О.Л. Федотова, О.Е. Иванова-Холодная

Деловой иностранный язык. Английский язык для юристов

Учебник для магистров

Ответственный редактор
О. Л. Федотова

ebooks@prospekt.org

Информация о книге

УДК 811.111(075.8)

ББК 81.2Англ-923

Ф34

Авторы:

Федотова О. Л. — доцент кафедры английского языка № 2;

Иванова-Холодная О. Е. — доцент кафедры английского языка № 2.

Настоящий учебник разработан на кафедре английского языка № 2 на основе федеральных государственных образовательных стандартов (ФГОС ВПО) третьего поколения и предназначен для обучения по направлению подготовки «Юриспруденция».

УДК 811.111(075.8)

ББК 81.2Англ-923

© Федотова О. Л., Иванова-Холодная О. Е., 2017

© ООО «Проспект», 2017

Пояснительная записка

Учебник для магистратуры «Деловой иностранный язык. Английский язык для юристов» разработан на кафедре английского языка № 2 на основе Федеральных государственных образовательных стандартов (ФГОС ВПО) третьего поколения и предназначен для обучения по направлению подготовки «Юриспруденция».

Курс рассчитан на прохождение в течение двух зачетных единиц (72 академических часа) основной образовательной программы (ООП) магистратуры, из них 12 часов проводятся в аудитории под руководством преподавателя и 60 часов изучаются магистрантами в качестве самостоятельной работы. Каждая глава (модуль) рассчитана на 4 часа аудиторной работы и 20 часов самостоятельной работы магистранта. По завершении курса в качестве экзаменационного зачета предполагается защита проекта «Электронное портфолио достижений магистранта для трудоустройства» в форме презентации.

Курс включает в себя три унифицированно построенных главы (практические модули), каждая из которых, в свою очередь, состоит из трех разделов, последний из которых предлагается для самостоятельной работы над материалом. Результаты освоения раздела “Self Study” выражаются в выполнении практических творческих заданий и являются составными частями общего проекта. В каждой главе (модуле) содержится информация, позволяющая магистранту определиться с целями и задачами данного модуля, а также перечень компетенций, которые должны быть сформированы в результате работы. В конце каждой главы имеются глоссарий, вопросы для самоконтроля, а также ответы на тестовые задания.

Курс носит практический характер и направлен на развитие коммуникативной компетенции магистрантов посредством охвата основных форм, видов и ситуаций делового иноязычного общения юриста при осуществлении своей профессиональной деятельности.

Задания, выполняемые в аудитории под руководством преподавателя, построены таким образом, чтобы магистранты не получали готовые ответы на поставленные вопросы, а путем рассуждения и анализа приходили к умозаключению, аргументированно его высказывали в форме обсуждения в парах, ролевых играх или мини-докладах. Данный прием позволяет развивать в большей степени индуктивно-дедуктивные способности, а также способствует развитию критического и творческого мышления магистрантов.

Большая часть заданий направлена на развитие навыка структурирования информации, вычленения ее основных составляющих, переработки информации в разные формы устной и письменной коммуникации с учетом выбранного стиля общения. Особое внимание уделяется развитию чувства языка посредством использования в собственных высказываниях речевых клише, идиоматических выражений и формул речевого этикета, присущих различным ситуациям иноязычного делового общения.

Все задания курса предусматривают повторение и систематизацию уже имеющихся знаний и умений в области иностранного языка, полученных магистрантами на предыдущих уровнях общей образовательной системы по дисциплине «Английский язык» (уровень B1 в соответствии с Общеевропейской шкалой владения языком), по четырем основным видам речевой деятельности (говорение, аудирование, чтение и письмо).

По завершении курса предусматриваются выполнение и защита проекта по теме «Создание электронного портфолио достижений для трудоустройства юриста». Портфолио включает в себя следующие разработанные магистрантом документы:

1) рекламное объявление о вакансии юриста в компании соответствующего профиля (изучение рынка услуг);

2) сопроводительное (мотивационное) письмо;

3) резюме;

4) эссе;

5) образцы самостоятельных письменных работ магистранта;

6) можно приложить имеющиеся сертификаты или рекомендательные письма.

Защита проекта проводится в форме электронной презентации. Рекомендации по созданию портфолио и подготовке презентации даются в разделе для самостоятельной работы (Part С) каждой главы курса.

Курс дополнительно оснащен книгой для самостоятельного чтения (Reader), представленной текстами, взятыми из аутентичных профильных учебников. Содержание дополнительных текстов коррелируется с главами курса и позволяет магистрантам самостоятельно изучить вопросы и темы, рассматриваемые на занятиях под руководством преподавателя. Книга для чтения (Reader) включает в себя: аутентичный учебный материал по осуществлению эффективной коммуникации в области профессионального делового общения юриста; целевые установки для организации самостоятельной работы над материалом; образцы деловой документации, рекомендации и требования к составлению различных видов деловой документации, входящей в состав электронного портфолио достижений магистранта.

Глава 1.
Трудоустройство юриста. Профессиональные компетенции юриста. Портфолио

Цель изучения главы:

• формирование способности свободно пользоваться иностранным языком как средством делового общения в профессиональной сфере при трудоустройстве в иностранную компанию.

В результате работы над главой магистрант должен:

Знать:

• значение новых лексических единиц, терминов, связанных с процессом трудоустройства и характером работы юриста в компании;

• идиоматические выражения, клише, единицы речевого этикета, применяемые в ситуации общения в рамках заданной темы;

• стандартные формы оформления документов, а именно: объявления о вакансии, резюме соискателя на должность и сопроводительного письма;

• правила делового этикета.

Уметь:

• понимать письменное сообщение, используя различные виды чтения в зависимости от конкретной коммуникативной задачи;

• вычленять и понимать информацию, ограниченную коммуникативным заданием, а также воспринимать и осмысливать сообщения с учетом намерения, установки, состояния и проч. говорящего;

• передать содержание с опорой на лексические и синтаксические средства, отражающие логико-грамматическую структуру образца письменной коммуникации;

• построить собственную речь с элементами рассуждения, критики, оценки, выражения собственного мнения;

• составить собственное портфолио (резюме) в бумажной или электронной форме.

Владеть:

• навыками стандартного оформления деловой корреспонденции и документации типа рекламного объявления о вакансии, мотивационного письма, резюме и портфолио;

• навыками применения клишированных форм речи в деловой и юридической документации;

• навыками поиска необходимой информации посредством мультимедийных средств и интернет-ресурсов.

