Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Legal English

• code 13532
• course 1
• term Semester 2
• type op
• credits 2

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Head instructor

Dr. Stephen HAMPSHIRE - shampshire@uic.es

Office hours

Reyes Alcón: ralcon@uic.es

Office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. In all cases an email should be sent in advance to arrange an appointment.

The aim of the subject Legal English is to give students the ability to carry out their professional duties diligently in English and in an Anglo cultural context.

This course aims to provide the student with the necessary tools to gain a command of the English language in the specific use of all professional activities carried out in the field of law and to:

• Have a good understanding of legal documents written in English.

• Master spoken English fluently using the vocabulary appropriate for court cases and negotiations

• Master the terminology of contracts, letters, legal requirements and other legal texts.

None required.

• CA11 - Know how to develop skills that allow lawyers to be more efficient in their work and enhance the overall functioning of the team or institution they belong to by accessing information sources, using their knowledge of languages, knowledge management and the management of applied techniques and tools
• CB06 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas in a professional context.
• CB07 - Know how to apply acquired knowledge and problem-solving abilities in new or little-known surroundings within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
• CB09 - Know how to communicate their conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences alike in a clear and unambiguous way along with the rationale and knowledge that supports them.
• CG01 - Acquire the ability to work individually and as part of a team as well as the communication and leadership skills required to progress in the legal profession.

Students will learn how to:

Manage knowledge, skills and competences, legal and meta-legal, of a strictly instrumental or auxiliary nature.

- Efficient written communication techniques in the law and legal professions.

- Legal English.

1. Common Law vs. Civil Law.

2. Vocabulary, reading and discussion of legal texts, contracts and case reports.

3. Litigation terminology and legal proceedings.

4. English specific to letters of legal advice, emails and legal requirements.

5. Accurate reading of cases and legal projects.

In this subject, the skills of writing, reading, speaking and understanding are developed using activities based on role play, videos and task-based learning.

The candidates are evaluated in the following way:

Part 1. 60% of the final mark is continuous assessment,

Part 2. 40% of the final mark is an exam.

Part 1 consists of a series of tasks such as oral presentations, case study readings, and analysis of legal concepts.

Part 2 consists of an online exam with marks awarded in the following way:

Oral Exam: 20%

Readings:    5% 

Writing:      10%

Listening:    5%

Total:         40%

The Oral Exam consists of a short viva on one of nine different law topics. Candidates are required to meet the minimum B2 European Common Framework level of English.  

1. Textbooks

Street Law; A Course in Practical Law. McGraw Hill, 2016

The Lawyers English Language Coursebook, Catherine Mason, 2017

Professional English in Use – Law, Caroline Brown.

2. Websites

Legal Dictionary

 https://dictionary.law.com/

European Union website

https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

3. Cases:

Geffener vs Cocacola:

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca2/18-3548/18-3548-2019-06-27.html

Elonis vs United States

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/13-983_7l48.pdf

4. Videos

Common law and Civil Law

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSnu6FrB0xc&t=113s