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Martin McGuinness's obituary video and funeral / Bill Clinton's eulogy

Watch the following short videos:

A look back at the life of Martin McGuinness – video obituary

Bill Clinton as Martin McGuinness's funeral

There are plenty more fascinating articles and videos on Martin McGuinness's life and funeral on the Guardian Website.

Conference on "Brexit: A New Frontier" / Seamus Heaney 'Scaffolding"

1. For those of you who could not attend the Conference on Brexit (22 March 2017), you may watch it on replay on the "Law and Humanities" Facebook page.

2. In his presentation, Declan Lawn referred to the poem "Scaffolding" (by Northern Irish poet Seamus Heaney):

Seamus Heaney reading "Scaffolding"

Masons, when they start upon a building,
Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be
Old bridges breaking between you and me

Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall
Confident that we have built our wall.

L2 JOKING ASIDE / Extra Listening Comprehension Exercises

Please find below two humorous videos which we will not have time to watch in class but which are related to the L2 S2 Legal English syllabus.
The first one is to be found on p. 11 of the Booklet (Listening comprehension c), p. 11). The second one is not in the booklet.
It would be good if you could take a minute to watch them, however, so that we can discuss them by way of introduction for next class.

1. The UK, GB, The Commonwealth?
(Note however, that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are actually not countries!)
This video is also the opportunity to note the difference between "UK" (pronounced "OOK")  and "THE U.K." (letters pronounced separately!)

WTF is Brexit? - Foil Arms and Hog


2. Al Murray - Pub Landlord, intended to stand in the general election for the hotly contested Kent constituency of South Thanet as part of the Free United Kingdom Party.
(Al Murray is a British comedian.)

The Guv's common sense message to the UK

Extra documents relevant to Class 5

Boris Johnson's Moments:

Listening Comprehension Exercise: 

State Opening of Parliament, House of Lords, May 18, 2016., Queen's Speech

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons.

My government will use the opportunity of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people, to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and to strengthen national defences.

My ministers will continue to bring the public finances under control so that Britain lives within its means, and to move to a higher wage and lower welfare economy where work is rewarded.

To support the economic recovery, and to create jobs and more apprenticeships, legislation will be introduced to ensure Britain has the infrastructure that businesses need to grow.

Measures will be brought forward to create the right for every household to access high speed broadband.

Legislation will be introduced to improve Britain’s competitiveness and make the United Kingdom a world leader in the digital economy.

My ministers will ensure the United Kingdom is at the forefront of technology for new forms of transport, including autonomous and electric vehicles.

To spread economic prosperity, my government will continue to support the development of a Northern Powerhouse.

In England, further powers will be devolved to directly elected mayors, including powers governing local bus services.

Legislation will also allow local authorities to retain business rates, giving them more freedom to invest in local communities.

My government will support aspiration and promote home ownership through its commitment to build a million new homes.

Following last week’s Anti-Corruption Summit in London, legislation will be introduced to tackle corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.

My government will continue work to deliver NHS services over 7 days of the week in England. Legislation will be introduced to ensure that overseas visitors pay for the health treatment they receive at public expense.

New legislation will be introduced to tackle some of the deepest social problems in society, and improve life chances.

A Bill will be introduced to ensure that children can be adopted by new families without delay, improve the standard of social work and opportunities for young people in care in England.

To tackle poverty and the causes of deprivation, including family instability, addiction and debt, my government will introduce new indicators for measuring life chances. Legislation will be introduced to establish a soft drinks industry levy to help tackle childhood obesity.

Measures will be introduced to help the lowest-income families save, through a new Help to Save scheme, and to create a Lifetime ISA to help young people save for the long-term.

My government will continue to reform public services so they help the hardest-to-reach.

A Bill will be brought forward to lay foundations for educational excellence in all schools, giving every child the best start in life. There will also be a fairer balance between schools, through the National Funding Formula.

To ensure that more people have the opportunity to further their education, legislation will be introduced to support the establishment of new universities and to promote choice and competition across the higher education sector.

My government will legislate to reform prisons and courts to give individuals a second chance.

Prison Governors will be given unprecedented freedom and they will be able to ensure prisoners receive better education. Old and inefficient prisons will be closed and new institutions built where prisoners can be put more effectively to work.

Action will also be taken to ensure better mental health provision for individuals in the criminal justice system.

