giovedì 21 maggio 2020

Lesson 10_2020

International Law


in relation to
is  referred to as
is derived  from
on the law of treaties
defines a treaty as
originates from
to be bound by/to
entitled to something




A binding source of law
binding supranational law
a signatory part

 
Videos: 
Reading 1: International Law pp 94-96 ex 2-5
Reading 2 ex 7-9

newsworthy reports: 
Prepositions:
  1. Parties to a treaty
  2. ....the treaty is in force
  3. ....a signatory to a convention
  4. Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child
  5. ...are entitled to special protection
  6. International laws apply to the citizens
  7. ...regulations are binding on Partner States

Intergovernmental organizations

No significant differences:
Conventions – Vienna Convention 
  • agreemments
  • charters
  • framework conventions deal with very broad areas

United Nations 



Listening 9.1
Text analysis audio transcript 9.1 pag 136

Collocations - phrasal verbs - idiomatic expressions - collocations
  •  to have a considerable impact on (sth/so)
  • to have a considerable impact in (place)
  • to be seen in the context of
  • a growing concern
  • to rely on
  • to accuse someone over/of sth
  • to go up to
  • to call in
  • to have right to ..
  • the right of someone to ....
  • to take actions against ..
  • social dumping
  • wage dumping
  • collective bargaining
  • fair working conditions
  • regardless of ...



Self study

List of legal systems 
• Civil Law 
• Common Law 
• Religious Law (Muslim Law, Hindu Law, Jewish Law) 
• Chinese Law 
• Socialist Law


Reading 3 pp 100 ex 17-20
Language focus: page 105 ex 1-3

giovedì 14 maggio 2020

Lesson 9_2020

Revision Vocabulary: real property law


  • deposit
  • lien
  • conveyance
  • tenancy agreement
  • mortgage
  • escrow
  • easement
  • cadastral register
  • chain of title
  • capital appreciation
  • stamp duty
  • purchase price
  • notorial deed
  • encombrances
  • survey
  • boundaries


Reading 1 Litigation and Arbitration pp 83-84 ex 2,3

Focus on language: How do you say that … in Italian?
  • Dispute resolution
  • Disputing parties
  • Litigation (court proceedings/ lawsuit)
  • Settlement (resolution of a dispute)
  • Hearing [the hearing was adjourned]
  • Pleading: formal statement served by each party to a lawsuit to one another, and containing their respective positions (allegations, claims, defences, denies) ["counsel for the plaintiffs wanted to amend the pleadings"]
  • to plead for 
  • to plead guilty/not guilty
  • Out –of-court settlement
  • Binding (obligatory) decision/agreement/arbitration
  • non-binding agreement
  • to be bound by sth (legally obligated) "bound by the terms of the contract"
  • to be bound to sth/sb "Judges are bound to the law"
  • Legal fees
  • To settle a dispute
  • To reach a settlement
  • To enforce/deliver judgment
  • To save money on
  • To threaten to sue
  • To face court proceedings/litigation costs
  • To deny accusations
  • To pursue a claim
  • In connection with
Examples of disputes:• Dispute over people's behaviour may involve conflict between neighbours over anti-social behaviour (loud parties or verbal abuse)
• Business disputes can involve different interpretation of the terms of a contract, or questions over whether a contract has been breached, and what remedies/damages are appropriate.
• Planning disputes include situations where, for example, a property owner plans to construct a new building, or improve an existing building. (ie planning permissions)
• Environmental disputes include disputes over resources and questions over who has the right to exploit those resources, and at what cost to the environment. 
    ADR: Alternative Dispute Resolution:
    • negotiation: participation is voluntary and there is no third party who facilitates the resolution process or imposes a resolution
    • arbitration:participation is typically voluntary, and there is a third party who, as a private judge, imposes a resolution. Arbitrations often occur because parties to contracts agree that any future dispute concerning the agreement will be resolved by arbitration.
    • mediation:there is a third party, a mediator, who facilitates the resolution process (and may even suggest a resolution, typically known as a "mediator's proposal"), but does not impose a resolution on the parties


    Reading 2 letter of invitation pp 85-86 ex 7 - ref to ELSA (European Law Students' association 
    Grammar Practice:
    Reading 3 Avoiding litigation page 88 ex 14-16
    Reading 4 Cost of litigation page 89 ex 18-21
    Reading 5 Letter before action pp 89-91 ex 22-28

    COLLOCATIONS
    adverb-adjective

    • strictly private and confidential
    • fully entitled
    • shortly forthcoming

    adverb-verb
    • strenuously denies
    • recently informed
    adjective-noun
    • confidential information
    • previous criticism
    • a positive asset
    • a substantial increase
    • constructive dismissal (licenziamento senza giusta causa)
    • excellent prospects
    • exemplary damages
    • alternative means
    • satisfactory proposals

