Growth of the Profession

The Federal and State Court Systems

The Organization of the Federal Courts Today

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The American court system is complex. It functions as part of the federal system of government. Each state runs its own court system, and no two are

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identical. In addition, we have a system of courts for the national government. These federal courts coexist with the state courts.

Individuals fall under the jurisdiction of two different court systems, their state courts and federal courts. They can sue or be sued in either system, depending mostly on what their case is about. The vast majority of cases are resolved in the state courts.

i The federal courts are organized in three tiers, like a pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid are the US district courts, where litigation begins. In the middle are the US courts of appeals. At the top is the US Supreme Court. To appeal means to take a case to a higher court. The courts of appeals and the Supreme Court are appellate courts,\ with few exceptions, they review cases that have been decided in lower courts. Most federal courts hear and decide a wide array of cases; the judges in these courts are known as generalists.

TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the -words below.

- сосуществовать;

- частные лица;

- суды штатов;

- подать иск;

- федеральные суды;

- подавляющее большинство;

- подпадать под юрисдикцию;

- разрешить дело в судебном порядке;

- ярус;

- Верховный суд;

- судебное разбирательство, тяжба;

- окружные суды;

- высшие суды;

- аппеляционные суды;

- исключение;

- низшие суды;

- суд последней инстанции;

- рассматривать дело.

TASK 3. Answer the questions.

1. Who is responsible for making laws in the US?

2. Name American courts in the descending order.

3. In what way are the federal courts organized?

4. Where does litigation begin?

5. What does the word "to appeal" mean? TASK 4. Fill in the blanks.

The federal courts have three tiers: (a)^/ * ' ⁽-*"' "' of (b)gijpf"' с;' /i and the (c) / "(xP/Vfc Court. The (d)_, was created by the Constitution; all other (e) created by Congress. Most litigation occurs in (f)t/iJiT> structure of (g)

(h)______

intermediate (j)

courts, courts

_/____Court

courts were ^courts. The

_____ courts varies from state to state; usually there are

for less serious cases, (i)________for more serious cases,

State courts

courts, and courts of last (k)_

were created by state constitutions.

Unit VI

ATTORNEYS IN THE USA

TASK 1. Read the following text.

Today, the number of awyers in the United States exceeds 675,000. This translates to one lawyer for every 364 people. Twenty-five years ago, there was one lawyer for every 70P people. The rate at which the legal profession is growing will probably continue to outpace rate of population growth through the end of the century.

Why is a career in law so popular? Market forces account for some of the allure. We know that in 1984 the average salary of experienced lawyers was 88,000 dollars. If we could include in this average the salaries of all lawyer^, whatever their experience, the figure would probably be much lower, certainly well below the 108,000 dollars average salary of physicians. But lawyers' salaries are still substantially greater than those of many other professionals. Salaries for newly minted lawyers heading for elite New York law firms exceeded 71,000 dollars in 1987; some firms offered additional bonuses for clerkship experience in the federal courts and state supreme courts. The glamour of legal practice strengthens the attraction of its financial rewards.

There are other reasons for the popularity of the legal profession and the unquenchable demand for legal services. Materialism and individualism in American culture encourage dispute. Federalism gives separate legal

systems for each state plus the national government. Advertising can now create demand for legal services, too. Finally, the principles of separation of powers and of checks and balances make governing difficult and sometimes impossible. When political institutions act, they often are forced to compromise, deferring critical issues to the courts. Pluralist democracy operates when groups are able to press their interests on, and even challenge, the government. The expression of group demands in a culture that encourages lawsuits thrusts on the courts all manner of disputes and interests^ Is it any wonder that America needs all the lawyers it can train?

TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words below:

- превышать;

- премия;

- адвокатская практика;

- уровень роста населения;

- средняя заработная плата;

- опытные юристы;

- система сдержек и противовесов;

- оставить спорные вопросы на рассмотрение суда;

- создать спрос на что-либо.

TASK 3. Answer the questions.

1. Why is the number of lawyers in the US increasing?

2. What factors create demand for legal services?

TASK 4. Read the text.

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