Unit 1.
In-house lawyers and their roles in a company

Part A . Application for the in-house lawyer position

1. Read the text and answer the questions.

1. What does the role of the in-house lawyer depend on?

2. What is the role of the in-house lawyer in small organizations?

3. What is the role of the in-house lawyer in large organizations?

4. What is the difference between in-house lawyers and law firm lawyers?

The job for an in-house lawyer is to apply his or her legal knowledge and skills to help a company succeed, while identifying and protecting the company against risks. The size and nature of the company will typically dictate the specific role of the in-house lawyer. In smaller organizations, in-house lawyers usually have a general role and are responsible for overseeing all of the company’s legal relationships, including relationships with other companies, government agencies, and investors, as well as internally with employees, management, and directors. In larger organizations, in-house lawyers usually have a specific role, handling the company’s needs in a discrete area of the law.

As compared to law firm lawyers, company lawyers learn more directly and acutely about the interplay of business and law — how business affects legal decision-making and how law has an impact on business affairs. In-house lawyers may also spend less time researching and writing about the law, in favour of making judgments about different facts that may have an impact on the business. Finally, in-house lawyers are responsible to one client — the company — as opposed to law firm lawyers, who serve many different clients.

2. Match the words with their definitions.

1. an in-house lawyer

a. the directors and managers who have the power and responsibility to make decisions and oversee an enterprise

2. a company

b. a person or group that uses the professional advice or services of a lawyer, accountant, advertising agency, architect, etc.

3. management

c. an individual who works part-time or full-time under a contract of employment, whether oral or written, express or implied, and has recognized rights and duties

4. business

d. the person holding the position typically reports directly to the CEO, and their duties involve overseeing and identifying the legal issues in all departments and their interrelation, including engineering, design, marketing, sales, distribution, credit, finance, human resources, production, as well as corporate governance and business policy

5. a client

e. a person who manages an organized group of people or a part of an organization

6. an employee

f. business made up of lawyers who work together under a specific firm name

7. a director

g. a legal entity, allowed by legislation, which permits a group of people, as shareholders, to apply to the government for an independent organization to be created, which can then focus on pursuing set objectives, and empowered with legal rights which are usually only reserved for individuals, such as to sue and be sued, own property, hire employees or loan and borrow money

8. a law firm

h. an organization or economic system where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money

3. Basing on the definitions make up short stories on each of the terms given in the table above according to the model:

MODEL: In-house lawyer is a corporate employee of the company. He or she has only one client — the company who employed him or her. He reports to CEO. He is a member of the team and can have different roles in an organization, depending on the circumstances — for example, legal advisor, business support, and company secretarial. One of the biggest challenges in the practice of an in-house lawyer is dealing with non-lawyers.

4. Work in pairs or small groups. Look at the graph on the diversity of an in-house lawyer’s roles in the company and give your reasons why and in what cases he needs to be able to wear multiple ‘hats’.

5. Look through the job advertisement and answer the questions.

1. What position is open?

2. Who published the advertisement?

3. What industry does the company operate in?

4. What areas of practice in law are preferable for an in-house counsel role?

5. What are the duties of the in-house counsel?

6. What requirements should an applicant meet?

7. What are the requirements to the applicant?

Commercial / Corporate Lawyer — IN-HOUSE LAWYER

• Leading Company

• Excellent team environment

XYZ has had substantial success recruiting for this leading company over the past few years. We have a new role for a 3-6 year lawyer to join the friendly and dynamic team.

Our client is one of the US largest private companies with offices in cities around the USA. The company operates in the commercial, mining, construction, and infrastructure spaces. This is a diverse, interesting and challenging in-house legal role. With a positive outlook, this role will appeal to a capable corporate or commercial lawyer looking for an in-house counsel role in which they can enjoy assisting with the development and management of legal functions and commercial contracts.

This role is broad and will provide substantial responsibility and opportunity. The business requires substantial legal/advice work and this role will involve ongoing work on complex commercial contracts and agreements. You will also be involved in managing relationships with stakeholders and suppliers. There will also be the opportunity to do some employment law and occupational health and safety work.

You will enjoy applying your commercial acumen as well as your technical skills in this legal role. With the chance to work on complex and significant contracts and projects, and with excellent support systems on offer, this is a rare opportunity in the US market. You will possess about 3+ years (and up to about 6 years) experience working in the commercial legal field, either in-house or for a strong boutique, mid-large or national/international law firm.

6. Match English words and word combinations from the advertisement with their Russian equivalents.

1. complex and significant contracts

a. опыт работы

2. support systems on offer

b. акционеры

3. experience

c. трудовое право

4. commercial acumen

d. контракты на крупные и сложные сделки

5. technical skills

e. деловая жилка (предприимчивость)

6. commercial lawyer

f. техническое мастерство

7. stakeholders

g. юрист, специализирующийся в области коммерческого права

8. employment law

h. системы поддержки коммерческого предложения

7. Work in pairs. In turns give explanations or descriptions of the words from the list in exercise 6 and ask your partner to guess the meaning and translate them.

8. Look through the text and make a list of personal traits which are necessary for all effective lawyers.

If you want to be an effective lawyer, you should have certain traits and attributes in order to excel in this occupation. One important trait which lawyers should possess is that of articulation. A lawyer who can articulate effectively is the one who will be more likely to succeed not only against opposing parties in court but also to impress and put their client at ease as well. An articulate lawyer is the one who will see results.

Another trait which lawyers should have is intelligence. Having this positive attribute will ensure that the person representing the client is the one who is smart enough to know what to do, when to do it and how to go about getting the results which are necessary to win the case and/or abide by the client’s wishes. Lawyers who use their brains are more likely to see the best possible outcome from a case.

It can arguably be said that those who become lawyers are individuals who like to read. The legal profession is filled with volumes of laws, regulations, cases and rules. If one does not favour reading, then becoming a lawyer may not be the best bet, as the legal field is the one which requires massive amounts of reading.

Good comprehension skills are a favourable trait which all lawyers should have. Although the one who likes to read may be a candidate for the legal profession, but reading means nothing if the person does not comprehend what he has just read. Statutes and procedural rules are sometimes difficult to understand and those who have good comprehension skills may prosper at being a lawyer as they will have to read the pertinent documentation much less than those without good comprehension skills.