    Self Study
    Listening 1 Question and answer session
    pag 87 ex 10-12 peanut kernel case
    Listening 2 Lawyer-client interview pp 91-91 ex 29-32
    Language Focus page 93

    sabato 4 aprile 2020

    Word of the day

    to probe [sb] for [sth] vb + prep  sondare, interrogare, indagare
    The prosecutor probed the witness for information
    Il pubblico ministero interrogò il testimone per avere informazioni

    to be on probation expr  essere in libertà vigilata, essere in libertà condizionata 
    to put sb on probation  sottoporre qn a libertà vigilata

    probation officer (supervises [sb] on probation funzionario addetto alla sorveglianza alla di persone in libertà provvisoria

    venerdì 3 aprile 2020

    Lesson 6_2020

    Let's learn something about the old Bailey - The Central Criminal Court 
    FAQ about the old Bailey

    Language Focus: prepositions
    to be arrested ___
    to be accused ___
    to bring an action ___
    to be convicted ____
    to be sentenced ___
    to have an effect ___
    to have an impact ___
    to be put ___ probation 
    to serve ___ the bench
    to serve ___ the governing board of a corporation 
    to comply ____ the law
    ____compliance _____ 



    Introduction to Company law
    • Reading 1 pp 50-51 ex 1-3


    Partnerships vs Companies or Corporations


    Partnership 
    Limited partnership with shares= società in accomandita per azioni
    Limited Partnership = società in accomandita semplice
    General Partnerhip = Società in nome collettivo

    Società di Capitali= Società di Capitali
    Limited by Shares (plc + Ltd)
    Public Company Limited by Shares (plc) = Società per azioni
    Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd) = Società a responsabilità limitata.
    Setting up a company in the UK - how easy/difficult is it?

    It's quite difficult to find a clear correspondence with the Italian companies especially with srl ones.
    Le quote della nostra srl non sono definibili shares ma quota(s), il titolare di quote sarà definito quotaholder. In riferimento al capitale della società non potrò parlare di share capital ma di corporate capital.

    The situation improves when it comes to plc (or Ltd) : Il capitale sociale è definito share capital (oppure, con terminologia americana, capital stock), i soci azionisti sono shareholders (o, sempre nella versione U.S.,stockholders) e così i principali organi sociali, quali il consiglio di amministrazione – board of directors – e l’assemblea degli azionisti – shareholders’ meeting.


    - board/panel of internal auditors/statutory auditors  = sort of Collegio Sindacale  
     managing director or C.E.O. (Chief Executive Officer) = amministratore delegato
    -  incorporation process: 
    • ’atto costitutivo – memorandum of association/articles of incorporation 
    • lo statuto – articles of association/bylaws 
    • iscrizione al registro delle imprese locale – registration



    Last but not least.... 
    procedure concorsuali – insolvency proceedings 
    tassa societaria - corporation tax

    lunedì 30 marzo 2020

    Lesson_5 2020

    Revision Key terms

    • trial /trail/
    • lawsuit
    • out of court settlement
    • claimant/plaintiff
    • defendant
    • find for vs find against
    • affirm vs reverse a judgement
    • proximate cause
    • wilful harm
    • negligence 
    • negligent
    • intentional harm 
    • gross negligence



    Reading 1 pp 39-40 ex 3-5 Match the definition with the crimes

    1.      armed robbery
    a  killing somebody through an act or omission
    2.        arson
    b  deceiving somebody out of money or property
    3.      assault
    c  creating a false document
    4.      battery
    d  using a weapon to take money or property by force or direct threat of violence
    5.      bribery
    e  violence or abuse against a member of the offender's own household (e.g. wife/husband and children)
    6.      burglary
     intentionally burning a building
    7.      domestic violence
     buying and selling illegal narcotics
    8.      drug trafficking
    h  operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
    9.      drunk driving
    i  entering a building with intent to commit a crime
    10.  embezzlement
     striking a person with intent to harm
    11.  extortion 
    k  attempting to physically attack a person.
    12.  forgery
    l  giving money etc. to influence a public official
    13.  fraud
    m  stealing from an employer
    14.  homicide 
    n  obtaining money or property through indirect threats or intimidation 

    Self study

    Grammar: Passive constructions
    Key terms_1: punishments
    Reading 2 White-collar crime page 43-44 ex ex 19-21
    Law in Practice
    Language Use 3: giving advice
    Language Focus

    Listening 1 - 4 strongly suggested 

    Word of the day



    in·dict·ment [ɪnˈdaɪtməntnoun (Lawatto d'accusaimputazione, rinvio a giudizio nm   iscrizione nel registro degli indagati nf  messa in stato d'accusa nf

    to bring an indictment against sb formulare un'accusa or imputazione contro qn
    The business faced an indictment from several former coworkers regarding its unethical practices. (L'azienda è stata rinviata a giudizio per la segnalazione di diversi ex dipendenti riguardo a pratiche immorali.)
    indictment n  figurative (accusation)       accusa nf   The complaints from the people were an indictment on the local police. ( Le lamentele della gente rappresentavano un'accusa contro la polizia locale.)

