קראו את הסיפור הבא המתאר את השגרה היום יומית המורכבת של עורכת דין מניו יורק. הסיפור אידיאלי לסטודנטים למשפטים המשפרים את אוצר המילים המשפטי שלהם באנגלית וגם רוצים לחוות קצת את מערכת המשפט בארה"ב.
Mara Thompson, a seasoned lawyer in Manhattan, began her day by reviewing the docket for her scheduled court appearances. It was filled with various items, from arraignments to sentencing hearings. She focused first on a motion to suppress evidence in a high-profile criminal case she was defending.
On her mahogany desk was a writ of habeas corpus she had filed on behalf of a client wrongly detained without proper cause. Beside it lay the deposition transcripts from last week's witness, containing potential evidence to challenge the prosecution’s prima facie case.
Before leaving for court, Mara had a brief meeting with her legal clerk about the subpoenas duces tecum they had issued, requiring parties to produce specific documents. They discussed the voir dire process for the upcoming jury trial and strategized on weeding out potential biased jurors.
As Mara entered the courtroom, she offered a courteous nod to the bailiff and made her way to the counsel table. The morning's session involved a pretrial conference with the opposing counsel and the presiding judge. They discussed stipulations to expedite the trial and went over discovery requests to ensure all pertinent materials were exchanged.
Later, during a recess, Mara met with a new client facing RICO charges. The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was intricate, and Mara explained the gravity of racketeering allegations and the potential plea bargains the prosecutor might offer.
In the afternoon, Mara tackled an intellectual property case. Her client had received a cease and desist letter for copyright infringement. They were strategizing a defense based on fair use, arguing that the material used was transformative and for non-profit purposes.
She then worked on a tort case, specifically a product liability suit, where a faulty kitchen appliance caused injury. Mara reviewed the chain of custody for the faulty product to ensure no tampering had occurred since it was confiscated. She was also deep into legal research, pulling up precedent cases and statutes to bolster her arguments.
As the day came to a close, Mara had a mediation session regarding a breach of fiduciary duty claim among corporate board members. The neutral mediator helped facilitate a dialogue, aiming for an amicable settlement rather than a lengthy court battle.
Finally, back in her office, Mara penned an opinion letter to a client detailing her legal views on a potential real estate investment. The intricate maze of zoning laws and land use regulations in New York meant her expertise was crucial in guiding client decisions.
Amidst this jam-packed day, Mara still found a moment to mentor a junior associate, emphasizing the importance of legal ethics and the attorney-client privilege – foundational principles in their profession.
As she left her office, with the New York skyline gleaming in the twilight, Mara was reminded why she had chosen this path – the intricate dance of the law, with its challenges and triumphs, was a passion she was grateful to live each day.
Vocabulary and phrases
1. Docket - תמצית (בדרך כלל לרשימת תיקי בית משפט)
2. Arraignments - הגשת כתב אישום
3. Sentencing hearings - דיון בהגבלת העונש
4. Motion to suppress - הגשת התנגדות להצגת ראיות
5. Writ of habeas corpus - צו להצגת אדם
6. Deposition transcripts - העתקי הבעת דעת
7. Prosecution’s prima facie case - הוכחה ראשונית של התובע
8. Legal clerk - פקיד משפטי
9. Subpoenas duces tecum - צו להבאת מסמכים
10. Voir dire - הליך מקדים בהשבעת חבר המושבעים
11. Biased jurors - שופטים מוטים
12. Bailiff - שוטר בית המשפט
13. Counsel table - שולחן עורכי דין
14. Pretrial conference - ישיבת ערעור
15. Presiding judge - השופט הנשיא
16. Stipulations - דרישה להסכם
17. Discovery requests - בקשות גילוי מידע
18. RICO charges - אישומים לפי חוק RICO - תוכלו לקרוא עוד כאן https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/rico-racketeer-influenced-and-corrupt-organizations-act-statute
19. Racketeering - סחיטה
20. Plea bargains - הסדרות תיק
21. Cease and desist - צו להפסקת פעולה
22. Copyright infringement - הפרת זכויות יוצרים
23. Fair use - שימוש הוגן
24. Tort case - תביעת נזיקין
25. Product liability - אחריות היצרן
26. Chain of custody - שרשרת שמירה על עדויות
27. Precedent cases - פסקי דין קודמים
28. Statutes - חוקים
29. Mediation session - ישיבת גישור
30. Breach of fiduciary duty - הפרת חובת אמנה
31. Mediator - מגשר
32. Amicable settlement - הסדר ידידותי
33. Opinion letter - מכתב חוות דעת
34. Zoning laws - חוקי התכנון והבניה
35. Land use regulations - תקנות שימוש הקרקע
36. Junior associate - שותף צעיר
37. Legal ethics - אתיקה משפטית
38. Attorney-client privilege - זכות הסודיות של הלקוח
למבחן בנושא אנגלית משפטית:
