Английский язык для юристов

 

Государственное казенное образовательное учреждение 
высшего образования 
«Российская таможенная академия» 
 
 

А.В. ТКАЧЕНКО, Е.Б. ГАЙКО 

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ЯЗЫК  
ДЛЯ ЮРИСТОВ 

Учебное пособие 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Москва 
2020 
 

 

УДК 811.111 
ББК 81 
Т48 
 
Д о п у щ е н о  
учебно-методическим советом Российской таможенной академии 
 к использованию в образовательном процессе для обучающихся  
по направлению подготовки 40.03.01 «Юриспруденция» 
 
 
Р е ц е н з е н т ы : 
С.В. МОЗЕР, заместитель начальника отдела перспективных таможенных технологий 
Департамента таможенного законодательства и правоприменительной практики 
Евразийской экономической комиссии, канд. юрид. наук; 
Е.Ю. ВАРЛАМОВА, доцент кафедры филологии Академии труда и социальных отношений, канд. пед. наук, доцент 
 
 
Эксперт 
О.В. Дышекова, доцент кафедры иностранных языков Ростовского филиала Российской таможенной академии, канд. филол. наук, доцент 
 
 
Ткаченко А.В. 
Т48  
Английский язык для юристов: учебное пособие / А.В. Ткаченко, Е.Б. Гайко. 
М.: РИО Российской таможенной академии, 2020. 144 с. 
 
 
ISBN 978-5-9590-1139-0 
 
 
Учебное пособие составлено в соответствии с рабочей программой дисциплины 
«Иностранный язык (английский)» с целью формирования у студентов способности 
к активному овладению профессионально-ориентированным английским языком в различных сферах межкультурной коммуникации.  
Предназначено для студентов юридического факультета (направление подготовки 
40.03.01 «Юриспруденция», уровень бакалавриата). 
 
 
УДК 811.111 
ББК 81 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ISBN 978-5-9590-1139-0 
© Российская таможенная академия, 2020 

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ 

Учебное пособие «Английский язык для юристов» имеет практическую направленность. 
Цель пособия – формирование способности к коммуникации в устной 
и письменной формах для решения задач межличностного и межкультурного взаимодействия на иностранном языке, развития навыков общения 
на профессионально ориентированные темы. К задачам данного пособия 
относятся: 
– 
развитие коммуникативных навыков ведения беседы на английском языке; 
– 
умение воспринимать англоязычную речь, адекватно переводить 
речевые высказывания среднего уровня сложности; 
– 
формирование вопросов по предложенной теме или ситуации, 
а также расширение кругозора обучающихся. 
Учебное пособие состоит из 8 разделов (тематических модулей) 
и грамматической части, включающей грамматический справочник и комплекс упражнений для закрепления основных грамматических явлений. 
Грамматические задания носят разнообразный характер. 
Грамматический раздел учебного пособия содержит: 
– 
имитационные задания, построенные на одноструктурном и оппозиционном (контрастном) грамматическом материале; 
– 
подстановочные задания, использующиеся для закрепления грамматического материала, и трансформационные упражнения, целью которых является формирование навыка комбинирования, замены, сокращения 
и расширения заданных грамматических структур в речи. 
В процессе изучения материала, представленного в учебном пособии, 
обучающиеся овладевают навыками чтения и перевода оригинальных англоязычных текстов, усваивают профессиональную лексику в предусмотренном программой объеме. 
Тексты, включенные в учебное пособие, носят информативнопознавательный характер и охватывают историю возникновения и эволюцию правовых систем России, Великобритании и США, судоустройство, 
судопроизводство, содержат сведения о юридических профессиях и профессиональной этике в Российской Федерации и англоязычных странах. 
Каждый текст сопровождается заданиями, которые стимулируют интерес 

обучающихся к определенной теме и подготавливают их к углубленному 
изучению профессиональной лексики. 
Все задания систематизированы и подразделяются: 
– 
на коммуникативные, которые носят репродуктивный и творческий характер; 
– 
репродуктивные, разработанные на основе текста и включающие 
вопросы, необходимые для понимания прочитанного; 
– 
творческие, предполагающие беседу, общение и взаимодействие 
в рамках темы, предложенной в тексте. 
Уровень сложности языкового материала и тематика пособия соответствуют требованиям, содержащимся в учебной программе дисциплины 
«Иностранный язык (английский)» для направления подготовки «Юриспруденция». 

UNIT 1. THE NEED FOR LAW 

Pre-reading tasks 

Comment on the following quote: 
“Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they 
fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block 
the flow of social progress”. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968) American 
black leader. 

Answer the questions: 

– 
What do you know about Martin Luther King Jr.? 
– 
What did he say about the purpose of Law and Order? 
– 
How did he die? 

Task 1. Read, translate and render the text. 

