Reading 4: Law firm culture

 

 Pre-reading task.

A) Look through the following words to make sure that you know them, learn those you don’t.

solo [ ]	(adj.) сольний; одиночний; самостійний; (adv .) поодинці; соло
boutique firm [bu:΄ti:k]	невеличка агенція, що надає мінімальну кількість спеціалізованих послуг
tremendous [tri΄mendəs]	величезний, гігантський
to vary [ ] to vary a few minutes one way or the other the prices vary with the season   the second edition varied little from the first opinions vary on this point	1. змінювати; вносити зміни; мінятися, змінюватися; коливатися в межах декількох хвилин   ціни залежать від сезону 2. різнитися; розходитися; відхилятися; відрізнятися друге видання мало відрізнялося від першого   думки з цього питання розходяться
to tend to tend to / towards radicalism	1. мати тенденцію; схилятись (до чогось); прагнути; 2. мати схильність, бути схильним; мати властивість; мати в собі елементи (чогось) схилятися до радикалізму;
network	мережа, взаємозв’язана група людей, організація, спільнота

 

1. Read this excerpt from an article in a law-school newspaper about law firm culture. Which type of firm would you prefer to work for? Why?

 

One factor which plays an important role in the culture of a law firm is its size. Law firms can range from a one-person solo practice (conducted by a sole practitioner) to global firms employing hundreds of attorneys all over the world. A small law firm, which typically engages  from two to ten lawyers, is sometimes known as a boutique firm, as it often specialises in a specific area of the law. A mid-size law firm generally has ten to 50 lawyers, while a large law firm is considered to be one employing 50 or more attorneys.

2. Read about Richard, a law student, talking to a group of first-year law students at an orientation event at law school. He tells them about his experience as a clerk in different law firms. Answer these questions.

1. Why do the professors encourage students to do work experience?

2. How long have Richard’s clerkships generally lasted?

3. What is Richard’s final piece of advice?

 

Hi, for those of you who don’t know me yet, my name’s Richard Bailey. I’m here to tell you about my experience doing summer and winter clerkships. In law school, the professors will always tell you that it’s important to do some sort of work experience because it’ll improve your future job opportunities. Have you heard that yet? Well, it’s definitely true. I’m now in my last year here, and I started doing summer and winter clerkships in my first year. It’s been a tremendous learning experience.

Most of my clerkships have lasted for a period of four weeks. I’ve tried to vary the firms I work for, from a small two-man firm right through to a huge global firm. Each firm was different. At smaller firms, I was expected to be more independent and was responsible for more things. I liked that a lot. Since I was usually the only clerk there at the time, I’d have to do whatever work needed to be done.

Working at the bigger firms was quite different. I was usually one among many clerks. The work I performed there tended to concern bigger cases that were quite important and so they had more ‘prestige’ [ ]. That was really interesting. At the larger firms, I usually had a chance to move between groups in different practice areas, helping out where needed. This allowed me to gain some insight into what was involved in the legal work carried out in these teams and in the different practice areas.

At the smaller firms, I wrote case briefs for the partners and associates, and all kinds of correspondence with clients from the first day on, which I liked doing. At the bigger firms, I was asked to do research and to help to maintain court books. That was a useful learning experience, too.

In my opinion, the main advantage of a clerkship at a large firm is that you meet a lot of new people. There’s a big network of people - so many different lawyers and clients. There’s also a greater emphasis on learning and developing the various skills a lawyer needs in courses and seminars.

I must say that both the larger and the smaller firms tried to give me a sense of being a part of the company, as if I really belonged to their team. At the larger firms, I was even invited to some of their social events, and that was really fun. However, the smaller firms definitely made you feel more comfortable: everything was more friendly and relaxed. But in both types of firms I never felt that I was wasting my time.

My advice to you all is that it’s really important to try to do clerkships, starting in your first year of law school. I also think it’s valuable to get to know a variety of firms, with different practice areas and different sizes. I’m sure it will help you decide what kind of law you want to practise later, and what kind of law firm you’d feel most comfortable in.

3. Read through the text again and tick the advantages of small and large law firms Richard mentions. In some cases, he says both types of firm have the same advantage.

Advantages	Small firms	Large firms
more autonomy and responsibility
opportunity to work on prestigious cases
chance to rotate through different practice areas
asked to write briefs and letters
allowed to conduct research and manage court books
opportunity to make many contacts
more training offered
made to feel part of a team
invited to participate in social events
family-like atmosphere
made good use of time

4. Discuss these questions.

1. Do you have any experience working as a clerk in a law firm? In what ways was it similar or different from Richard’ experience?

2. What kinds of tasks and responsibilities do clerks in a firm have?

3. Do you agree with the way Richard characterises small and large law firms?

GRAMMAR 6

THE INFINITIVE

1. Study the following information.

The infinitives are:

The to-infinitive e.g. I hope to pass this exam.

The bare infinitive (infinitives without to) e.g. He can’t pass this exam.

The to-infinitive is used:

· to express purpose e.g. She went to the bank to get some money.

· after certain verbs (advise, afford, agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, promise, refuse, seem, want, pretend, etc.). e.g. He advised me to apply for the job.

· after verbs as know, decide, ask, learn, remember, want to know, teach, etc., when they are followed by question words (who, what, where, how, etc). ‘Why’ is followed by a subject + verb, not by an infinitive. e.g. I can’t decide what to do. I want to know why you’ve decided to leave.