My government will continue to work to bring communities together and strengthen society.

Legislation will be introduced to prevent radicalisation, tackle extremism in all its forms, and promote community integration.

National Citizen Service will be placed on a permanent statutory footing.

My government will continue to safeguard national security.

My ministers will invest in Britain’s armed forces, honouring the military covenant and meeting the NATO commitment to spend 2% of national income on defence.

They will also act to secure the long-term future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

My government will continue to play a leading role in world affairs, using its global presence to tackle climate change and address major international security, economic and humanitarian challenges.

My government will continue to work to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. It will play a leading role in the campaign against Daesh and to support international efforts to bring peace to Syria through a lasting political settlement.

Britain’s commitment on international development spending will also be honoured, helping to deliver global stability, support the Sustainable Development Goals and prevent new threats to national security.

Prince Philip and I look forward to welcoming His Excellency the President of Colombia on a State Visit in November.

My government will continue with legislation to modernise the law governing the use and oversight of investigatory powers by law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies.

Legislation will strengthen the capability and accountability of the police service in England and Wales.

My government will hold a referendum on membership of the European Union. Proposals will be brought forward for a British Bill of Rights.

My ministers will uphold the sovereignty of Parliament and the primacy of the House of Commons.

My government will continue to work in cooperation with the devolved administrations to implement the extensive new powers in the Scotland Act and establish a strong and lasting devolution settlement in Wales. My government will work in Northern Ireland to secure further progress in implementing the Stormont House and Fresh Start Agreements.

Members of the House of Commons:

Estimates for the public services will be laid before you.

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons:

Other measures will be laid before you.

I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest upon your counsels.

L3 SUMMARY TEXT 7 p. 27.

MB (Appellant) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Respondent) (2016)

The Appellant in this case is transgender who after having been registered as a man at birth underwent gender reassignment in 1995 (to become a woman). 

In 2008, as she turned 60, the appellant thus applied for state pension to which she was entitled as a woman born before 1950. This pension, however, was denied to her on the grounds that she was not legally recognised as a woman. 

Indeed, in accordance with / pursuant to the Gender Recognition Act (Section 5, paragraph 7) (2004), (also “the Gender Recognition Act provides that”) eligibility to state retirement pension is to be determined as if the person’s acquired gender had always been their gender on condition that they have a full gender recognition certificate. 

This was not the case of the Appellant who, prior to undergoing gender reassignment surgery, had married as a man and who, on account of her marital status was only entitled to an interim Gender but not a full Reassignment certificate. 

The gender of the appellant is of significant / paramount importance as Directive 97/7 EEC aims to prevent against discrimination “on ground of sex either directly or indirectly by reference to marital or family status” but also allows member states to opt out of the scope of the directive concerning the determination of pensionable age. 

The existence of a specific pensionable age for men and women in the UK does not contravene the Directive. However, the Appellant challenges the notion that UK law imposes requirements other than social and physical criteria to determine whether an individual is a man or a woman. 

Due to / On account of a lack of direct authority from the CJEU, the Supreme Court decided to refer the case to the CJEU to determine if the directive forbids the imposition in National Law of extra requirement (such as marital status) other than physical or social criteria for recognising a change of gender. 

Transgender: Adj. 

VOCABULARY L3 TERM 2

VOCABULARY TERM 2

WEEK 4

Text 3, p. 52-53

Alice K., Adam D. (G. 16)

Servile (adj.) : Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.

—Caste (n.) : Each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status.

—Landmark (n.) : An event or discovery marking an important stage or turning point in something.

—Root (n.) : Denoting or relating to something from a particular ethnic or cultural origin

—To be ill-treat (v.) : Act cruelly towards (a person or animal)

—Foam mattress (n.) : A mattress made from rubber or plastic solidified in a lightweight cellular mass.

—To harass (v) : Subject to aggressive pressure or intimidation.

—To inherit something (v.) : Derive (a quality, characteristic, or predisposition) genetically from one's parents or ancestors.

—Merely (adv.) : simply, only  

—Aware (adj.) : Having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.

—Adivasi caste (n.) : members  of any of the aboriginal tribal peoples living in India before the arrival of the Aryans in the second millennium BC.

