Academisch en juridisch engels
week 1
Legal English: Legal Professions & Branches of the law
Legal Professions in the United Kingdom
Solicitor
= A solicitor is a lawyer who deals directly with clients.
- They mainly handle preparatory legal work, such as giving advice, drafting contracts,
managing property, and preparing cases for court.
- Traditionally, solicitors can only plead before lower courts.
Some solicitors obtain additional qualifications allowing them to appear in higher courts;
these are known as Solicitor Advocates.
Barrister (or Advocate in Scotland)
= A barrister (or advocate in Scotland) specialises in advocacy -> representing clients in court.
- They are usually instructed by solicitors rather than dealing directly with clients.
- Barristers mainly plead cases before higher courts.
King’s Counsel (KC)
= The King’s Counsel (KC) title is awarded to senior, highly specialised barristers.
- They are appointed by the monarch and handle complex or high-profile cases.
- They are considered leaders of the Bar and may use the post-nominal letters KC.
Prosecutor / Procurator Fiscal (Scotland)
= A prosecutor represents the state in criminal cases.
- In England and Wales, prosecutions are handled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); in
Scotland, by the Procurator Fiscal.
- Prosecutors decide whether to bring charges and present the case in court.
Judges / Sheriffs (Scotland)
= A judge presides over court proceedings, evaluates evidence, and delivers judgments.
In Scotland, sheriffs serve as regional judges, while senior judges are called Senators of the
College of Justice.
Magistrate / Justice of the Peace
= A magistrate, or Justice of the Peace in Scotland, is usually a volunteer with no formal legal training.
-> They deal with minor criminal cases and family disputes, helping to reduce the workload of
professional judges.
Notary
,= A notary is a specialised lawyer who authenticates and certifies official documents, such as property
deeds or marriage certificates.
Paralegal
= A paralegal assists lawyers by preparing legal documents, conducting research, and organising files.
They usually have some legal training but are not fully qualified lawyers.
Legal Professions in the United States
Attorney (at law)
= a licensed lawyer who has been admitted to the State Bar of a specific state.
- The terms “attorney” and “lawyer” are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking, an
attorney is someone authorised to represent clients in court.
Prosecutor / District Attorney / Attorney General
= A prosecutor represents the government in criminal cases.
- At the local level, this official is usually called the District Attorney (DA).
- The top federal prosecutor is the Attorney General of the United States.
Judge / Magistrate Judge
= In the U.S., judges may be appointed or elected depending on the level of court.
- Federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
- Magistrate Judges are appointed by District Court Judges to handle preliminary proceedings
and other tasks, but not appointed by the President.
Notary Public
= A Notary Public in the U.S. is not a lawyer but a public official who certifies signatures and
authenticates documents to prevent fraud.
Common Confusions (Veelgemaakte verwarringen)
Lawyer is a general term for anyone with legal training. In the U.S., it refers to someone who
has graduated from law school but may not have passed the Bar exam.
Counsel means a person who represents you in court (a barrister/advocate in the UK or an
attorney in the U.S.).
Council means a governing or advisory body — do not confuse it with counsel.
Legal Training and Qualification (Opleiding en Beroepskwalificatie)
United Kingdom (England & Wales):
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and
Qualified Work Experience (QWE) for solicitors, or bar training and pupillage
for barristers.
Scotland:
, LLB → Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) → two-year traineeship
→ devilling (apprenticeship with an experienced advocate).
United States:
Four-year undergraduate degree + Juris Doctor (JD). Must pass the State Bar
Exam and a character and fitness review. Separate admissions for federal
courts are required.*
Branches of the law
1. Civil Law
Based on written codes and statutes (e.g. the Civil Code). Found mainly in continental
Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, etc.).
2. Common Law
Based on judicial precedent: previous court decisions serve as binding examples for
future cases. Used primarily in the UK and the US.
3. Mixed or Trans-systemic Law
A combination of civil and common law traditions, such as in Scotland, Quebec, or
South Africa.
