11. My future profession

Active words and word combinations

advisory office [ad'vaizari' fis] — юридическая консультация

defence counsel [di'fens Icaunsc l] — защитник

defendant [d fend nt] — ответчик

legal counsellor [ li:g l ‘kaunsl ] - юрист, адвокат

litigate[‘litigeit] - выступать в качестве стороны в гражданском процессе

marriage settlement [‘m srid ‘setlm nt]— акт распоряжения имуществом по случаю заключения брака

notary [‘n ut n]— нотариус

plaintiff [‘pleintif] - истец

regional bar [‘ri;d nl ‘ba:]— коллегия адвокатов

standard of conduct [‘st nd d v ‘k nd kt] — норма поведения

I am а second-year student of the State University Law Department. When I entered the University I had a vague idea of what I should do m future. Having studied a lot of legal subjects, such as Theory of Law, State and Law, Criminal and Public Law I could outline the profession I'm engaged in. Now it is obvious to everyone, that in a community such as the one m which we live some kind of law is necessary because every day of our lives we are restrained and guided by law. It protects us while it restricts us. Sometimes it punishes us.

Law can also be defined as a standard of conduct, which regulates the relation of the individual to the central government, the relation of the government to the individual, and the relations among the individuals. If there is a conflict in these relations, the law also provides an institution, the court system through which the respective sides can litigate a problem and reach a solution. So, the scope of me law necessarily makes it complex, and complexity has created the need for specialists, namely a lawyer, whose work is quite diversified. He may act as the defence counsel in court, he may represent the interests of the plaintiff, the defendant or of third parties in civil criminal cases. The rate at which the legal profession is growing will probably continue. Why is the career in law so popular?

Of course, because of the prestige and salary. The average salary of an experienced lawyer is still substantially greater than that of many other professionals. But that work isn't so interesting as it may seem. In national economy lawyers are entrusted the control on the legality of orders and instructions issued by governing body: they participate in drawing up different agreements and contracts, which are concluded with other enterprises; lawyers also inform workers on the current legislation and give help in legal matters, conduct their cases in courts. In addition to this professional group there are nonprofessional legal counsellors who give advice on various legal problems and are often employed by business firms, hi almost all civil-law countries there are notaries, who have exclusive rights to deal 'with such office work as marriage settlements and wills.

All lawyers in our country are incorporated either in the national or regional (territorial) bar. Members of the bar work at legal advisory offices, which function in every town administrative district.

That's what I know about my profession now. And it makes me think that in some years I'll be able to find the job in accordance with the knowledge I get, because our department trains specialists for working in court. Office of Public Prosecutor, Notary, other juridical bodies and also in legal service of national economy. Though Law Department is rather young it has got already a good reputation because of the teaching staff and because, of scientifically based curriculum. During our studies at the University we write a lot of scientific papers, analyze special legal literature and try to do our best to be professionals after graduation.

Exercises