1. What is the main difference between the legal profession in Great Britain and the USA?
There is some additional information which may be of help.
The United States does not draw a distinction between barristers and solicitors; all lawyers who pass the bar examination may argue in the courts of the state in which they are admitted, although some state appellate courts require attorneys to obtain a separate certificate of admission to plead and practice in the appellate court. Federal courts require specific admission to that court's bar in order to practice before it. At the State appellate level and in Federal courts, there is no separate examination process, and admission is usually granted as a matter of course to any licensed attorney.
/from America in Close-up. Eckhard Fielder, Reimer Jansen, Mil Norman-Risch/
2. Do you think that a relatively small legal profession, as in Britain, is desirable? Give your reasons.
3. What are the main differences between the legal system in your country and that in Britain?
4. Are there any unpaid 'amateur' legal officers similar to Justices of the Peace?
5. What kind of training do lawyers undergo in your country?
Speaking 6 Role-play In Court
Imagine you are in court. The following case is being heard.
On the June 22-23 night 2002 a man's body was found at 19/2 Bradley Drive, Olean, NYS, USA. The murdered - James Vane,42 y.o., was the owner of three "James"' fast-food restaurants. His wife, Eleanor Vane,returned home from her friend's party at 2 a.m. and found her husband's body.
James Vane was lying on the first floor of his house. He was killed with a small heavy iron statue of Adonis between 9 and 11 p.m. The murderer smashed James Vane's head with the statue. Vane's neighbour, Mrs. Smith, saw James entering the house at 7:50 p.m. Some of Mrs. Vane's jewelry, worth about 2'000$ were missing. One of the jewels was found by Alfred Offenbach,Mrs. Vane's good friend, on the loan near the Vanes' house.
James Vane possessed 33.3% of "James' Ltd." shares. His two companions, Henry Wottonand Oscar Fleming,had equal amounts of shares - 33.3% each. Mr. Vane also had 1,322,473$ on his bank accounts and about 200,000$ in bonds. After James Vane's death his companions inherited 16.6% of "James' Ltd." shares each; his wife inherited āll the money on the bank accounts and all the bonds.
The evening before the murder James Vane spent with his companions, Henry Wotton and Oscar Fleming. They were playing pool and drinking beer in the "Amazon" club from 4 until 7:25 p.m. The three waitresses, one 'dancer and a dozen of customers saw them there. At 7:40 Henry Wotton gave James Vane a ride home. At 8:00 Mr. Wotton was home, but nobody can confirm that. His wife Victoriareturned home at 10:15 p.m. and his daughter Julia was sleeping and didn't hear her father entering the house. Oscar Fleming spent another 45 minutes in the club and went home to Jamestown, PA, which is 35 miles away from Olean. He lives alone in the forest in a logged cabin with his cat and dog.
The police accused Mrs. Vane of murdering her husband.
