UNIT 1: WHAT IS MEANT BY LAW
- Give the basic definition of law (three elements)
- Discuss different definitions of law
- Explain the purpose(s) of law
- Explain the separation of powers: legislative, executive, judicial
- Discuss the main legal systems of the world: civil law, common law, religious law
Key terms: coercion, conduct, enforce, impose, infraction, regulate, violation
Collocations: enforce a law, enforce a rule, impose sanction, impose restrictions, impose obligation, impose a fine, infraction of the law, violation of a right, violation of law, violation of rules, be in violation of
UNIT 2: SOURCES AND VARIETIES OF ENGLISH LAW
- Define source of law ('origin of law', 'basis of a legal system')
- Explain the composition of the United Kingdom
- Enumerate and explain the sources of English law
- Explain the differences between common law/equity/statute law
- Explain the hierarchy of sources of English law
- Provide the basic classification of law
Key terms: equity, legislation, legislature, legislative, to legislate, precedent, statute
Collocations: common law, enacted law /unenacted law, to set a precedent, to follow a precedent, to overrule a precedent, binding precedent, legal remedy, persuasive precedent, procedural law, source of law, statute law, to enact a statute, to promulgate a statute, to repeal a statute, substantive law
UNIT 3: STATUTE LAW IN BRITAIN
- Discuss the composition of Parliament and the changing status of the House of Lords
- Describe the role of the Monarch in Parliament
- Enumerate the main functions of Parliament
- Briefly outline the legislative procedure (eight stages)
- Explain the importance of statute books
Key terms: adjudication, constitution, House of Commons, House of Lords, legislation, legislator, legislature, proceedings, repeal, statute
Collocations: to draft a bill, to vote on a bill, to pass a law, to grant assent
UNIT 4: THE BRITISH JUDICIARY
- Discuss the role of lay magistrates
- Explain the main differences between inferior and superior judges
- Briefly outline the training of judges
- Discuss the judicial appointment and removal from office
- Explain the differences in the position of the Lord Chancellor in the past and today
Key terms: circuit judge, district judge, judiciary, Justice of the Peace (JP), Magistrate, recorder
Collocations: term of office, to remove from office, to hear a case, to sit as a judge, security of tenure
UNIT 5: THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT
- Explain the hierarchy of English and Welsh courts. List the courts of criminal jurisdiction, the courts of civil jurisdiction and those of both jurisdictions
- Name the first instance criminal courts and compare them
- Name the first instance civil courts and compare them
- Define the doctrine of precedent
- Discuss the importance of the doctrine of precedent for the English legal system
- Define ¨judicial precedent¨
- Enumerate different types of judicial precedents and explain the difference between them
- Define the main elements of a judgement
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages of judicial precedent
Key terms: binding precedent, civil and criminal jurisdiction, court of appeal, court of first/second instance, original precedent, persuasive precedent, ratio decidendi, stare decisis.
Collocations: to adhere to/abide by a precedent, to follow a precedent, to hear a case, to give/pass a judgement, to distinguish a case.
UNIT 6,7: THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN ENGLAND
- Name the two types of legal professionals in England and compare them in terms of different types of legal services that they provide
- Define ¨the right of audience¨
- Explain who may exercise the right of audience in England and Wales (Courts and Legal Services Act 1990)
- Describe the three stages in the education of barristers and solicitors
- Define ¨Queens Counsel¨
Key terms: barrister, brief, contract, counsel, conveyancing, disbar, liable, pleading, right of audience, solicitor, will.
Collocation: to brief a barrister, to draft/draw up a legal document, to give legal advice, to hear/argue/plead a case, to practice law, to take/receive instructions.
UNIT 8: LEGAL AID
- Define ¨legal aid¨
- Describe the current legal aid scheme in Britain
- Explain the responsibilities of the Legal Aid Agency
- List the types of legal services provided in the legal aid scheme
- Enumerate the providers of legal aid
- Describe the procedure in which the eligibility for legal aid is determined (the two tests)
- Enumerate the legal problems which have priority
Key terms: access to justice, means test, merit test, legal aid, legal advice, legal assistance, legal representation, litigation.
Collocations: to grant a contract, to seek/provide/obtain provide legal aid, to seek justice.
UNIT 9: A DAY IN A CIVIL COURT (CIVIL PROCEDURE IN THE UK)
- Provide a definition of civil law as a branch of law
- Identify the parties in a civil procedure
- Explain the cause, i.e. purpose of civil procedures, including the most common available remedies
- Explain the task of the court, with respect to the standard of proof
- List the three types of claims and explain how the types are determined
Key terms: claim, claimant, compensation, damages, defendant, dispute, grievance, injunction, liable, liability, litigation, litigant, litigate, plaintiff (>claimant), pleadings, redress, sue, tort
Collocations: aggrieved party, balance of probabilities, breach of contract, take action
UNIT 10: A DAY IN A CRIMINAL COURT (CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN THE UK)
- Provide a definition of criminal law
- Identify the parties in a criminal procedure
- Explain the cause, i.e. purpose of criminal procedure
- Briefly explain the role of the police in criminal justice
- Explain the task of the court, with respect to the standard of proof
- List the three types of criminal offences, including some examples of each
- Identify criminal courts, according to the types of offences tried therein
- Discuss the right to silence
- Describe the steps in a criminal procedure, including the role of the police, the CPS and the magistrates' court
Key terms: accused, acquittal, bail, conviction, crime, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), custody, defendant, fine, imprisonment, indictment, jury, offence, prosecutor, punishment, trial, sentence, verdict
Collocations: bring the charge, indictable offences, offences triable either way, summary offences, warrant of arrest