—Skill (n.) : The ability to do something well

—To obtain a redress (v.) : Remedy or set right (an undesirable or unfair situation)

A row (n.) : an argument 

To confront (v.) : To report 

A stance (n.) : an intellectual or legal position 

WEEK 3

Smith v. MoD
 Selim D.,  Thibault-Amaury D. (G 16)

• Friendly fire, (n.): Shots from own camp
• Negligence, (n.): Lack of due care
• Servicemen, (n.): Soldiers
• Breach a rule (v.): Violation of a set of rules
• Struck out (adj.): Crossed through
• Preventive (adj): Precautionary
• Duty of care : Responsibility or legal obligation for someone to avoid acts or omissions that could bring harm to others
• Deceased, (adj.): Dead person
• Allegations, (n.): Accusation
• Within the scope of…:  In the range of…
• Combat immunity: A common law doctrine which excludes civil liability for negligence and deliberate damage to property or person committed by the armed forces.

Smith v. MoD  

Maxime B, Victoire R.  (G 17)

Allegation (n.) : A claim that someone has done something wrong/illegal

Arise (v.) : To emerge, become apparent

Arise from/out of (v.) : To get up from something / To be caused by something

Breach (n.) : An act of violating a law

Breach (v): Break or violate a law

Claim (n.) : A request or demand for something considered one’s due / A right to something

Claim (v.) : Formally request or demand for something considered one’s due

Dissent (n.) : To differ in sentiment or opinion from the majority 

Improvised (adj.): Done or made using whatever is makeshift

Involve (v.) : To affect or have a necessary consequence / to embroil, engage

Injury (n.) : Damage done to a person or a thing / Damage suffered by a person or a thing

Liability (n.) : The state of being responsible for something towards the laws

Negligence (n.) : Failure to take care over something 

Purpose (n.) : The reason for which something is done, a determination

Purpose (v.) : To intend or resolve a goal

Require (v.) : Need for a particular purpose

Scope (n.) : The range, the extent of subject matter to which it is relevant

Strike out / Struck out (v.) : to remove something / declare invalid 

Towards  (pr.): In the direction of

Trial (n.): A formal examination of evidence by a judge in a case of civil or criminal proceedings

Unanimously (adv.): With the agreement of all people involved

Melodie D. and Camille C. (G. 54)

Vocabulary oral presentation – Smith and Others v. The Ministry of Defence, 

June 19^th 2013 (UK Supreme Court)

• Serviceman : a member of the armed forces of a country. 
• « Friendly fire » incident : an attack by a military force on non-enemy, own, allied or neutral, forces while attempting to attack the enemy, either by misidentifying the target as hostile, or due to errors or inaccuracy.
• To allege : to assert, to declare 
• Improvised explosive device : a home-made explosive device designed to maim, harass, or kill
• To strike out :  you apply to ask the court to strike out your opponent's claim if you consider it is "vexatious" (mischief making), "scurrilous" (insulting), or "ill-founded" (wrong). This will mean the claim will not proceed.
• To owe : to be in debt to 
• Doctrine of combat immunity : provides that when the armed forces are in the course of military operations, they are under no actionable duty of care in tort to avoid causing loss or damage to their fellow soldiers, or indeed to anyone else.
• A deceased : someone who died 

WEEK 2 

The Law Explored : naked and unarmed – but shot dead by mistake  

Vocabulary (GROUP 16):

- a set of rules = to gather several rules

• broad (adj) = extensive, varied, large
  - crackdown (n) = punishment
  - to raid {sth} (v) = to attack, to assault
  - to try {sth/sb} (v) = to judge
  - mistaken (n) = inexact, confused
  - liability (n) = legal responsability for acts
  - to push ahead (v) = to go on, to continue
  - assault and battery (n) = crime, direct physical assault (coups et blessures)
  - vindicatory action = to claim for oneself or another
  - to infringe (v) = to violate
  - mere (adj) = just, no more than
  - requirements (n) = needs
  - behaviour (n) = conduct of a person
  - to acknowledge (v) = to admit, to accept as true
  -  tort (n) = damage, injury
  - odd (adj) = unusual, weird
  - to settle (v) = to resolve
  - thoughtful (adj) = rational, result of thought
  - to ossify (v) = to become rigid
  - a quarry (n) = an open pit
  - constable (n) = police officer

Vocabulary (GROUP 17):

Criminal law (n.) : the part of the legal system that relates to punishing people who break the law.