Meaning and definition of Law 

Law is a large body of rules and regulations, which are based on general 
principles of justice, fair play and convenience. The laws have been worked out 
by the governmental bodies to regulate human activities. Law denotes the 
process by which society is organized, through government bodies and 
personnel. These are Law-makers, Courts, Tribunals, Law Enforcement 
Agencies and Executive, Penal and corrective Institutions etc. 
The Law is as old as the human society itself. The search for an agreed 
definition of Law has been an endless story. There have been conflicting views 
of jurists on the nature, concept, basis and functions of Law. Law has been 
regarded as a tradition or rule of the old customs, recorded wisdom of the wise 
men, discovered principles expressing the nature of things, moral code, a set of 
the peoples’ agreements in politically organized society, sovereign’s 
commands, a body of rules discovered by human experience, or a body of rules 
developed through juristic writings and judicial decisions, or the rules imposed 
on the people in society by the ruling class, in terms of economic and social 
targets of the individuals. 
Law can be defined by its basis in nature, religion or ethics, and reason. 
Law can be defined by its sources like customs, precedent and legislation, as 
well as – by its effect on the social life of the society, by the method of its 
formal expression or application. There is no general definition of Law which 

illustrates all the Law aspects but for a general understanding, some of the 
initial definitions are given: 
Aristotle: “It (absolute law) is inherited by the nature of man/woman and 
can be discovered through the reason. It is immutable, universal and capable of 
growth”. 
Plato: “Law consists of a body of rules which are seen to operate as 
binding rules in the community by means of which sufficient compliance with 
the rules may be secured to enable the set of rules to be seen as binding.” 

Task 2. Answer the questions. 

1. 
What is the meaning of the Law? 
2. 
Who worked out the laws? 
3. 
How old is the Law? 
4. 
How Law has been regarded? 
5. 
What are the definitions of Law? 

Task 3. Vocabulary tasks: 

a) 
Find the key words and expressions in the text, underline them. 
b) 
Circle any words you do not understand. 
c) 
Pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings. 

Task 4. Make up a glossary of the terms used in the text. 

Task 5. Fill in the missing words. 

Law is a ___ ___ of rules and regulations, 

which are based on general principles of ___, 
___and convenience. The laws have been 
worked out by the ___ ___ to regulate human 
activities. Law denotes the process by which 
___ is organized, through government bodies 
and ___. These are Law-makers, Courts, 
Tribunals, Law Enforcement Agencies and 
Executive, Penal and corrective Institutions etc. 
The ___ is as old as the human society itself. 
The search for an agreed ___ of Law has been 
an endless story. There have been conflicting 
views of ___ on the nature, concept, basis and 

large body
justice 
fair play 
governmental bodies 
society 
personnel 
Tribunals 
Law 
definition 
jurists 

functions of Law. Law has been regarded as a 
___ or rule of the old ___, recorded wisdom of 
the wise men, discovered principles expressing 
the nature of things, ___ ___, a set of the 
peoples’ agreements in politically organized 
society, ___ ___, a ___ _ ___ discovered by 
human experience, or a body of rules developed 
through ___ ___ and ___ ___, or the rules 
imposed on the people in society by the ruling 
class, in terms of economic and social targets of 
the individuals. 
Law can be defined by its basis in nature, ___ 
or ethics, and reason. Law can be defined by its 
sources like customs, ___ and legislation, as well 
as – by its effect on the social life of the society, 
by the method of its formal ___ or ___. There is 
no general definition of Law which illustrates all 
the Law ___ but for a general understanding, 
some of the initial definitions are given:

tradition
customs 
moral code 
sovereign’s commands 
body of rules 
juristic writings judicial 
decisions 
religion 
precedent 
expression 
application 
aspects 

Task 6. True / False: Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F). 

a
Law is a large body of rules and regulations, which are based on 
general principles of justice, fair play and convenience

T / F

b
Law denotes the process by which society is organized, through 
government bodies and personnel

T / F

c
Law is a young phenomenon
T / F

d
Law has been regarded as a thick book describing the tradition or 
rule of the old tribes, recorded wisdom of the scholars, discovered 
principles expressing the nature of things

T / F

e
Law can be defined by its basis in nature, religion or ethics, and 
reason

T / F

f
There is an only one definition of Law which is accepted by the 
people

T / F

g
Plato was the only one philosopher who gave the ideal definition 
of Law

T / F

Task 7. Find the Russian equivalents to the following words and 
expressions. 

Large body of rules, principles of justice, governmental bodies, personnel, 
Law-makers, Courts, Tribunals, Law Enforcement Agencies, Executive, Penal 
Institutions, definition of Law, conflicting views of jurists on the nature, 
concept of Law, basis of Law, functions of Law, rule of the old customs, 
recorded wisdom, discovered principles, nature of things, moral code, peoples’ 
agreements, sovereign’s commands, a body of rules, human experience, juristic 
writings, judicial decisions, imposed rules, ruling class, social targets, 
individuals, religion, ethics, reason, customs, precedent, legislation, formal 
expression, application, initial definitions. 