A good personality and willingness to work well with others are two additional positive traits which all lawyers should possess. Some people may think that lawyers have to be tough as nails in order to excel in the legal profession but this is not entirely true. Although steadfast determination is a good trait to have, it does not mean a whole lot if the one does not have a good personality and willingness to resolve matters. The saying that one can catch more flies with honey than vinegar is also relevant with regard to being a lawyer. Negotiations go much better when the lawyers put their best foot forward and are willing to come to an amicable solution.

Lastly, persuasiveness is an additional trait which all lawyers should possess. Since the legal profession is based around lawyers persuading individuals to see their point of view lawyers must be persuasive in their speech and tactics.

A lawyer who can get his point across and persuade individuals to acknowledge it is the one who will see many victories.

9. Complete the sentences, and make up a summary of the text.

1. An __________________ lawyer is the one who will see results.

2. A lawyer ______________ will see the best possible outcome from a case.

3. A lawyer may not be the best bet if _________________.

4. You can not be a good lawyer without good ________________.

5. ______ and _______ are two additional positive traits which all lawyers should possess.

6. A lawyer who __________________ will see many victories.

10. Miscommunication between people can happen when one of the parties uses a second language. English speakers often use metaphors (figures of speech). Three of them you’ve met in the text. Write them out and explain their meanings.

1.

2.

3.

11. Match some more metaphors with their explanations and illustrate their usage in the situations of your professional communication.

1. You reap what you sow.

a. You created a big problem.

2. Don’t beat about the bush.

b. I am miserable now but I know I will be happy.

3. Never let your guard down.

c. I really need to get rid of my anger.

4. A little bird told me.

d. You get what you deserve.

5. You really opened a can of worms.

e. Always pay attention, don’t lose the focus.

6. Steam when you heat water.

f. Stop wasting my time. You are trying to avoid answering my queries.

7. That is not my cup of tea.

g. I don’t want to reveal the source of information.

8. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

h. It is not my style.

12. Work in pairs. Test yourself and check your business abilities. Can you become an effective member of the team or is it better for you to start your own business? Discuss the results with the partner.

1. Are you a self starter?

a. I only make an effort when I want to.

b. If someone explains what to do, then I can continue from there.

c. I make my own decisions. I don’t need anyone to tell me what to do.

2. How do you get on with other people?

a. I get on with almost everybody.

b. I have my own friends and I don’t really need anyone else.

c. I don’t really feel at home with other people.

3. Can you lead and motivate others?

a. Once something is moving I’ll join in.

b. I’m good at giving orders when I know what to do.

c. I can persuade most people to follow me when I start something.

4. Can you take responsibility?

a. I like to take charge and to obtain results.

b. I’ll take charge if I have to but I prefer someone else to be responsible.

c. Someone always wants to be the leader and I’m happy to let them do the job.

5. Are you a good organizer?

a. I tend to get confused when unexpected problems arise.

b. I like to plan exactly what I’m going to do.

c. I just like to let things happen.

6. How good worker are you?

a. I’m willing to work hard for something I really want.

b. I find my home environment more stimulating than work.

c. Regular work suits me but I don’t like it to interfere with my private life.

7. Can you make decisions?

a. I am quite happy to execute other people’s decisions.

b. I often make very quick decisions which usually work but sometimes don’t.

c. Before making a decision, I need time to think it over.

8. Do you enjoy taking risks?

a. I always evaluate the exact dangers of any situation.

b. I like the excitement of taking big risks.

c. For me safety is the most important thing.

9. Can you stay the course?

a. The biggest challenge for me is getting a project started.

b. If I decide to do something, nothing will stop me.

c. If something doesn’t go right first time, I tend to lose interest.

10. Are you motivated by money?

a. For me, job satisfaction cannot be measured in money terms.

b. Although money is important to me, I value other things just as much.

c. Making money is my main motivation.

11. How do you react to criticism?

a. I dislike any form of criticism.

b. If people criticize me I always listen and may or may not reject what they have to say.

c. When people criticize me there is usually some truth in what they say.

12. Can people believe what you say?

a. I try to be honest, but it is sometimes difficult or too complicated to explain things to other people.

b. I don’t say things I don’t mean.

c. When I think I’m right, I don’t care what anyone else thinks.

13. Do you delegate?

a. I prefer to delegate what I consider to be the least important tasks.

b. When I have a job to do I like to do everything myself.

c. Delegating is an important part of any job.

14. Can you cope with stress?

a. Stress is something I can live with.

b. Stress can be a stimulating element in a business.

c. I try to avoid situations which lead to stress.

15. How do you view your chances of success?

a. I believe that my success will depend to a large degree on factors outside my control.

b. I know that everything depends on me and my abilities.

c. It is difficult to foresee what will happen in the future.

16. If the business was not making a profit after five years, what would you do?

a. give up easily.

b. give up reluctantly.

c. carry on.

Key to the questionnaire:

1. a = 0 b = 2 c = 4 9. a = 2 b = 4 c = 0

2. a = 4 b = 2 c = 0 10. a = 0 b = 2 c = 4

3. a = 0 b = 2 c = 4 11. a = 0 b = 4 c = 2

4. a = 4 b = 2 c = 0 12. a = 2 b = 4 c = 0

5. a = 2 b = 4 c = 0 13. a = 2 b = 0 c = 4

6. a = 4 b = 0 c = 2 14. a = 2 b = 4 c = 0

7. a = 0 b = 4 c = 2 15. a = 0 b = 4 c = 2

8. a = 2 b = 4 c = 0 16. a = 4 b = 2 c = 0

44 or above

You definitely have the necessary qualities to become the director of a successful business. You have a strong sense of leadership, you can both organize and motivate and you know exactly where you and your team are going.

Between 44 and 22

You may need to think more carefully before setting up your own business. Although you do have some of the essential skills for running business, you will, probably, not be able to deal with the pressures and strains that are a part of the job. You should perhaps consider taking some professional training or finding an associate who can compensate for some of your weaknesses.

Below 22

Managing your own business is not for you. You are better suited to the environment where you are not responsible for making decisions and taking risks. To operate successfully you need to follow well defined instructions and you prefer work that is both regular and predictable.

13. Answer the questions.

1. Do you agree with the results of the test?

2. What personality traits can you add or exclude from your personal characteristics given at the end of the test?

3. Do you believe that it is possible to learn much about person by means of physiological tests?

4. What does it depend on in your opinion?

Part B. Writing a resume. Job interview

1. Read two cover letters sent to the employment agency for the in-house lawyer vacancy (page 9).

COVER LETTER No 1

9th June, 2014.