· after adjectives such as nice, sorry, glad, happy, willing, afraid, ashamed, etc. e.g. He is glad to be back.

· after too and enough e.g. She is too shy to speak to her boss. We’ve got enough money to buy a new car.

· after it + be + adjective (+ of + noun/pronoun). e.g. It was nice of him to help us.

· after would like / would love / would prefer / would hate. (to express specific preference) e.g. I would like to learn a foreign language.

· after only to express an unsatisfactory result. e.g. He rushed to the back door only to discover that it was locked.

· after certain nouns. e.g. It’s my privilege to present the winner of the competition.

· after be + the first / second, etc. / last / best etc. e.g. You’ll be the first to break the news.

· after so + adjective + as. e.g. Would you be so kind as to help me with the correcting mistakes in this letter?

· in the expressions for + noun / pronoun + to-infinitive. e.g. For her to behave like that was very unusual.

· in the expressions: to tell the truth, to begin with, to be honest, to start with, to sum up, etc. e.g. To begin with, I’d like to introduce our new manager, Mr. Jones.

The bare infinitive is used:

· after modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) e.g. I must study hard.

Note. After the modal verb ought we use the to-infinitive. e.g. You ought to help her.

· after the verbs let, make, see, hear, feel in the active. e.g. They made him pay the damage.

Note 1. Be made / be seen / be heard (passive) all take the to-infinitive. e.g. He was made to pay the damage.

Note 2. ‘Let’ turns into ‘be allowed’ in the passive. e.g. They let him use their notes. – He was allowed to use their notes.

· after had better, would rather and would sooner. e.g. You had better sign the contract. I would rather go  home now.

Note 1. Help is followed by either the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive. e.g. She helped me (to)

write  the report.

Note 2.  If two infinitives are joined by ‘and’, the ‘to” of the second infinitive can be omitted. e.g. He decided to go to university and study psychology.

Note 3. We form the negative infinitive with not. e.g. He decided not to accept the job.

2.  Complete the answers using a question word + to-infinitive.

1. A: Which branch of science are you going to choose? B: I’m not sure ____________ 2. A: Where are you going to work after graduating from the University? B: I don’t know ________________ 3. A: How many people are you going to invite to your birthday party. B: I can’t decide _____________ 4. A: How are you going to do your hair? B: I’m wondering ______________ 5. A: Which articles are they going to discuss? B: I have no idea _______________  6. What kind of flowers are you going to order? I haven’t decided ______________ 7. Where are you going to have your reception? I don’t know ___________________ 8. Which company are you going to hire. I’m not sure __________________

3. Complete the sentences with too or enough and the adjective in brackets.

1. A: Do you want to study today? B: Oh, no. I’m ___________ to study today. (tired) 2. A: Can you comply with this assignment? B: No, I’m not ____________ to comply with it. (competent) 3. A: Did they pass the exam yesterday? B: No. They were not _________ to pass it. (prepared) 4. A: Did you sign the contract yesterday? B: Yes. It was ____________ to delay. (urgent) 5. A: Would you come to the disco? B: No, I’m _________ to go to the disco. (busy) 6. A: Did they go on a picnic yesterday? B: No. It was ____________ to go on a picnic. (cold) 7. A: Did Jane enjoy the horror film? B: No, she was ________ to enjoy it. (scared) 8. A: Will you go to London by bus? B: No. The bus is ________ (slow). I’ll take the train. 9. A: Did she like the dress you tried on. B: Yes, but it was _________ (big). 10. A: Take a photograph of me. B: I can’t. It isn’t _________ in here (bright).

4. Rewrite the following sentences using for + to-infinitive.

A) 1. It’s quite natural that he should act like that. 2. It’s strange that he refuse to accept the invitation. 3. It’s customary that the chief should preside over the staff meetings. 4. It’s necessary that they should make the decision today. 5. It’s urgent that you should clarify all the details of the contract. 6. It’s advisable that the they should place an advertisement in the newspaper. 7. It’s important that they should finish work today. 8. It would be a good idea that she should learn a foreign language. 9. It is impossible that she should let us down. 10. This is a lesson which you should remember for the rest of your life. 11. I’ll leave the magazine that you may read it. 12. The simplest thing is that he should come and see everything for himself. 13. The people gave way so that we might pass. 14. It is rather strange that they should leave without letting us know.

5. Complete the sentences using for +to-infinitive on your own.

1. The supermarket has a car park for the customers ______________ 2. The University has a gym for the students _____________ 3. The school has a playground for the children ____________ 4. The office has a canteen for the staff ____________ 5. The bus has a bin for the passengers ___________ 6. The youth club has a cloakroom for the members _______________7. The stepped aside for me ________________  

6. Fill in to when necessary .

1. He agreed … come and … help us with the task. 2. They explained how … use the new rule. 3. We saw her … talk to our teacher. 4. She was seen … talk to our teacher. 5. She helped me … fill in my application form. 6. You had better … go to the office at once. 7. It was clever of you … book the tickets in advance. 8. He was the first … arrive. 9. You should …. apologize for your behaviour. 10. I ought … find a job. 11. It was her ambition … open her own firm. 12. He is reluctant … help. 13. I would rather … accept their offer. 14. It’s important … have the entire information. 15. He made them … listen to him. 16. Let him … clarify this point. 17. She was made … work overtime. 

 

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