Task 8. Find in the table the words and expressions which mean: 

1. 
A rule, usually made by a government, that is used to regulate the way in 
which a society behaves. 
2. 
Fairness in the way people are dealt with. 
3. 
A special court or group of people who are officially chosen, 
especially by the government, to examine (legal) problems of 
a particular type. 
4. 
A king or queen, or a person having the power to govern a country 
5. 
A belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or 
group have continued to follow for a long time, or all of these beliefs, etc. 
in a particular society or group. 

law, justice, tribunal, sovereign, tradition 

Task 9. Complete the sentences from the active vocabulary from 
the text. 

1. 
Law denotes the process ………………………………………………. . 
2. 
These are Law-makers, Courts, Tribunals, …………………………… . 
3. 
Law can be defined by its basis ……………………………………… . 
4. 
Law can be defined by its sources like ………………………………… . 
5. 
There have been conflicting views of jurists on the ……………………. . 

Task 10. Summary: Write down a Summary of the text “Meaning 
and definition of Law”. 

Task 11. Speech: Prepare a speech on the topic “Meaning and 
definition of Law”. 

Task 12. Read, translate and render the text “Sources of Law”. 

For a clear understanding of the Law concept, it is necessary to understand 
its sources. Source means a point from which anything emerges or rises. 
‘Source of law’ means the source from where rules of conduct came into 
existence and derive legal force of binding character. Sources of law can be 
divided as follows: 
1. Custom: ‘Custom’ is the oldest and important source of Law. ‘Custom’ 
is the principle which have commended itself to the natural conscience as the 
principle of justice and public utility. ‘Custom’ originates in repetition of the 
same act, and denotes rules of habitual conduct within a community. 
Essentials of a Custom. 
To be a real source of Law, a customary practice must fulfil some important 
requirements: 
– 
Antiquity: A ‘Custom’ to be recognized as a law should be in 
existence from the long time period. 
– 
Continuance: The second essential feature of a ‘Custom’ is that it 
must have been continuously in practice. 
– 
Reasonableness: A ‘Custom’ should be reasonable in its application. 
It must not be imprudent or inconvenient. 
– 
Obligatory Character: The ‘Custom’ should have obligatory force. 
The general public opinion support is necessary and it should be enjoyed as 
a matter of right. 
– 
Certainty: A ‘Custom’ must be certain. A ‘Custom’ which is vague or 
indefinite cannot be recognized. 
– 
Consistency: Customary rules should show a consistency in 
observance of a practice. If a practice has not been consistently followed it 
cannot deserve the status of a ‘Custom’. 
– 
Conformity with Statutory Law and Public Policy: A ‘Custom’ 
should be in conformity with a Statute Law and public policy. 
2. Judicial Precedent. ‘Precedent’ signifies a set pattern upon which 
future conduct may be based. It may be an earlier event, decision or action 
followed in parallel circumstances later. A ‘Judicial Precedent’ is an 

independent source of Law. ‘Stare Decisis’ is a Latin word which denotes ‘to 
stand by past decision or precedents and not to disturb the settled points’. 
Precedent or stare decisis denote employment of past judicial decisions as 
a guide for making of future ones for lower courts in hierarchy. A ‘Judicial 
Precedent’ or ‘stare decisis’ has a binding force for the subsequent cases. It is 
not the whole judgment that is to be binding. In other words, every statement 
made by the judge in an earlier decision is not binding in future case. Only 
those statements in an earlier decision which may be said to constitute the 
reason for the decision or ‘ratio decidendi’ of that case are binding as matter of 
general principle, in subsequent cases. ‘ratio decidendi’ is the general principle 
which is deduced in a case. It is the rule of law upon which the decision is 
founded and it is authoritative in nature. Apart from ‘ratio decidendi’, 
a judgment may contain observations not precisely relevant to the issue before 
the Court. These may be the observations upon the broader aspects of law or 
answer to the hypothetical questions raised by judges or counsels in the course 
of hearing. Such observations are ‘obiter dicta’ and without any binding 
authority, in so far as these are not essential to the decision reached. 
3. Legislation. ‘Legislation’ is a deliberate process of legal evolution 
which consists in the formulation of norms of human conduct in a set form 
through a prescribed procedure by agencies designated by the Constitution. 
‘Legislation’ means to make rules for human conduct. The term ‘Legislation’ is 
derived from the word ‘legis’ meaning ‘law and latum’ which means to make or 
set. Thus, the word ‘legislation’ means making of law. It is a source of Law 
which consists in declaration of legal rules by competent authority. 
‘Legislation’ includes every expression of the will of the legislature, whether 
making law or not. 

Task 13. Make a glossary to the text “Sources of Law”. 

Task 14. Put 10 questions to the text “Sources of Law”. 

Task 15. Prepare a brief retelling of the text “Sources of Law”. 

Task 16. Translate the text into English. 

У меня есть мечта 

Мартин Лютер Кинг (младший) (1929–1968) был американским баптистским проповедником и активистом, который стал лидером движения 
за гражданские права чернокожих. Его мечтой было ненасильственное