From: David Brentwood To: Hannah Jones

Apartment 21, Manager-HR

Boulevard Estates, XYZ Company

Huntsville, Manhattan

Alabama New York

Dear Ms. Jones,

As an accomplished purchasing specialist with extensive healthcare industry experience, I was very interested to learn about your in-house lawyer opening. I offer eight years of experience working for ABC Company, a national home healthcare company and a billion-dollar leader in the industry. As the company’s corporate purchasing specialist, I managed:

• Purchasing functions for 115 locations.

• 75 major contracts in areas including medications, supplies, equipment, furniture, uniforms, distribution and vending machines.

• A 15-member team of contractors, buyers, analysts and support staff.

Consistently recognized for outstanding performance, I saved ABC Company more than $5.3 million in 2011 alone. An expert in contract negotiations, vendor management and global sourcing, I repeatedly reduced expenditures, cost-of-sales (COS) and cost-of-goods (COG), as well as assisted with major system implementations of inventory, purchasing and tracking systems.

In 2013, ABC Company experienced a significant workforce reduction and my position was eliminated. Since then, I have remained active in the American Purchasing Society and completed courses in business ethics, contract law, the art of negotiation and supply chain management. I plan on sitting for the Certified Professional Purchasing Manager (CPPM) exam later this year.

I am confident that my ongoing studies combined with successful experience in the field will enable me to aggressively pursue cost-reduction opportunities and improve return on investment for your company. If you agree that my skills and experience would benefit your operation, please call me at (555) 555-5555 or email someone@somedomain.com to arrange an interview. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

D. Brentwood

David Brentwood

Enclosure: Resume

COVER LETTER No 2

June 8, 2014

From: Susan Banks To: Hannah Jones

House No12B Manager-HR

Main Street XYZ Company

Queens Manhattan

New Jersey New York

Dear Ms. Jones,

I wish to be considered for the post of In-house Lawyer in your company, the advertisement of which appeared in the “Law News Journal”, dated 7th June.

I am a qualified lawyer from the International School of Law and have specialized in Civil Law. I am currently working with ABC Law Firm. My hard-work, sincerity and dedication have earned me a letter of appreciation from my seniors.

I am currently looking for an opening in a company which specializes in Civil Cases, as that is not only my area of specialization but also my passion.

I am sure my qualifications, experience and enthusiasm would be an asset and prove to be mutually beneficial.

I look forward to hearing from you at the earliest to discuss more in person. My telephone number is (444) 444-4444 or email susan@ somedomain.com. I am herewith enclosing my Resume for your kind consideration.

Thanking you,

Sincerely,

Susan Banks

Susan Banks

Enclosure: Resume

2. Work in pairs. Act as an employer and discuss with the partner the question: “Which of the above letters will interest the employer more? Why?” Give your reasons. Analyze strengths and weaknesses of both applicants. Put them into the table, evaluate their chances and decide on the candidate for the vacancy.

APPLICANT A

APPLICANT B

Strengths

Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

1.

1.

1.

1.

2.

2.

2.

2.

3.

3.

3.

3.

4.

4.

4.

4.

3. Basing on your mutual decision fill in the Resume form with his or her personal data taken from Cover letters No 1 or 2 according to the tips given below.

Tips for Lawyer’s Resume

The resume should show the applicant’s strong communication and interpersonal skills and abilities so that he or she can create good relationship with the clients. The lawyer’s resume should be very specific and based on facts concerning your achievements. The lawyer’s resume should also portray that you can take valuable decisions while working under pressure.

Information about Name and Contact

It includes the basic information like name, mailing address, telephone number and E-mail address.

Resume Objective

It is a specific statement that includes your career goals and aims.

Education

This section contains information in reverse chronological order such as major degree, date of graduation, universities you have attended, location of universities and any certificates achieved concerning the job you have applied for.

Skills

In this section you can mention your legal strengths and positive points to make your resume excellent.

Experience

This section contains your previous work experience. You should mention the full legal name of your previous company, your job title and job description. Always use action verbs and law related terms while constructing the lawyer’s resume.

RESUME

Contact Information:

• Name:

• Permanent Address:

Telephone No:

• Email address:

Objective: To be able to secure a position as an In-house Lawyer and work towards reaching the organization’s goal

Education:

Affiliations:

Experience:

Key Areas of Expertise (Skills):

References: Will provide them on request

4. There is a huge competition in the legal market. The employers receive countless resumes and hardly spend two minutes to look into each of them. Therefore a lawyer’s resume should be so good that it leaves a positive impression on employer’s mind at first glance. That is why many applicants put “summary” into the resume. Read two sample summaries and write down a summary for your resume.

1) Career Summary (Sample 1):

• A dynamic & competent professional with over 9 years of experience as a lawyer.

• Proven ability to represent the clients in complex and challenging environment.

• An accomplished professional who has successfully managed case preparation and court proceedings.

• Solid interpersonal and communication skills in building key alliances and partnerships, having dealt with a diversity of clients and individuals.

• Highly organized & dedicated with a positive attitude, able to set effective priorities and handle multiple assignments under high pressure within tight deadlines.

2) Summary (Sample 2):

• Worked for five years at senior level and gained corporate legal expertise.

• Specializing in litigations for corporate firms and human resource laws that include labor laws, termination and retrenchment.

• Completed major legal projects.

• Great communication and team-building skills.

• Experience in all kinds of legal domains.

3) Your summary to the resume.

SUMMARY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Skim the text and title it.

The employment interview is the most important event in the entire job search process. Your resume sets forth the facts about you; the interview presents you with the opportunity to bring your resume to life and to demonstrate your intelligence, competence, ambition and personality. Despite the fact that everyone is familiar with the traditional interviewing experience: (1) you apply for a job; (2) the employer reviews your paper credentials and chooses you to come to an interview; (3) at the interview, the employer asks you questions about your background and experience, and you discuss them; and (4) after the interview, the employer makes a decision about whether to hire you. Interviewing is stressful! But the more you learn about the process, the easier it will become, and the more effective you will be in your interviews. Always remember that a job interview is a dialogue: an opportunity to ask as well as answer questions. To be sure you should practice your interviewing techniques before you go to the real interview.

6. Read possible job interview questions and some recommendations how to answer them. Give your answers to these questions bearing in mind the recommendations given.

Question: Tell me what education you have relevant to the position.

Answer: Besides a law school degree, many lawyers have degrees or coursework in a number of other relevant subjects, like English, politics, and economic science. Some lawyers have degrees in accounting or engineering.