    bill of indictment n   (law: document accusing of crime)        atto di accusa nm
    under indictment adj         (law: formally charged)      in stato d'accusa loc agg
               (diritto, formale)     iscritto nel registro degli indagati 
     
     

    venerdì 13 marzo 2020

    Lesson_4 2020


    Use of Shall in legal English

    Generally speaking it has a mandatory function meaning a duty, an obligation. However, other legal  documents show  us that shall is actually used to perform a number of semantic functions .
    Sometimes it could well be replaced by other modal verbs - must, should , may,  be to

    It can imply obligation, but can also be used with a future meaning.
    Eg: The defendant shall file an answer within thirty days.  (Obligation)
    Eg: The lease shall terminate after 1 year.  (Future)


    Below are some contract clauses expressed in everyday English. Can you write the formal version by using shall and or other modal verbs:


    1. The buyer must nominate when the goods will be shipped.
    ............... / ............ / ........../ ............/……… date ………/……… .
    2. The buyer must tell the seller when the vessel or vessels will probably be ready. The buyer must tell the seller more or less how much is going to be loaded onto the vessel. The buyer must do this at least two weeks before the goods are shipped .
    ………. /………. shall .........../ .......... /.......... /........../.......... two ........../.......... /.......... probable ………. /.......... vessel(s) ........../ ........../ ........../.......... quantity .......... / ........../ ………. .
    3. As soon as the buyer has notified the seller when the vessel will probably be ready, the seller must nominate a port where the goods will be loaded .
    Upon ........... / .............. / ………./ ………./ ………./ ……… , ......... seller ………./ ………./ ………. port ………./ ………./ ………./ ………./ ………. .
    4. The deadline for shipping the goods is 22 May 2008.

    ………./………./………./………. later ………./………./………./………. .

    Prepositions


    Prepositions Complete the following sentences about contract law using the
    prepositions in the box.

    against            for       for       in         into      to        to         under

    An individual or a business may enter .....into….. a contract.
    2 Anyone who is not a party………. the contract Is considered a third party
    and cannot be obligated to do anything required………….. the contract.
    lf one of the parties breaches a contractual obligation, the non-breaching party
    may file a lawsuit……………. the breaching party.
    Furthermore, a party will not be required to perform its contractual obligations if
    another party is ………….breach.
    Damages are awarded………….. a party …………..any loss that the party
    has suffered as a result of a breach of contract.
    6 However, a party will ……………not always be able to recover all losses when suing
    damages.

    Word formation: Can you think of verbs, adjectives and/or nouns of these words below

    1 terminate 2 summary 3discuss 4 instruct 5specify
    6 ship 7 agree 8be 9 subsequent 10 certain
    11 intend 12 confirm 13necessary 14 act 15 short


    Let's look at this email of advice. Some words have been taken out. Can you think of the correct word, based on the previous exercise we did on word formation.

    Subject: The termination of your contract with Drexler Inc.
    Dear Mr McKendrick
    Thank you for coming to see me on 30 May when we discussed the 1) ..…….of your contract with Drexler Inc. I am writing to 2) ………. our 3)………. and to confirm your 4) ……….. .
    You told me that Drexler Inc. agreed to purchase a large quantity of goods (exact amount 5)……….) from your firm, Export Threads. Under clause 2a of the contract, Drexler were to give you two weeks' notice of the date of 6) ………. so that you could arrange a port for the loading of goods. You were unable to arrange this because Drexler failed to let you know by the 7) .......... date. You now wish to terminate the contract.
    The legal issue here is whether or not Drexler's breach is enough to allow Export Threads to terminate the contract without 8) .......... liable for damages. If the contract term in question can be shown to be a condition, you will be able to terminate the contract without fear of damages being awarded against you. If the term is simply a warranty, you will be able to claim damages to cover any costs you have incurred as a result of this breach, but may not actually terminate the contract.
    Recent case law suggests that if you do choose to terminate the contract, and if Drexler
    9)………… decide to sue you, the courts would rule in your favour. Your contract involves a chain of sales, and in such cases, the need for 10)………… is very important. You were unable to arrange the loading of the goods as a direct consequence of Drexler's breach of clause 2a, and this term would be interpreted as a condition.
    I will write a letter to Drexler Inc. outlining the above and notifying them of your 11) ........... to terminate the contract. I will request 12)………. from Drexler that they accept our interpretation both of the events and of the relevant law, and that your termination of the contract will not lead to any 13)………. legal 14)………. on their part. I will be in touch again 15)………. . Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

    With kind regards
    Charles Dawe