Types of legal professions

Who is who in the law? If you are prosecuted for a crime in Britain, you may meet the following people during your process through the courts:

Magistrates. Magistrates are unpaid judges, usually chosen from well- respected people in the local community. They are guided on points of law by an official, the clerk. There are magistrates’ courts in most towns.

Solicitors. After the accused person has been arrested, the first person he or she needs to see is a solicitor. Solicitors are qualified lawyers who advise the accused and help prepare the defence case. The solicitor may represent the accused in court. A person who is too poor to afford a solicitor will usually get Legal Aid – financial help from the state.

Barristers. In more serious cases it is usual for the solicitor to hire a barrister to defend the accused. The barrister is trained in the law and in the skills required to argue a case in court. The barrister for the defence will be confronted by his or her opposite number, the prosecuting barrister who represents the state.

Jurors. To A jury consists of twelve men and women from the local community. They sit in the Crown Court, with a judge, and listen to witnesses for the defence and prosecution before deciding whether the accused is guilty or innocent. In Britain the person is innocent unless found guilty: the prosecution has the burden of establishing guilt.

Judges. Judges are trained lawyers, nearly always ex – barristers, who sit in the Crown Court. The judge rules on points of law, and makes sure that the trial is conducted properly. He or she does not decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused – that is she jury’s job. However jury find the accused guilty, then the judge will pass sentence (Adopted from Афендікова Л. А., 1998, с. 64).

Words and phrases

magistrate—мировий суддя

to accuse—обвинувачувати

defence—захист

to hire—наймати

to argue—обговорювати; заперечувати (оспорювати)

innocent—невинний

burden—тягар доказу

Ex. 14. Fill in the blanks:

1. Magistrates are unpaid … .

2. There are…courts in most towns.

3. Solicitors are qualified…

4. Solicitors advise the …and help prepare the defense case.

5. If the case is serious, the solicitor hires a … to defend the accused.

6. The prosecuting barrister represents a …

7. A jury consists of … men and women from local community.

8. A jury sits in the Crown Court and listens to…for the defence and prosecution.

9. A jury decide whether the accused is … or … .

10. Judges are trained …who sit in the Crown Court.

11. The judge will pass …if the jury find the accused.

Ex. 15. Read the following sentences and decide if they are true or false:

1. Juries sit in magistrates’ courts.

2. Magistrates are legally qualified judges.

3. There are magistrates’ courts in most towns.

4. Solicitors are not legally qualified

5. The solicitor represents the accused in court.

6. The state helps poorer suspects to pay for their defense.

7. Barristers are hired to defend the accused.

8. A jury consists of ten men and women from local community.

9. Barristers sit in the Crown Court and listen to witnesses for the defense and prosecution.

10. Crown Court judges decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused.

11. The judge passes sentence.

Ex. 16. Find words and expressions in the text which mean:

1. a public officer witch authority to hear and decide cases in a law court;

2. say that smb has done wrong, broken the law, is to be blamed;

3. not guilty;

4.system when offenders are allowed to go unpunished for their first offence while they continue to live without further breaking of the law;

5.limit;

6. allow the use or services of smb for fixed payment;

7. body of twelve persons who give a decision on issues of fact in a case in a court of justice.

Ex. 17. Answer the following questions:

1. Are magistrates legally qualified judges?

2. Who does the accused person need to see after he has been arrested?

3. Who may represent the accused in court?

4. In what cases does the solicitor hire a barrister?

5. How many people does a jury consist of?

6. Who has the right to decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent?

7. Where do judges sit?

8. Whose job is it to pass sentence?

Ex. 18 Choose the correct definition for each legal profession from the box.

1. An officer acting as a judge in the lower court.

2. A public official with authority to hear and decide cases in law court.

3. A group of people who swear to give a true decision on issues in a law court.

4. An official who investigates the cause of any death thought to be violent or unnatural causes.

5. A lawyer who has the right to speak and argue in higher law courts.

6. A lawyer who prepares legal documents , advises on legal matters and speaks for them in lower courts.

7. An official who looks after administrative and legal matters in the court.