Law is commonly divided into three main categories:
1. Public Law
2. Private Law
3. Mixed or Trans-systemic Law
Public Law (Publiekrecht)
Public law governs the relationship between individuals and the state and defines the structure and
powers of government. It ensures that citizens are treated fairly by public authorities.
Examples of Public Law:
Constitutional Law – defines the organisation and powers of the government, parliament, and
courts.
Administrative Law – governs how public authorities make and review decisions.
Criminal Law – defines offences and penalties.
Human Rights Law – protects fundamental freedoms and dignity.
Tax Law – regulates the collection of taxes and public revenue.
Private Law (Privaatrecht)
, = regulates relationships between private individuals and organisations.
It focuses on obligations, rights, and remedies between parties, rather than the powers of the state.
Examples of Private Law:
Contract Law – governs the formation and enforcement of agreements.
Tort Law / Delict – deals with liability for harm caused by negligence or intentional acts.
Property Law – concerns ownership and transfer of property.
Family Law – covers marriage, divorce, and parental rights.
Succession Law – determines how estates are distributed after death.
Company Law – regulates business entities and corporate governance.
Employment Law – sets out rights and duties in the workplace.
Mixed or Trans-systemic Law (Gemengd of trans-systemisch recht)
= includes elements of both public and private law or merges civil and common law traditions.
Examples:
Evidence Law – combines procedural and substantive aspects.
Procedural Law – defines how cases are conducted and appeals are made.
EU Law – has both national and international dimensions.
Intellectual Property Law (IP) – protects creative works and inventions across jurisdictions.
International Law – governs relations between states but also affects individuals.
News literacy ( media landscape the UK vs the US, Media Bias Charts
UK&US)
Wat is News Literacy?
=the ability to critically evaluate the reliability and accuracy of information.
- In a world overloaded with data and social media posts, it is vital to distinguish between what
is true, biased, or false.
It involves:
Analysing sources (Who is speaking? Why?)
Checking evidence and data
Assessing tone, context, and timeliness
Recognising bias, emotion, and manipulation
Wat maakt nieuws betrouwbaar (trustworthy)?
week 1
Legal English: Legal Professions & Branches of the law
Legal Professions in the United Kingdom
Solicitor
= A solicitor is a lawyer who deals directly with clients.
- They mainly handle preparatory legal work, such as giving advice, drafting contracts,
managing property, and preparing cases for court.
- Traditionally, solicitors can only plead before lower courts.
Some solicitors obtain additional qualifications allowing them to appear in higher courts;
these are known as Solicitor Advocates.
Barrister (or Advocate in Scotland)
= A barrister (or advocate in Scotland) specialises in advocacy -> representing clients in court.
- They are usually instructed by solicitors rather than dealing directly with clients.
- Barristers mainly plead cases before higher courts.
King’s Counsel (KC)
= The King’s Counsel (KC) title is awarded to senior, highly specialised barristers.
- They are appointed by the monarch and handle complex or high-profile cases.
- They are considered leaders of the Bar and may use the post-nominal letters KC.
Prosecutor / Procurator Fiscal (Scotland)
= A prosecutor represents the state in criminal cases.
- In England and Wales, prosecutions are handled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS); in
Scotland, by the Procurator Fiscal.
- Prosecutors decide whether to bring charges and present the case in court.
Judges / Sheriffs (Scotland)
= A judge presides over court proceedings, evaluates evidence, and delivers judgments.
In Scotland, sheriffs serve as regional judges, while senior judges are called Senators of the
College of Justice.
Magistrate / Justice of the Peace
= A magistrate, or Justice of the Peace in Scotland, is usually a volunteer with no formal legal training.
-> They deal with minor criminal cases and family disputes, helping to reduce the workload of
professional judges.
Notary
,= A notary is a specialised lawyer who authenticates and certifies official documents, such as property
deeds or marriage certificates.
Paralegal
= A paralegal assists lawyers by preparing legal documents, conducting research, and organising files.
They usually have some legal training but are not fully qualified lawyers.
Legal Professions in the United States
Attorney (at law)
= a licensed lawyer who has been admitted to the State Bar of a specific state.