Your answer:

Question: What are some of the main personality traits of a successful lawyer?

Answer: Lawyers are highly trained, highly educated professionals who command vast and precise knowledge in many areas besides law. They are also able to manipulate their knowledge creatively to make their case. Lawyers are confident and charismatic.

Your answer:

Question: What is the importance of interpersonal skills for a lawyer?

Answer: Lawyers must be able to work long hours alone, with complex documentation and literature. At the same time, their interpersonal skills must be outstanding to communicate effectively in the office and in the courtroom. Lawyers use not only their analytical prowess but also their personalities in their work.

Your answer:

Question: Describe your area of expertise and your operation strategies?

Answer: Be brief and use specifics to say what and how you do when, for example, you receive clients, draw up legal documents relevant to the case, decide for or against taking the case, etc.

Your answer:

Question: Do you have any experience with corporate legal work?

Answer: Lawyers are usually represented as criminal lawyers in the public eye. Many, of course, are civil lawyers, and there are those who specialize in corporate law — the legal aspect of business transactions. Business companies always hire lawyers to represent them and handle any legal aspects, definitions, and documentation of their activities.

Your answer:

7. Work in pairs and play out an interview asking the commonly used questions enlisted below.

• Tell me about yourself.

• Describe yourself in one word.

• What are your future career plans?

• Why did you choose law?

• What courses did you like best? Least?

• What qualifications do you have that make you feel you will be successful in your area of interest?

• What have you learned from some of the jobs you had?

• What type of people do you feel best?

• What type of people would you have trouble working with?

• What is your greatest personal asset? Your greatest weakness?

• Do you like routine work?

• What constitutes “security” in your mind?

• What constitutes “success” in your mind?

• What kind of things can give you the most satisfaction in your work?

8. Work in pairs. Sometimes at the interview you can be asked to write a test on your professional legal knowledge. Test yourself. (10 minutes). Are you satisfied with the results? Discuss them with the partner.

1. “Stare decisis” is:

a. “statutory law”.

b. “common law”.

c. “substantive law”.

d. “Let the decision stand”.

2. Jurisprudence is:

a. another name for an equitable remedy.

b. an area of study focusing on the philosophy of law and the legal system.

c. another name for common law.

d. another name for stare decisis.

3. Which of the following is not a source of international law?

a. customs.

b. treaties.

c. city ordinance.

d. act of state doctrine.

4. Which of the following would not be an example of a violation of a criminal law?

a. running a red light.

b. driving while intoxicated.

c. failing to honour the requirements in a contract.

5. What of the following is not a purpose of law?

a. keeping order.

b. changing expectations.

c. influencing conduct.

6. What is a multilateral treaty?

a. a treaty related only to military action.

b. a treaty among three or more nations.

c. a treaty related only to trade.

7. The European Union:

a. establishes uniform trade policies between the U.S. and Europe.

b. is a tariff-free group of European countries and has its own currency.

c. requires countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

8. The attorney-client privilege:

a. does not apply in criminal defense cases.

b. applies only to plaintiffs.

c. has been abolished in most states.

d. keeps the relationship and communications between lawyer and client confidential.

9. Which of the following are protected under the attorney-client privilege?

a. information from lawyer-client conversations regarding a lawsuit.

b. information regarding plans for a future violation.

c. attorney’s knowledge of a client fraud.

d. all of these are protected by the attorney-client privilege.

10. Which of the following methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) involves a hearing process?

a. mediation.

b. arbitration.

c. early neutral evaluation.

d. negotiations.

11. Place the following in the order they would occur in a lawsuit: answer, counterclaim, complaint, summons.

a. complaint, answer, counterclaim, summons.

b. complaint, summons, answer, counterclaim.

c. counterclaims are not part of litigation, only ADR.

d. summons, complaint, answer, counterclaim.

12. Which of the following stages would come first in civil litigation?

a. motion for judgment on the pleadings.

b. cross-examination.

c. opening statement.

d. discovery.

Part C. Self-study

1. Write down a job advertisement on behalf of the company where you would like to work after completing your Master’s course. Design your ad according to the plan:

1. A short introduction to the company (name, industry, place of work) and its logo (if possible).

2. A short description of the open position (title, mission, function, type of contract, duration of the contract…).

3. The required technical and behavioral skills.

4. The application deadline (and possibly the starting date).

5. The job‘s specifications.

6. The person in charge of the application process.

7. The mailing / e-mail address.

2. Make up your portfolio. Put your personal information to the items given below according to the recommendations.

A portfolio is a binder or book that shows off your work and abilities. It goes beyond a cover letter and a résumé. A portfolio is a job-hunting tool that gives employers a picture of who you are — your experience, education, accomplishments, and skills. Not only does it show the employer who you are, but it also displays what you have the potential to become. It is designed to support you as you market yourself!

You should start developing your portfolio by doing a self-assessment. Evaluate what you have to offer and what the best ways are to market your assets. You should decide which skills and experience you have will relate to the needs of the interviewer, or what you would most like the interviewer to see. If you don’t have much work experience — most students don’t — you’ll need to tell about your law school work, volunteer work, and hobbies for evidence of the relevant skills you know you have.

The following is a list of items you may want to include:

1. Table of Contents (for easy reference)

2. Career Summary and Goals: A description of what you stand for (such as professional ethics, organizational interests, management philosophy, etc.) and where you see yourself in two to five years.

3. Traditional Résumé: A summary of your education, achievements, and work experience, using a chronological or functional format.

4. Skills, Abilities and Marketable Qualities: A detailed examination of your skills and experience. This section should include the name of the skill area; the performance or behaviour, knowledge, or personal traits that contribute to your success in that skill area; your background and specific experience that demonstrate your application of the skill.

5. Samples of Your Work: A sampling of your best work, including reports, papers, studies, brochures, projects, presentations, etc. Besides print samples, you can also include CD-ROMs, videos, and other multimedia formats.

6. Testimonials and Letters of Recommendations: A collection of any kudos you have received from customers, clients, colleagues, past employers, professors, etc. Some experts even suggest including copies of favorable employer evaluations and reviews.

7. Awards and Honours: A collection of any certificates of awards, honours, and scholarships.

8. Conference and Workshops: A list of conferences, seminars, and workshops you’ve participated in and/or attended.

9. Transcripts, Degrees, Licenses, and Certifications: A description of relevant courses, degrees, licenses, and certifications.

