Module 1: Key concepts in Legal English (1 day)
- An insight into the common-law system and its impact on civil-law practice
- Expressions and grammatical structures typical of Legal English
- Commonly-encountered legal concepts and their meaning
- Basic written and oral communication skills
Module 2: Written communication skills for law (2 days)
- Effective legal writing for international legal practice and how to achieve it
- Tips for e-mailing in an intercultural context
- Key terminology for commercial contracts and commonly-used drafting language
- Strategies for understanding, drafting and amending contract clauses
Module 3: Oral communication skills for law (2 days)
- Making an impression: networking with and pitching to clients
- Making an effective legal presentation
- Legal discussions and negotiations: useful language, approach and execution
A good level of general English - level B2 or C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - and preferably at least one year of practical legal experience.
Lawyers and in-house counsel who need to communicate with clients and colleagues in English in the course of their work and who would like to develop their Legal English and Business Communication Skills in English to the level required for international legal practice.
A good level of general English - level B2 or C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - and preferably at least one year of practical legal experience.
Exam (1 day)
A combined exam (will be announced) comprising an oral and a written component, with the written component being a practical task or tasks requiring participants to apply the strategies for effective legal writing learnt during the course, and the oral component being a case study or simulation (or multiple case studies or simulations) drawn from legal practice, again requiring participants to apply the strategies for effective oral communication learnt during the course.
Certificate English Communication for Legal Practice – ECLP (Univ.) awarded by the University of Augsburg.