by the police outside a pub in Soho and charged with murder.

3.The lawyer who presents the case in court is called a barrister

4.A witness   is someone who sees a crime being committed.

5.The formal statement made by a witness in court is called an evidence.

6.Since it was his first offence he was not sent to prison but put on probation for six mouths.

7. At a trial, the barrister who speaks for the accused is called the Counsel for the defense while the barrister who speaks against him is called the Counsel for the prosecution

8.The number of young people who commit     crimes has risen sharply in recent years.

9. Another house was broken into last week. This is the third burglary in the area in the past month.

10.After twelve hours the Jury finally reached its verdict: the prisoner was guilty.

11.The judge sentenced him to seven years imprisonment       for armed robbery.

12.Although the police suspected that man had been involved in the robbery, since they had no definite proof           there was nothing they could do about it.

13.He parked his car in the wrong place and had to pay twenty pounds parking fine.

14.This is the fourth fire in the area recently. The police suspect arson.

4) Match the courts on the left with their definitions on the right.

5).Answer the questions. (For  information  use  “Legal English for Law Students”, Илиади Ю.А. Бровченкова С.Я. )

1. What is the highest court of appeal? The Court of Appealis the highest court within the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and second in the legal system of England and Wales only to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The COA was created in 1875, and today comprises 39 Lord Justices of Appeal and Lady Justices of Appeal.
2. What courts deal with criminal cases? Virtually all criminal court cases start in a magistrates’ court, and more than 90 per cent will be completed there.

The more serious offences are passed on to the Crown Court, either for sentencing after the defendant has been found guilty in a magistrates’ court, or for full trial with a judge and jury.

3. What courts deal with civil cases? County Court deals with civil cases.
4. Which court do you think deals with a divorce case? I think that county court deals with a divorce case.
5. Who will hear appeals from magistrates’ courts? Court of Appeal will hear appeals from magistrates’ courts.
6. What is the most common type of law court in England and Wales? The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magistrates’ court.
7. Which court do you think deals with a burglary committed by a fifteen-year-old? I think that magistrates’ court deals with a burglary committed by a fifteen-year-old.
8. Which court hears local civil cases? County Court hears local civil cases.

6). Grammar  task. Passive Voice.  Change the sentences  from active into passive , keeping the tense the same.

1. The police apprehended the suspect yesterday. The suspect was apprehended by police yesterday.
2. The district courts try most of the criminal and civil cases. Most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by the district courts.
3. The Court of Appeals hears appeals from lower courts. Appeals from lower courts are heard by the Court of Appeal.
4. The state prosecuted the company founder for tax evasion. The company founder was prosecuted for tax evasion by the state.
5. The injured party didn’t sue  the wrongdoer for damages. The wrongdoer wasn’t sued for damages by the injured party.
6. The court has decided a case in favor of  the injured party. A case has been decided in favor of the injured party by the court.
7. The court took into account the character and danger of the actions.

The character and danger of  the actions were taken into account by the court.