Legal English I

Recommended Prerequisites

QECR B1.

Teaching Methods

Reading and analysing legal documents in English
Listening to/visualising audios and videos on various areas of law
Writing exercises, aiming both at grammar usage and textual composition
Role-playing exercises
Practising summarising texts in English, both orally and in writing.

Learning Outcomes

General Objectives (GO)

1) Recognising the characteristics of typical legal documents written in English;
2) Understanding the typical legal terminology and phrasing of the English language, transmitted both orally and in writing;
3) Knowing the rules of grammar and sentence construction.

Specific Objectives (SO)
1 a) Identifying legal documents by area, based on their terminology;
1 b) Interpreting their composition and purpose;
1 c) Summarising the content of legal documents with the essential parts for full understanding;
2 a) Using legal terminology and phrasing correctly in a specific context in English, both orally and in writing;
2 b) Recognising commonly confused English legal terms;
3 a) Applying the basic grammatical rules of the English language correctly, both orally and in writing;
3 b) Using correct, fluent and appropriate phrasing (oral or written) in each specific situation. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The Practice of Law

Company Law

Contracts

Employment Law

Sale of Goods

Real Property Law

Intellectual Property

Negotiable Instruments

Secured Transactions

Debtor-Creditor

Competition Law

Criminal Law

Family Law

Terminology:

In the Courthouse

In Documents

UK vs US Terminology.   

Head Lecturer(s)

David Filipe dos Santos Neves Oliveira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Synthesis work: 30.0%
Exam: 40.0%

Bibliography

Bibliografria Principal

• Krois-Lindner, Amy (2011). International Legal English. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press

 

Bibliografia Secundária

• Roche, Marc (2018). Master Legal Vocabulary & Terminology: Legal Vocabulay in Use : Contracts, Prepositions, Phrasal, Verbs + 425 Expert Legal. Independently published 
• Gubby, Helen (2011). English Legal Terminology. The Hague. Boom Juridische uitgevers.
• Haigh, Rupert (2012). Legal English. London. Cavendish Publishing
• Martin, Elizabeth A. (2013) A Dictionary of Law. Oxford. Oxford University Press