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English for Lawyers: Introduction to Legal Language and System

This course introduces law students to legal English language and systems, covering topics such as branches of law, legal history, and global legal systems. Emphasis on academic writing and active class participation. Offered in four modules over semesters. Textbook and additional materials provided.

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English for Lawyers: Introduction to Legal Language and System

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  1. ENGLISH FOR LAWYERS I INTRODUCTION

  2. Lecturer • Prof.dr.sc. Lelija Sočanac • Office hours: Tuesday, 16.00 – 17.00 h, Gundulićeva 10, Office 5 • E-mail: lelijasocanac@gmail.com

  3. Textbook: • Sočanac, L.; Matijašević, M; Javornik-Čubrić, M; Husinec, S; Horvatić-Bilić, I. English for the Legal Profession. Zagreb: Narodne novine, 2017.

  4. Additionalteaching materials • Foreign Language Department’s web page: • Ppt presentations • Additional materials

  5. General Dictionaries • Bujas, Željko, Veliki hrvatsko-engleski rječnik .- Zagreb: Nakladni zavod Globus, 1999 • Bujas, Željko, Veliki englesko-hrvatski rječnik .- Zagreb : Nakladni zavod Globus, • Advanced Learner’s Dictionaries (Collins Cobuild, Oxford, Longman)

  6. Online dictionaries • www.eudict.com • glosbe.com

  7. English-Croatian Law Dictionaries • Gačić, M. Englesko-hrvatski rječnik prava i međunarodnih poslovnih odnosa = English-Croatian Dictionary of Law and International and Business Relations. Zagreb: Školska knjiga, 2010.

  8. English Law Dictionaries • Black's Law Dictionary / ed. Bryan A. Garner.- Thomson West, 2004. • Collin, P.H., Dictionary of Law .- London : Bloomsbury, 2004 • Osborn’s Concise Law Dictionary .- Sweet and Maxwell, 2001 • Oxford Dictionary of Law / ed. Martin, E.A.; Law, J..- Oxford University Press, 2006.

  9. ENGLISH FOR LAWYERS:StructureoftheTextbook • 4 modules corresponding to 4 semesters (English for Lawyers I – IV) • Each module: 6 units • Each unit: 2-3 parts • Part One: Introduction to a topic, Part Two: Additional reading, original texts) • Annexes: Presentation Skills (p. 267), Academic Writing (p. 271), Glossary of key terms and concepts (p. 275), English-Croatian glossary (311)

  10. PROGRAMME AND TIMETABLE: ENGLISH I MONDAY 12.00-13.30 TRH 14, Lecture room II • 1 Oct. Introduction • 8 Oct. UNIT 1. Language and Law I • 15 Oct. UNIT 1. Language and Law II • 22 Oct. UNIT 2. About Law I • 29 Oct. UNIT 2. About Law II • 5 Nov. UNIT 3. Branches of Law I • 19 Nov. Unit 3. Branches of Law II

  11. PROGRAMME AND TIMETABLE ENGLISH I MONDAY 12.00 – 13.30, TRH 14, Lecture room II • 26 Nov. UNIT 4: Preliminaryexam • 3 Dec. UNIT 4: TheHistorical Development ofLaw • 10 Dec. UNIT 5. Legal Systems ofthe World I • 17 Dec. UNIT 5: Legal Systems ofthe World II 7 Jan. UNIT 6: State GovernanceandAdministrationofJustice I 14 Jan. UNIT 6: State GovernanceandAdministrationofJustice II • 21 Jan. Preliminaryexam

  12. COURSE REQUIREMENTS • 75% attendance • Prepare for eachclass: selfstudy; home assignments Activeparticipationinclass • Don’thesitate to askquestions!

  13. Assessment • 75% attendanceentitlesyou to take preliminaryexams (written+oral) • Ifyougive a goodpresentation on a selectedtopic, youdon’thave to take theoralexam Ifyoupassthepreliminaryexams, youdon’thave to take theexam at theendofthesemester

  14. Presentations: SuggestedTopics • Law and language, Legal English • Theory of law: Law and ideology; Law and morality; Law and justice; Law and religion; • Classification of law (any branch of law) • History of law; Roman law • Legal systems of the world; Civil law; Common law; Other legal traditions • Separation of powers; Resolving disputes

  15. PREPARING YOUR SEMINAR PAPER • 1. Choose a topic • 2. Research: collect as much material as you can • 3. Organize your materials • 4. Structure your paper: • 1. Introduction • 2. Elaboration • 3. Conclusion • References

  16. STRUCTURE • Name • TITLE • Abstract • (A short summary of what you are going to write about) • 1. Introduction. 1.1. Definition 1.2. Historical Background/TheoreticBackground/Problem • 2. The main argument • 3. Conclusion • References: • Oakland, John (2000), British Civilization : an Introduction .- 4th ed .- London; New York : Routledge.