Civil law (n.) : the part of the legal system that relates to personal matters, such as marriage and property, rather than crime.

Self-defence (n.) (u.) : a claim or plea that the use of force or injuring or killing another was necessary in defending one's own person from physical attack.

A crackdown (n.) : a situation in which officials begin to strictly enforce rules or laws.

A Chief Constable (n.) : in Britain, the police officer in charge of the police in a particul area.

The Old Bailey : the main criminal court of London, England.

Naked (adj.) : wearing no clothing.

Unarmed (adj.) : not carrying a weapon.

Honest (adj.) : truthful and sincere.

Reasonable (adj.) : based on or using good judgment and therefore fair and practical / acceptable.

Mistakenly (adj.) : (of an idea or action) wrong or incorrect.

Unlawful (adj.) : not allowed by law.

To push ahead : to continue with an activity in a determined or enthusiastic way, especially when it is difficult or makes you feel tired.

To plead (v.) : to make a request for something.

A requirement (n.) : something that you must do, or something you need.

An Assault and battery (n.) : a threat to injure someone followed by a violent attack on them.

An Assault (n.) : a violent attack.

To raid (v.) : (of the police) to enter a place suddenly in order to find someone or something

MB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Vocabulary (GROUP 54)

• Referral (in the european system) : A question of interpretation or validity of a european provision raised by the national judge and sent to the european judge.
• The acquired gender : The gender under which you are registered after a gender reassignment.
• State retirement pension : An amount of money given by the state that one receives at a certain age, after quitting his/her job.
• Gender reassignment : Sex transformation.
• To be eligible to : To be suitable / to satisfy the criteria.
• Eligibility : The entitlement to something, to have the quality to access to something.
• To undergo surgery : To receive a surgical intervention.
• Marital status : Whether or not one is married.
• To preclude : to exclude (here the application of a legal disposition).
• To enter into force : To become applicable.
• Entitlement : The right, the privilege.
• Interim gender recognition : A gender recognition which is not total but temporary.
• The Panel : When not all the Justices hear the case/Only a portion of Justices hear the case.
• Requirement : A need, a condition.
• To amend : To correct, modify.
• To acquire : To obtain.
• Guidance : Advice, assistance (of the judges).

VOCABULARY TERM 1 (UPDATED) 

L3 Group 54

XIAOHERETI Y. / YESMINE B.

gurney (n.) : a light bed on wheels, used to move patients in a hospital penitentiary (n.) : a state or federal prison 

prolific (adj.) : producing a great number or amount of something 

brand of (n.) : a particular type of something, or way of doing something 

to enact (v.) : to put something into action, especially to make something law 

logistical (adj.) : relating to the process of planning and organizing to make sure that resources are in the places where they are needed, so that an activity or process happens effectively 

to carry out something (v.) : to do or complete something, especially that you have said you would do or that you have been told to do 

to underline (v.) : to emphasize 

wares (n.) : small products for selling, especially in a market or on the street 

to bolster (v.) : to support or improve something or make it stronger 

stance (n.) : a way of thinking about something, especially expressed in a publicly stated opinion 

scrambling (adj.) : putting things in the wrong order so that they do not make sense (like scram- bling eggs) 

delighted (adj.) : very pleased
substantial (adj.) : large in size, value, or importance
to resort to something (v.) : to do or use something because it is the only thing available
to replenish (v.) : to fill something up again
aided by (adj.) : helped by
lethal (adj.) : deadly, which causes death
shady (adj.) : - informal - way to express that something is illegal or dishonest
to cloak (v.) : to hide something
secrecy (n.) : the state of being secret or of keeping something secret
compounding (adj.) : - formal - formal something consisting of two or more different parts bespoke (adj.) : specially made for a particular person, tailor-made
manufacturer (n.) : a company that produces goods in large numbers
to look to somebody to make something (v.) : to hope that someone will do something for you 

to urge somebody to (v.) : to encourage someone to do or achieve something significant (adj.) : important or noticeable
to contend (v.) : to say that something is true or is a fact
overblown (adj.) : bigger or more important or impressive than it should be 

to carry out the law (v.) : to keep applying the law
tremendous (adj.) : very great in amount or level, or extremely good / synonyms : gigantic, huge