10. Test Results: Document professional or graduate school testing results (such as GRE subject test results).

11. Newspaper Clippings: Include articles and/or photos that address your achievement.

12. References: A list of three to five people (including full names, titles, addresses, and phone/e-mail) who are willing to speak about your strengths, abilities, and experience. At least one reference should be from your former manager.

Organizing Your Portfolio

• You should keep your portfolio in a professional three-ring binder.

• Come up with an organizational system of categories to put your items together. Sample categories are as follows: Work Experience, Education, Awards and Certificates, Special Skills, Personal Accomplishments, Background. Use tabs or dividers to separate various categories.

• Your portfolio should be no more than 25 pages. The shorter it is the better because an employer will only really absorb 6–10 samples.

• Every page should have a title, a concise caption, and artifact. Captions should explain the process you went through and the resulting benefits. Use the same type of action verbs as you use in a résumé.

• Photocopy full-page samples to a smaller size, if needed.

• Make the layout and design consistent, and don’t get overly decorative — keep it clean and use lots of white space.

• You may also consider including CD with samples of your work. An on-line portfolio is another option.

• Once you have put together your portfolio, you should create a title page, table of contents, and introduction. The introduction is your opportunity to tie together your portfolio contents and summarize your qualifications.

Glossary

1. Acumen (extensive experience in dealing with commercial matters that yields a prompt and appropriate response to issues that typically have a favorable outcome. One of the best characteristics to look for in a senior executive is well developed business acumen that typically comes from the combination of experience and having the innate mental agility needed to deal quickly with business situations as they arise) — проницательность, сообразительность; острота ума

business acumen — деловая хватка

demonstrate / display acumen — проявить смекалку, сообразительность

legal acumen — юридическая проницательность

political acumen — политический инстинкт

2. Articulation (the way in which you express your feelings and ideas) — словесное выражение, формулировка

articulate lawyer — юрист, умеющий хорошо излагать свои мысли, красноречивый

articulate one’s ideas — ясно изложить свои мысли

3. Business (an organization or economic system where goods and services are exchanged for one another or for money) — коммерческое предприятие, фирма, коммерческая деятельность, бизнес

business contacts — деловые контакты

business of the day — повестка дня

business undertaking — коммерческое предприятие

run a business — управлять компанией

4. Credentials (documents that state the abilities and experience of a person and show that the person is qualified for a particular job or activity) — документальное подтверждение, дающее человеку право заниматься тем или иным родом деятельности

academic credentials — успехи в учебе; успеваемость; успехи, достижения в научно-исследовательской деятельности, научные степени, академические регалии

professional credentials — профессиональные достижения; профессиональная репутация

5. In-house lawyer (a lawyer employed by a business to work in house on its legal matters) — коммерческий юрист, штатный юрист компании

in-house counsel (син.) — корпоративный юрист

6. Interview (a formal discussion between a hirer and an applicant or candidate, typically in person, in which information is exchanged, with the intention of establishing the applicant’s suitability for a position) — собеседование

an interviewer — человек, ведущий собеседование

an interviewee — человек, который проходит собеседование

conduct (hold) an interview — проводить собеседование

pass an interview — успешно пройти собеседование

7. Management (the organization and coordination of the activities of a business in order to achieve defined objectives) — управление, заведование; менеджмент; руководство; администрирование

effective management — действенное руководство

8. Occupation (a person’s job or a regular activity or hobby) — занятие, род или вид деятельности, профессия

profitable / rewarding occupation — доходная профессия

gainful occupation — прибыльное дело, доходное занятие

9. Persuasiveness (the power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty) — убедительность

persuasive arguments — убедительные аргументы

persuasive speech — убедительная речь

persuasive advocate — защитник, обладающий даром убеждения

10. Рortfolio — 1. (a collection of investments all owned by the same individual or organization) — портфель, папка, дело; 2. In educational process — a compilation of student work assembled for the purpose of (1) evaluating coursework quality and academic achievement, (2) creating a lasting archive of academic work products, and (3) determining whether students have met learning standards or academic requirements for courses, grade-level promotion, and graduation — метод-портфолио

11. Resume /rezjuːmeɪ/ (formal presentation of the job applicant’s education, work and experience; syn.; CV, curriculum vitae) — краткие анкетные данные, резюме

12. Skill (an ability and capacity acquired through deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to smoothly and adaptively carry out complex activities or job functions involving ideas (cognitive skills), things (technical skills), and/or people (interpersonal skills) — умение, мастерство

The list of business idioms

1. Give a good account of oneself — хорошо себя проявить.

2. Take something into account — принимать в расчет, учитывать.

3. Turn something to good account — извлечь пользу.

4. An apple of discord — яблоко раздора.

5. Foot the bill — заплатить по счету, ответить за все.

6. Monkey business — нечистое дело.

7. Carry the can — отдуваться за что-то или кого-то.

8. Play one’s cards right — использовать все свои преимущества.

9. Save the day — спасти положение.

10. Double dutch — китайская грамота, тарабарщина.

11. Feather one’s nest — набить себе карман.

12. A golden opportunity — редчайшая возможность.

13. Give up as a bad job — махнуть на все рукой.

14. The long arm of the law — карающая рука закона.

15. Give someone a bad name — приобрести дурную славу.

Answers to the test (Р. 17–18)

1. — d. “Let the decision stand”.

2. — b. an area of study focusing on the philosophy of law and the legal system.

3. — c. city ordinance.

4. — c. failing to honour the requirements in a contract.

5. — b. changing expectations.

6. — b. a treaty among three or more nations.

7. — b. is a tariff-free group of European countries and has its own currency.

8. — d. keeps the relationship and communications between lawyer and client confidential.

9. — a. information from lawyer-client conversations regarding a lawsuit.

10. — b. arbitration.

11. — a. motion for judgment on the pleadings.