- The terms “attorney” and “lawyer” are often used interchangeably, but strictly speaking, an
attorney is someone authorised to represent clients in court.
Prosecutor / District Attorney / Attorney General
= A prosecutor represents the government in criminal cases.
- At the local level, this official is usually called the District Attorney (DA).
- The top federal prosecutor is the Attorney General of the United States.
Judge / Magistrate Judge
= In the U.S., judges may be appointed or elected depending on the level of court.
- Federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
- Magistrate Judges are appointed by District Court Judges to handle preliminary proceedings
and other tasks, but not appointed by the President.
Notary Public
= A Notary Public in the U.S. is not a lawyer but a public official who certifies signatures and
authenticates documents to prevent fraud.
Common Confusions (Veelgemaakte verwarringen)
Lawyer is a general term for anyone with legal training. In the U.S., it refers to someone who
has graduated from law school but may not have passed the Bar exam.
Counsel means a person who represents you in court (a barrister/advocate in the UK or an
attorney in the U.S.).
Council means a governing or advisory body — do not confuse it with counsel.
Legal Training and Qualification (Opleiding en Beroepskwalificatie)
United Kingdom (England & Wales):
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and
Qualified Work Experience (QWE) for solicitors, or bar training and pupillage
for barristers.
Scotland:
, LLB → Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) → two-year traineeship
→ devilling (apprenticeship with an experienced advocate).
United States:
Four-year undergraduate degree + Juris Doctor (JD). Must pass the State Bar
Exam and a character and fitness review. Separate admissions for federal
courts are required.*
Branches of the law
1. Civil Law
Based on written codes and statutes (e.g. the Civil Code). Found mainly in continental
Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, etc.).
2. Common Law
Based on judicial precedent: previous court decisions serve as binding examples for
future cases. Used primarily in the UK and the US.
3. Mixed or Trans-systemic Law
A combination of civil and common law traditions, such as in Scotland, Quebec, or
South Africa.
Law is commonly divided into three main categories:
1. Public Law
2. Private Law
3. Mixed or Trans-systemic Law
Public Law (Publiekrecht)
Public law governs the relationship between individuals and the state and defines the structure and
powers of government. It ensures that citizens are treated fairly by public authorities.
Examples of Public Law:
Constitutional Law – defines the organisation and powers of the government, parliament, and
courts.
Administrative Law – governs how public authorities make and review decisions.
Criminal Law – defines offences and penalties.
Human Rights Law – protects fundamental freedoms and dignity.
Tax Law – regulates the collection of taxes and public revenue.
Private Law (Privaatrecht)
, = regulates relationships between private individuals and organisations.
It focuses on obligations, rights, and remedies between parties, rather than the powers of the state.
Examples of Private Law:
Contract Law – governs the formation and enforcement of agreements.
Tort Law / Delict – deals with liability for harm caused by negligence or intentional acts.
Property Law – concerns ownership and transfer of property.
Family Law – covers marriage, divorce, and parental rights.
Succession Law – determines how estates are distributed after death.
Company Law – regulates business entities and corporate governance.
Employment Law – sets out rights and duties in the workplace.
Mixed or Trans-systemic Law (Gemengd of trans-systemisch recht)
= includes elements of both public and private law or merges civil and common law traditions.
Examples:
Evidence Law – combines procedural and substantive aspects.
Procedural Law – defines how cases are conducted and appeals are made.
EU Law – has both national and international dimensions.
Intellectual Property Law (IP) – protects creative works and inventions across jurisdictions.
International Law – governs relations between states but also affects individuals.
News literacy ( media landscape the UK vs the US, Media Bias Charts
UK&US)
Wat is News Literacy?
=the ability to critically evaluate the reliability and accuracy of information.
- In a world overloaded with data and social media posts, it is vital to distinguish between what
is true, biased, or false.
It involves:
Analysing sources (Who is speaking? Why?)
Checking evidence and data
Assessing tone, context, and timeliness
Recognising bias, emotion, and manipulation
Wat maakt nieuws betrouwbaar (trustworthy)?