to put somebody to death (v.) : condemning to death 

to comport with (v.) : if an idea or statement, etc. comports, it matches or is similar to something else 

botched (adj.) : used to describe something, usually a job, that is done badly
spokesman (n.) : someone who is chosen by a group or organization to speak officially to the public for them (ex : a government spokesperson) 

blow (n.) : a hard hit with a hand or a weapon 

to sting (v.) : if someone's unkind remarks sting, they make you feel upset and annoyed 

to strike down (v.) : (of a court) to decide that a law or rule is illegal and should be ignored 

polls (n.) : survey of opinion, statistics 

to wage war against something/somebody (v.) or to wage war on something (drugs, crime) : to fight a battle or to conduct a campaign against something 

prosecutor (v.) : a legal official who accuses someone of committing a crime, especially in a law court 

to seek (v.) : to try to find or get something, especially something that is not a physical object death row (n.) : cellblock for prisoners sentenced to death, waiting to be killed as a punishment for 

a crime
populous (adj.) : country, area, or place which has a lot of people living in it on hold (adv.) : suspended, that is waiting for something/somebody nationwide (adj.) : existing or happening in all parts of a particular country tally (v.) : to match or agree with something else
to gauge (v.) : to calculate an amount, especially by using a measuring device 

backup (n.) : someone or something providing support or help, or something that you have arran- ged in case your main plans go wrong which is why we usually say « a backup plan » 

shipment (n.) : a large amount of goods sent together to a place, or the act of sending them
to dispatch (v.) : to send something, especially goods or messages, somewhere for a particular purpose
shortage (n.) : a situation in which there is not enough of something
lengthy slate : - mostly US - a long list of candidates
wholesaler (n.) : so who buys and sells goods in large amounts to shops and businesses to allege (v.) : to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof inmate (n.) : a prisoner
chamber (n.) : a room used for a special or official purpose 

field (n.) : 1. an area of activity or interest
2. an area of land, used for growing crops or keeping animals, usually surrounded by a fence 3. an area covered with grass, used for playing sports 

myriad problems (n.) : many problems, almost infinite
dubious (adj.) : thought not to be completely true or not able to be trusted to ensure (v.) : to make certain that something will happen, to make sure 

DUILLI K. / CAMILLE C. (Group 54)

A cudgel : a short stout stick used as a weapon
Death row inmate : someone who is sentenced to death and waits for his execution
Emphatic : very expressive or significant
Faith-based : affiliated with, supported by
A freshman : a novice, a beginner
GOP : other name for the Republican Party in the U.S.
A live band : a musical group which plays in live
Markedly : a change in behaviour or in a situation which is very obvious or noticeable
To acknowledge : to admit truth or reality of something
To depict : to describe
To be hammered : to be hit, to be beaten
To launch : to initiate, to begin
To point to : to indicate
To shift : to switch, to change
To top out : to peak, to culminate
To reignite : to make something such as a disagreement or worry that was disappearing grow stronger To wrangle : to argue
Capital punishment (uncountable), the death penalty 

VOCABULARY OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE FIFTH AMENDMENT

L3 GROUP 17

Joanna Z.

Ona P-P.

A ruling (n) : a decision

To invoke (v)  : to declare to be binding or in effect

Evidence / to evidence (n) ; (v) : that which tends to prove or disprove something

Horrendous (adj) : shockingly dreadful

To injure (v): to do or cause harm of any kind to

A prosecutor (n) : an attorney who conducts legal proceedings against a person, as in a court of law

Callous (adj) : unkind, cruel, and without sympathy or feeling for other people (unfeeling ; insensitive)

Likewise (adv) : in the same way

To convict (v) : to prove or declare (someone) guilty of an offense, especialy after a legal trial

Manslaughter (n) : the unlawful killing of a human being in which there is no prior intent to kill

Reckless (adj) : utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action

To appal (v): to make someone have strong feelings of shock or of disapproval

To caution (v) : to give a warning 

An appeal (n) : an application or request for review by a higher court

To appeal (v) : to apply for review of a case or particular issue to a higher tribunal

A limb (n): arm or leg

 “Miranda rights or warnings”:  is a right to silence warning given by police in the United States to criminal suspects in police custody (or in a custodial interrogation) before they are interrogated to preserve the admissibility of their statements against them in criminal proceedings.