Вопросы для самоконтроля

1. What ways of applying for a job do you know?

2. What way of applying for a job is the most effective in the modern world in your opinion?

3. What are the common duties of the in-house lawyer in the company?

4. What skills and abilities are “a must” for the in-house lawyer?

5. What is the format of the resume?

6. What is “a summary” in the resume?

7. How is the strategy of interviewing built up?

8. What questions are commonly asked by interviewers?

9. What is portfolio?

10. What is the main purpose of the portfolio in applying for a job?

Библиография

1. Practice tests for IELTS. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

2. http://www.cram.com/flashcards/bul3310-legal-and-ethical-environment-of-business-test-1-832775

3. http://work.chron.com/decription-corporate-lawyer-22430.html

4. http://www.businessdictionary.com

5. http://dictionary.cambridge.org

6. https://www.lawsociety.ie/Documents/committees/corporate/Corporateguide.pdf

7. http://www.quintcareers.com/job_search_portfolio.html

8. http://www.hr4free.com/en/Employee-Recruitment-Process/Job-Advertisement-Offer-and-Confirmation-Letter

Глава 2.
Деловое общение юриста. Формы и навыки устной коммуникации в ситуациях профессионального общения

Цель изучения главы:

• формирование способности свободно пользоваться иностранным языком как средством делового общения в профессиональной сфере при установлении личных контактов и осуществлении устной коммуникации с партнерами и клиентами.

В результате работы над главой магистрант должен:

Знать:

• значение единиц речевого этикета, структуру построения и ведения делового дискурса, правила делового этикета;

• идиоматические выражения, клише, единицы речевого этикета, применяемые в ситуациях межличностного общения в рамках заданной темы;

• стандартные формы осуществления устной коммуникации при знакомстве, личных встречах, общении по телефону и ведении переговоров;

• правила делового этикета (невербальные средства общения, внешний вид).

Уметь:

• моделировать ситуации межличностного общения в рамках профессиональной коммуникации юриста;

• анализировать значение невербальных средств общения при осуществлении межличностной коммуникации;

• вычленять, структурировать и понимать информацию, ограниченную коммуникативным заданием, а также воспринимать и осмысливать сообщения с учетом намерения, установки, состояния и проч. говорящего;

• построить собственную речь с элементами рассуждения, критики, оценки, выражения собственного мнения;

• осуществлять собственное высказывание в ситуациях профессионального общения с опорой на модели и самостоятельно;

• написать эссе о современных средствах деловой коммуникации для «Портфолио достижений».

Владеть:

• навыками построения делового дискурса посредством современных средств коммуникации, включая интернет-программы и другие интерактивные методы общения;

• навыками применения формул речевого этикета и нормативных правил поведения в ситуациях делового общения;

• навыками поиска необходимой информации посредством мультимедийных средств и интернет-ресурсов.

Unit 2.
Business contacts and communication

Part A. Communication

1. Warming up. Look at the graph and tell what should be done and developed by the student to acquire each of the skills to become an effective communicator.

2. Look through the text and answer the questions.

1. Who can be called an effective communicator?

2. What does business verbal communication involve?

3. What forms of verbal communication are used in business?

4. How can nonverbal communication help build your professional image?

Communication is one of the most important tools in business, necessary for success and advancement. It is not a secret that to be hired and to have a promotion, to be successful and eventually advanced in business, one should be an effective communicator — verbally, non-verbally, and digitally — and be able to integrate communication types in different settings.

Every day businessmen interact verbally with a variety of people — equals, subordinates, supervisors, men and women alike. Verbal communication in business often involves expressing opinions, emotions, giving orders and winning over clients. When doing any of these things, it’s important to be level headed, ask questions and back up any opinions you give with hard evidence. A good business verbal communicator is delicate but confident.

For example, you wouldn’t say, “Our economic climate has gone right down the drain in the past three years”, without backing up the statement with facts, figures and sources. In addition, unless it’s essential to winning over a client, controversial opinions like this should be left out of the workplace. Your personal opinions, if unrelated to daily operations of the business, might isolate your clients and offend people around you. You should always back up any statement made in a business setting, avoiding controversy but exuding confidence.

In addition, keep a steady, positive tone of voice; ask lots of questions during meetings; have a list of questions written out before the meeting; answer the phone confidently and professionally; and when telling someone to do something, ask politely and tactfully.

Forms of verbal communication in business include conference calls, video conferences, staff meetings, presentations and daily interactions in the workplace. During personal interactions, verbal communication is used alongside nonverbal communication — a priceless pairing!

According to the data of scientific research, nonverbal communication or body language makes up 93 percent of our daily communication in the workplace. Everything works to create your physical image. Certain elements are unchangeable, such as age, gender and ethnicity, so it’s important to pay extra attention to the elements you can control.

Build a professional image. Wear appropriate and aesthetically pleasing clothes to work, maintain a business-appropriate haircut, shave your face, and do not wear revealing clothing. All of these elements come together to form your image, so it’s important to get all of them right in the business world.

Make eye contact when talking or listening to someone. Fiddling with your phone, computer or documents is offensive to many people. Pay attention to your posture. If sitting down, do not slouch in your chair. Lean forward attentively. When standing up, keep an approachable posture — don’t slouch, keep an overall inviting visage.

What you say is important, but so is what you don’t say. Your appearance — from your clothes and hair to your posture and attentiveness — can make or break your business image, rendering you approachable or unapproachable.

3. Make up the conclusion after reading the text starting with one of the wise sayings given below.

1. “Two monologues do not make a dialogue”.

2. “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said”.

3. “When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first”.

4. “There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse”.

5. “From listening comes wisdom and from speaking, repentance”. (Proverb).

4. Guess the opposite meaning of the phrases and fill out the table. Make up a short report on the differences between formal and informal types of communication illustrating each position with your examples.

FORMAL COMMUNICATION

INFORMAL COMMUNICATION

1.

flexible

2. totally controlled by the management

3. has documentary evidence

4.

official decorum and discipline are not followed

5. time consuming

6. no chance of misunderstanding

7.

strict rules are not followed. So possibility for mistakes is very high

5. Look through the text and decide what ways of communication can be considered as

a) oral; b) written; c) mixed.

WAYS AND CHANNELS OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Businesses rely on communication for almost every aspect of their operation. From conducting sensitive conversations between two individuals to instantly disseminating critical information across a mass audience and even recruiting new customers, a number of established and emerging channels allow businesses to meet a number of communication needs.

Business communication encompasses great amount of topics such as marketing, brand management, customer relations, consumer behaviour, advertising, public relations, corporate communication, community engagement, reputation management, interpersonal communication, employee engagement, and event management. It is also closely related to the field of professional and technical communication.

Business communication process can be effective if a two way information sharing process is used. It usually involves one party sending a message that is easily understood by the receiving party. Effective communication by business managers facilitates information sharing between company employees and can substantially contribute to its commercial success.

