Introduction
English for Law is an online course, consisting of 56 units of English, and providing approximately 60 hours of study for students.
Course aims
To give students at Intermediate, CEFR B1/Upper Intermediate B2 level practice in general and business-oriented language required for business contexts at this level, specifically tailored towards the specialisation of the law. The course blends grammatical structures necessary for this level, with vocabulary, reading, listening, writing, speaking and pronunciation.
Grammar
- Use present and past tenses correctly
- Use the appropriate conditional forms to talk about situations and consequences.
- Use the present perfect to describe a link between past and present events.
- Use going to and will to talk about future predictions and intentions.
- Use the passive form correctly
- Distinguish and be able to correctly describe countable and uncountable nouns.
Vocabulary
- By the end of the course students will have learnt approximately 120 expressions used in legal contexts.
Skills
- By the end of the course students will have had exposure to and practice in reading and hearing formal and informal English from a variety of accents and legal contexts.
Unit summary
Module 1
- Introduction to Legal Terminology
- Grammar: Present tenses
- Vocabulary: Essential legal vocabulary, legal concepts, branches of law
- Reading: Understanding legal texts, articles, and case studies
- Listening: Legal discussions, lectures, and debates
- Writing: My life as a lawyer
- Speaking: Describing a legal concept
- Pronunciation: Anxious and Chess + connected speech
Module 2
- Contract Law
- Grammar: Past tenses
- Vocabulary: Contract formation, breaches, remedies, contract terms
- Reading: Contracts and agreements
- Listening: Contract negotiation and dispute resolution discussions
- Writing: Contract clauses and summaries
- Speaking: Discussing contract terms and negotiating agreements
- Pronunciation: Beats and Beach + connected speech
Module 3
- Criminal Law
- Grammar: Going to and Will
- Vocabulary: Offences, criminal procedure, sentencing, criminal defences
- Reading: Criminal case summaries and legal statutes
- Listening: Courtroom proceedings and criminal law discussions
- Writing: A case brief
- Speaking: Presenting criminal law arguments
- Pronunciation: Bet and But + connected speech
Module 4
- Family Law
- Grammar: Present perfect
- Vocabulary: Marriage, divorce, child custody, alimony, adoption
- Reading: Family law statutes and cases
- Listening: Family law consultations and court hearings
- Writing: A family law document
- Speaking: Discussing family law issues
- Pronunciation: Bud and Bird + connected speech
Module 5
- Property Law
- Grammar: Countable and uncountable nouns
- Vocabulary: Real property, personal property, leases, mortgages, easements
- Reading: Property law documents and cases
- Listening: Property law discussions and negotiations
- Writing: A property law document
- Speaking: Discussing property law transactions
- Pronunciation: Cart and Cut + connected speech
Module 6
- Employment Law
- Grammar: First conditional
- Vocabulary: Employment contracts, discrimination, termination, worker’s rights
- Reading: Employment law cases and regulations
- Listening: Employment law consultations and disputes
- Writing: An employment law document
- Speaking: Discussing employment law
- Pronunciation: Day and Ray + connected speech
Module 7
- Intellectual Property Law
- Grammar: Passive
- Vocabulary: Copyright, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, infringement
- Reading: Intellectual property law cases and statutes
- Listening: Intellectual property law discussions and disputes
- Writing: An intellectual property law document
- Speaking: Discussing intellectual property law
- Pronunciation: Guess and Yes + connected speech
Module 8
- Professional Communication for Legal Professionals
- Grammar: Second conditional
- Vocabulary: Formal and informal language, presentation skills, cultural awareness
- Reading: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
- Listening: Effective communication with colleagues
- Writing: Professional emails, memos, and announcements
- Speaking: Communication between legal professionals
- Pronunciation:Hope and Hop + connected speech
Follow-up
- Students completing the English for Law course should feel confident in tackling any upper intermediate course, including our Upper Intermediate Business Power course.