I. LEAD-IN

Imagine that you are a journalist of the TV channel. You are to present a report using the materials received during interview with Mr. Mason.

V. SPEAKING

1. Read and translate the dialogue:

Journalist:Good morning, Mr.Mason. May I ask you a few questions about secrets of your proficiency?

Mr.Mason: Yes, indeed.

Journalist: The typical TV image of the defence lawyer is a brilliant legal . detective, strategist, and orator, whose clients are never guilty and who always succeeds in making the prosecutor look silly. What is the main thing in your profession?

Mr. Mason: You know, the main thing in the lawyer’s activity is to represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law.

Journalist: But how can you defend people who you know are guilty?

Mr.Mason: Under the legislation every person is entitled to a fair trial, every person is to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. That’s why I think the defence lawyers are to ensure that the interests of an accused are fully protected.

Journalist: Does it mean that you must go beyond the limits of your own conscience?

Mr.Mason: Surely, it doesn’t. All the more so, lawyers are expected to adhere to high standards of ethical conduct.

Journalist: Can you give examples of unprofessional conduct?

Mr.Mason: Such examples include using illegal means to obtain evidence, paying a witness for testimony and knowingly entering false evidence.

Journalist: And if a client believes that a lawyer has acted unethically, can he charge the lawyer of his misconduct?

Mr.Mason: The client may contact the lawyer’s disciplinary agencies which are authorized to investigate charges of lawyer’s misconduct.

Journalist: Thank you very much. It was really a pleasure to talk to you.

2. Imagine you are a journalist of some newspaper. Using the materials received during an interview with Mr. Mason, think over your future article. Present it beginning with the words:

The headline of my article is…

The article deals with ( concerns, dwells upon, describes, draws the reader’s attention to) the problem of…

4. Make up a dialogue between a lawyer and his son discussing the peculiarities of father’s profession.

You may discuss rules of lawyer’s ethics: rule of law, independence, observance of law, prevailing of the clients’ interests, confidence, competence, fairness and honesty.

1. Answer the following questions:

1. What words denoting the profession of a lawyer do you know?

2. In what countries are they used?

3. Does the system of advocacy differ in these countries?

4. What is the reason for it?