Legal English Test

Choose the correct alternative to complete each sentence:

1. The lawyer has to ___________ a claim with the Court until Wednesday. issue send file write

2. The judge decides on the ______________ and damages of the case. liability compensation defendant attorney

3. According to the law, tax ___________ is a crime. covenant levy evasion motion

4. Tort law covers___________. crimes civil wrongs contracts employment rights

5. A bill becomes a law after it is ______________. enforced set forth biased enacted

Section II: Grammar

Choose the correct alternative to complete each sentence:

1. Which activities is your business involved _______? on in to at

2. “Clause 12. The parties to these contract ___________perform all obligations in the time and manner defined in this contract.” shall can should would

3. “John Smith, _____________ referred to as BUYER, agrees to perform all obligations defined in this contract.” hereinafter hereof herefrom herewith

4. The plaintiff ______________ $100,000 in damages by the Court. awarded was awarded has awarded had awarded

5. There was not enough evidence against the defendant. _____________, he was considered innocent. However Furthermore Thus Notwithstanding

Section III: Reading

Based on the text, mark if sentences are TRUE or FALSE:

Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, wherein the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons (the "arbitrators", "arbiters" or "arbitral tribunal"), by whose decision they agree to be bound. It is a settlement technique in which a third party reviews the case and imposes a decision that is legally binding for both sides. Other forms of ADR include mediation (a form of settlement negotiation facilitated by a neutral third party) and non-binding resolution by experts.

Arbitration is most commonly used for the resolution of commercial disputes, particularly in the context of international commercial transactions. The use of arbitration is far more controversial in consumer and employment matters, where arbitration is not voluntary but is instead imposed on consumers or employees through fine-print contracts, denying individuals their right to access the courts.

Arbitration can be either voluntary or mandatory and can be either binding or non-binding. Non-binding arbitration is, on the surface, similar to mediation. However, the principal distinction is that whereas a mediator will try to help the parties find a middle ground on which to compromise, the (non-binding) arbitrator remains totally removed from the settlement process and will only give a determination of liability and, if appropriate, an indication of the quantum of damages payable.

1. ADRs are examples of legal proceedings, carried out by courts T F

2. Generally, parties have to comply with the arbitrator’s decision T F

3. Arbitration is more common in cases involving overseas trading T F

4. Consumers and employees have all their rights protected by their contracts T F

5. Mediators have a final saying in the parties’ dispute T F

Section IV: Listening

The following recording was taken from the ILEC Listening Test Sample Paper. For more information and similar exercises please visit: www.legalenglishtest.org

You will hear part of a consultation between a lawyer and a new client, Anna Krupa who is planning to set up her own business. As you listen mark the correct alternative:

1. The law firm has previously represented Anna´s husband in a dispute involving his inheritance
setting up his own commercial venture
an insurance claim regarding his company

2. What does Anna tell the lawyer about her current situation? she is in full-time employment at present
she is completing a course of further study
she is putting resources into ideas of her own

3. What made Anna leave her last employer? she was unable to get on with her new boss
she felt she was not making sufficient progress in her career
she was dissatisfied with a change to her employees benefits package

4. Anna thinks that the restrictive covenant in her previous employment agreement is no longer binding on her
imposes limits on where she can work
prevents her from disclosing company policy

5. What is Anna’s next priority for her proposed business venture? ensuring that her new invention is protected by a patent
establishing the most economic way of moving forward
finding the right employees and appropriate office space.

Section V: Writing

Write a paragraph describing your area of legal work and/or your work routine. Include:

• the matters the area involves
• activities you are usually engaged in
• why you chose this area to work with.