Objective:
- Understand the structure and content of legal degree programs in the UK and the USA.
- Explore the different career paths within the field of law.
- Identify the importance of language skills, especially English, in the legal profession.
Introduction: Legal English plays a crucial role in the study and practice of law. In this lesson, we will explore the basics of legal language, focusing on the structure of legal degree programs, career options, and the significance of language skills in the legal field.
Text A: A Career in Law
- Understanding Legal Degree Programs:
- Legal degree programs in the UK and the USA typically last three years.
- Core subjects include criminal law, contract law, tort law, land law, equity and trusts, administrative law, and constitutional law.
- Students often take courses in legal writing and research.
- Optional courses vary based on career interests, such as family law, employment law, housing law, company law, commercial and litigation, and arbitration.
- Career Paths in Law:
- Small practice: Family law, employment law, housing law.
- Large practice: Company law, commercial and litigation, arbitration.
- Exploring Law in Practice:
- Universities offer courses on legal practice.
- Involvement in voluntary advice centers or law clinics provides practical experience.
- Knowledge of foreign languages is crucial for those aspiring to work in commercial practices.
- Key Factors in Hiring:
- Law firms consider education, personality, work experience, and language ability.
- English proficiency is increasingly important in the international legal community.
Activity: 1.1
- Engage students in a discussion about the importance of language skills in the legal profession.
- Conduct a group activity where students identify potential elective courses based on different career interests within law.
Text B: Company Law
- Understanding a Company:
- A company is a separate legal entity with distinct rights.
- Governed by the Companies Act 1985 and Companies Act 1989.
- Limited liability companies limit financial liability for shareholders.
- Types of Companies:
- Public companies require a minimum share capital of £50,000 and can offer shares to the public.
- Private companies cannot offer shares to the public.
- Company Formation:
- Legal requirements for incorporation include Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, Form 10, and Form 12.
- Submission to the Registrar of Companies leads to the issuance of a Certificate of Incorporation.
- Ongoing Obligations:
- Incorporated companies must comply with annual accounting requirements.
Task: 1.2
- Have students work on a hypothetical scenario of forming a company, guiding them through the necessary documentation and legal requirements.
Lesson 2: Types of Legal Texts
Objective:
- Familiarize students with basic types of legal documents.
- Understand the importance of background information in legal tasks.
- Learn about drafting legal documents and adhering to specific formatting rules.
Basic Types of Legal Documents:
- Instruments:
- Formal legal documents granting rights (e.g., deeds, wills, mortgages).
- Pleadings:
- Formal statements in litigation (e.g., complaints, answers).
- Contracts:
- Written agreements.
- Deeds:
- Transfers interest in real estate.
- Business Documents:
- Articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreements.
- Will/Codicil:
- Legal documents for posthumous gifts.
- Trust:
- Establishes an agreement between trustee and beneficiary.
Obtaining Background Information:
- Emphasize the importance of gathering comprehensive information before undertaking legal tasks.
Where to Get Forms:
- Explain that legal documents are often drafted from templates.
- Mention commercial forms producers and online sources.
General Form of Legal Writings:
- Discuss the importance of adhering to specific rules regarding paper type, typeface, margins, and spacing in legal documents.
- Highlight the significance of adhering to court rules.
Physical Aspects to Legal Documents:
- Discuss aspects like paper size, typeface, margins, and spacing in legal documents.
Special Components and Mechanical Rules:
- Explain the need for specific components like captions, headings, and spaces for signatures in legal documents.
- Discuss rules for capitalization, grammar, spelling, and numbering.
Pre-printed Forms:
- Explain the use of pre-printed forms from courts or agencies.
- Emphasize the importance of maintaining the integrity of the form when required by the court.
Conclusion: Understanding legal language and the various types of legal documents is fundamental to success in the legal field. In subsequent lessons, we will delve deeper into specific legal document drafting and explore real-life scenarios.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What is the typical duration of law degree programs in the UK and the USA?