6. Match the channels of communication with their descriptions.

1. face-to-face meetings

a. documenting the activities of any department

2. written communication

b. audio visualization of material, like copies of reports, or material prepared in Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Flash

3. telephone conversations

c. talks in person succeeded by a written follow up

4. web-based communication

d. interactive meetings of people in different locations

5. video conferencing

e. long distance speech of two or more partners

6. reports

f. letters, e-mails, faxes, notes

7. presentations

g. posting information to a centralized location; suggestion box

8. forum boards

h. media channels for better and improved communication

7. Sum up information from exercises 5 and 6 by building up the graph with putting proper information in it and connecting its parts. Present information on the topic: “Ways and channels of business communication”.

8. Work in pairs and discuss the questions with your partner.

1. What ways and channels of communication do you usually use at work or studying?

2. What of them are more preferable for you and why?

3. What ways of communication are the most problematic for you and how are you going to overcome these difficulties?

4. Have you ever heard about the suggestion box? Can it be used for your business?

9. Look through the helpful tips for a successful face-to-face form of communication and write down headings to each of the tips.

1.__________________________________________________________

Face-to-face communication helps to make personal connections in business and will help to sell a product or a service to the customer. As during the face-to-face communication your tone, pitch, and body language is observed by your partner, this kind of interaction can greatly contribute to your business relations or, if wrongly used, may worsen them. Information is easier to access and delivered immediately with face-to-face interactions rather than waiting for an email or phone call. Conflicts are also easily resolved this way, as verbal and non-verbal cues are observed and acted upon.

2.__________________________________________________________

While communicating face-to-face professionally partners are representing their companies. That is why speaking clearly and asking questions to understand the needs and wants, letting the recipient respond to resolving of the issue are very important ingredients of the face-to-face communication. Decisions are made more confidently during a face-to-face interaction as the recipient asks questions to understand and move forward to their decision.

3.__________________________________________________________

Usually face-to-face communication takes place in the form of meetings, negotiations and discussions of different kinds. There are, however, additional formalities one must learn to assure that he is viewed as a pleasant and cultivated professional in face-to-face communication. An individual who exhibits politeness and decorum is often rewarded with success in his professional field.

4.__________________________________________________________

Perhaps the easiest way to exhibit professionalism is to be consistently punctual. On a daily basis, one must arrive at the office on time, ready for work. This action alone speaks volumes to both managers and peers, demonstrating the individual’s seriousness regarding his or her work. The same concerns face-to-face communication. So one of the first things we should think about while communicating face-to-face is promptness. We are to be prompt when meeting with others: supervisors, clients and prospective employers. We should not make our partners wait at the expense of their own promptness to the next appointment. A professional who is late for appointments gives the impression that he does not respect the value of other people’s time.

In addition to arriving on time, face-to-face business etiquette dictates that an individual must be prepared to conduct the business at hand. One must have all resources and documents ready for use. Failure to do so makes the employee appear sloppy and unprofessional.

5.__________________________________________________________

The appearance in the face-to-face business communication is also of great importance. An individual who wishes to be taken seriously in the work place must dress appropriately for his environment. For example, in the office culture a male is to be dressed in formal business attire, he must wear a jacket and tie at all times. On the other hand, if his industry dictates a t-shirt and jeans, he would look pretty silly dressed in a tuxedo. By wearing appropriate attire for his line of business, a person ensures that everyone he comes in contact with will take him seriously.

6.__________________________________________________________

An individual’s attitude and deportment exhibit more about his seriousness than his wardrobe does. While leading face-to-face business communication the excessive use of slang, profanity and other offensive language is an immediate sign of unprofessionalism. Additionally, the spreading of gossip and communication of private or confidential information does not win the speaker points with colleagues and customers and is considered as non-observing rules of decorum.

10. Match English idioms with their Russian equivalents.

1. Fine feathers make fine birds.

a. Видна птица по полету.

2. The word is not a sparrow. Will fly, won’t сatch.

b. Лучше один раз увидеть, чем сто раз услышать.

3. Time and tide wait for no man.

c. Время не ждет.

4. The picture is worth a thousand words.

d. Скажи мне, кто твой друг, и я скажу, кто ты.

5. The man is known by the company he keeps.

e. Слово не воробей, вылетит — не поймаешь.

6. A bird may be known by its song.

f. Одежда красит человека.

11. Replace your headings in the text (ex. 9) with the proverbs from the table above and discuss with the partner situations of professional communication where these idioms could sound as good advice for a friend.

12. Read two dialogues between businessmen. What do you think about them? What mistakes were made? What rules of business etiquette were broken?

Conversation 1

A: So, how is business?

B: Fine. This merger meant quite a lot of work for us, but, fine.

A: Well, mergers are often difficult. So, what do you think about the Middle-East situation?

B: I’m sorry?

A: The crisis in the Middle East. It was in the news this morning.

B: Er, well, I…

A: I mean, it must affect a company like yours — you are in oil.

B: No, I think, you’ve made a mistake. I’m not in oil. I work for BMW.

A: BMW? Oh, sorry! I thought you were someone else.

B: That’s ok. If you excuse me I must just go and say hello to someone.

Conversation 2

A: I like your watch. A Rolex, isn’t it?

B: Well, to be honest, but don’t tell anybody, it’s a fake.

A: No! It looks real to me. Where did you get it?

B: Egypt. It cost me twenty five dollars.

A: Amazing! So, do you know many people here?

B: No, not really. It’s the first time I’ve been to such a conference.

A: Me too. So, what is your hotel like?

B: Pretty comfortable. Nothing special, but it’s ok, I suppose.

A: You are at the Holiday Inn, aren’t you? Last year they held this conference in Mexico. The Hilton Cancun Fabulous Hotel, they say.

B: Cancun! A bit warmer than here, I think.

A: Yes, I went there on holiday once. A beautiful place! Can I get you anything from the buffet?

B: Oh, that’s all right. I’ll come with you. I’d like some more of that caviar before it all goes.

13. Let us speak about the importance of small talk in business communication.

Small talk isn’t just about being gregarious or
entertaining, it is a gesture of respect.

Brett Nelson, “Forbes”

Can you guess the names for the professional settings including “small talk” described below?

Any communication process between individuals that is intended to reach a compromise or an agreement to the satisfaction of both parties.

A conversation, such as one conducted by a reporter, in which facts or statements are elicited from another.

Casual or trivial conversation, chitchat about unimportant subjects of conversation, as opposed to serious or weighty ones.

An exchange of ideas or opinions.

Something, such as a lecture or speech that is set forth for an audience.

14. Skim the text and give your definition and purpose of “a small talk”.

Small talk is light