  17. Academicstyle • Formal • Impersonal • Full forms should be used instead of contracted ones (e.g. cannot instead of can’t) • Avoid making false or personal claims • Allow for other points of view • Use appropriate vocabulary: legal terms • Avoid colloquialisms • Must be grammatically correct

  18. Quoting • “If the question is asked: ‘what is the role of law in society?’ a common response would be ‘to maintain order”. (Partington 2006: 13) References • Partington, Martin. 2006. An Introduction to the English Legal System . 3rd ed . Oxford University Press.

  19. PARAGRAPHING • A paragraph: several sentences contained in the topic (or key) sentence • The topic sentence: usually the first one, contains the main idea or topic • The other sentences support it by adding further information or examples • A paragraph should link logically with previous and following paragraphs

  20. Paragraphing: Exercise • A) It is mainlyformal, impersonalandobjective. • B) In most ofthesethewriter is expected to includereferencestootherwriting or research • C) Academicwriting is a particularkindofwritingthatcanberecognisedbyits style. • D) Theseincludeessays, researchreportsandarticles, casestudies, surveys, dissertations, theses, andexaminationpapers. • E) Otherdistinctivefeatureswilldependuponthespecifictypesofacademicwriting

  21. Referencing • Name of the author • year • Title • Place of publication • Publisher • Pages used

  22. Revisingandediting • You should always read the text again to see if it is written clearly • Check the organization of the paper • Check grammar and spelling • Revise

  23. PAPERS: P-O-W-E-R • Produce (something worth saying) • Organize • Write • Edit • Refine

  24. PRESENTATION 1.Choose yourtopic (partlydepends on yourtimeframe); 2. Thinkofyouraudience 3. Research: Collectyourmaterials • 4. Organizeyourpresentation

  25. STRUCTURE: THE BEGINNING • 1. Establish contact: Greet the audience, introduce yourself (Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is...I’m going to speak to you today about...) • 2. Make an impact – say something that will make the audience want to listen to you • 3. Give a preview of the argument you are going to present

  26. STRUCTURE: THE MIDDLE • 1. Divide speech into a few manageable points (‘I’m going to make a couple of points today. Briefly, these are...’ • 2. Place them in a logical order • 3. Demonstrate how each point contributes to the main theme of the presentation

  27. STRUCTURE: THE END • 1. Indicate that you have reached the end of your presentation (And finally...; In conclusion...) • 2. Summarise the key points of your presentation (‘By way of summary...’) • 3. End with a clear statement (‘The most important effect of all this is...’) • 4. Invite questions

  28. STRUCTURE: SUMMARY • 1) Beginning: start by saying what you are going to talk about (“Tell them what you’re going to tell them”) • 2) Middle: most important points with good illustrative examples (“Tell them”) • 3) End: sum up (“Tell them again what you’ve told them”) • 4) Invite questions

  29. Points to remember • 1. Use simple and clear language • 2. Check and practise the pronunciation of difficult words • 3. Pay attention to your intonation • 4. If possible, do not read (notes, keywords) • 5. Use visual aids, or write on the blackboard • 6. Do not forget about your TIMING!!! (15 min.)

  30. CHECKLIST:Preparation • Consider your audience: • 1. What are they interested in? • 2. What do they need to know? • 3. What is the best way of presenting it?

  31. Power Point • 1. Check the equipment • 2. DO NOT put too much text on a slide (no more than 6 lines) • 3. Text large enough for everyone to see • 4. Be careful about background colours and pictures

  32. Throughout • 1. Project your voice so that everyone can hear you • 2. Maintain eye contact with your audience • 3. Use visual aids to illustrate your points • 4. Use simple and clear language • 5. Eliminate anything not essential to the points you are making

  33. Team presentations(3 members) • 1. Choose who will lead the presentation • 2. Divide your topics • 3. Rehearse how each person will hand over to the next • 4. Identify what each person will be doing while another is speaking

  34. PRESENTATIONS: KISS • Keep • It • Short and • Simple

  35. A few quotations… • Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the posible exception of wrestling alligators. (Olin Miller) • It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good spontaneus speech. (Mark Twain)

  36. STUDENT-MENTORS • If your English is good enough, you can help your colleagues on a regular basis (1 session a week) • If you have problems with your English, contact a student mentor at the beginning of the academic year (web page)

  37. Tempus reading room • TMT 3 (basement) • Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10.00-14.00h

  38. Assignment • Have a look at any Act of Parliament. Focus on its language and structure. What do you notice? Does legal language differ from ordinary language? How? • https://www.legislation.gov.uk/2018

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