- A. Two years
- B. Three years
- C. Four years
- D. Five years
- Answer: B
2. Which of the following is NOT a core subject in typical law degree programs?
- A. Criminal Law
- B. Contract Law
- C. Tax Law
- D. Administrative Law
- Answer: C
3. What is the purpose of optional (elective) courses in law degree programs?
- A. To confuse students
- B. To add unnecessary workload
- C. To provide specialized knowledge
- D. To delay graduation
- Answer: C
4. Why might someone take subjects like family law and employment law in their law degree?
- A. To become a criminal lawyer
- B. To work in a large law practice
- C. To run a small partnership
- D. To become a judge
- Answer: C
5. What do law clinics and voluntary advice centers offer to students?
- A. Paid internships
- B. Free legal assistance to the community
- C. Extra credit points
- D. Networking events
- Answer: B
6. For students aiming to work in a commercial practice, what skill is considered essential?
- A. Cooking
- B. Knowledge of foreign languages
- C. Painting
- D. Musical skills
- Answer: B
7. What are the four key factors that law firms generally consider when hiring new recruits?
- A. Cooking, personality, language, and education
- B. Education, personality, work experience, and language ability
- C. Musical skills, work experience, education, and personality
- D. Language ability, work experience, cooking, and education
- Answer: B
8. In company law, what does "limited liability" mean for shareholders?
- A. Unlimited financial responsibility
- B. Limited financial liability
- C. No liability
- D. Limited legal rights
- Answer: B
9. What is the minimum issued share capital required for a public company?
- A. £10,000
- B. £25,000
- C. £50,000
- D. £100,000
- Answer: C
10. What documents are required for the incorporation of a company? - A. Only Memorandum of Association - B. Only Articles of Association - C. Memorandum of Association, Articles of Association, Form 10, and Form 12 - D. Only Form 12 - Answer: C
11. What is the purpose of the Memorandum of Association in company formation? - A. To list the directors' names - B. To provide information about the company's objects and powers - C. To specify the company's share capital - D. To sign the incorporation form - Answer: B
12. What is the significance of the Articles of Association in a company? - A. It lists shareholders' names - B. It specifies the company's share capital - C. It governs the conduct of company members and officers - D. It provides information about the company's objects - Answer: C
13. What is Form 10 in the context of company formation? - A. A pre-filled form for the company's first financial statement - B. A form for listing the company's shareholders - C. A standard form with details of the intended officers of the company - D. A form for the company's annual accounts - Answer: C
14. Who signs Form 12 in the context of company formation? - A. Any employee of the company - B. The company secretary only - C. The promoter of the company - D. The CEO of the company - Answer: C
15. What does the Certificate of Incorporation signify in company formation? - A. It signifies the end of company registration - B. It represents the company's first profit - C. It is proof of the company's existence - D. It is an annual financial statement - Answer: C
16. What ongoing legal requirements must an incorporated company comply with? - A. Annual accounts preparation and filing at Companies House - B. Bi-annual reports to the government - C. Monthly financial audits - D. Quarterly tax filings - Answer: A
17. Which of the following is NOT a basic type of legal document? - A. Instruments - B. Pleadings - C. Contracts - D. Blueprints - Answer: D
18. What is the purpose of a trust in legal terminology? - A. To establish an agreement for property holding - B. To sue someone in court - C. To write a will - D. To transfer real estate - Answer: A
19. What type of information is typically obtained from clients in the legal field? - A. Family information, financial information, and employment information - B. Cooking preferences and music playlists - C. Social media passwords - D. Medical prescriptions - Answer: A
20. Where can legal professionals obtain templates for drafting documents? - A. Cooking schools - B. Commercial forms producers and online sources - C. Art galleries - D. Public libraries - Answer: B
21. What is the primary role of law clinics and voluntary advice centers in the legal field?
- A. Offering paid legal services
- B. Providing free legal assistance to the local community
- C. Conducting legal research for law firms
- D. Promoting legal textbooks
- Answer: B
22. Why is knowledge of foreign languages considered essential for those wishing to work in a commercial practice?
- A. To impress clients
- B. To enhance communication with international clients
- C. To become a translator
- D. To write legal poetry
- Answer: B
23. What does the term "limited liability" mean for shareholders in a company?
- A. No financial responsibilities
- B. Limited legal rights
- C. Limited financial liability
- D. Limited decision-making power
- Answer: C
24. In company law, what is the purpose of Form 12?
- A. Annual financial statement
- B. Declaration of company profits
- C. Certificate of Incorporation
- D. Confirmation of legal requirements compliance
- Answer: D
25. What is the significance of the Articles of Association in a company?
- A. Describing the company's share capital
- B. Governing the conduct of company members and officers
- C. Listing the company's directors
- D. Outlining the company's financial performance
- Answer: B
26. Why do courts often require specific forms for certain legal tasks?
- A. To confuse legal professionals
- B. To reduce paperwork
- C. To streamline processes and ensure consistency
- D. To increase legal fees
- Answer: C
27. What type of information should be obtained from clients during an interview or through a questionnaire in legal tasks?
- A. Cooking preferences
- B. Social media passwords
- C. Family information, financial information, and employment information
- D. Favorite book recommendations
- Answer: C
28. Why is correct grammar and spelling important in legal documents?
- A. To impress clients with language skills
- B. To present an aura of professionalism and avoid changing the document's meaning
- C. To make legal documents longer
- D. To showcase creativity in legal writing
- Answer: B
29. What is the purpose of pre-printed forms provided by courts or agencies?
- A. To confuse legal professionals
- B. To reduce paperwork
- C. To increase legal fees
- D. To ensure the document's integrity and ease of completion
- Answer: D
30. What is typically included in the Memorandum of Association in the context of company formation?
- A. The company's first profit statement
- B. The names of the intended officers of the company
- C. Information about the company's objects and powers
- D. Annual financial projections
- Answer: C