Foundations of Legal English: A Practical Course for Law Students
Foundations of Legal English: A practical Course for Law Students
UNIT 1: THE LEGAL SYSTEMS
◦ Distinction between Civil Law and Common Law
◦ Sources of Law: Case Law, Statutes, and Equity
◦ Vocabulary Focus: Precedent, stare decisis, codified law, statute.
◦ Hierarchy of Courts in the UK and USA
◦ Civil Courts vs. Criminal Courts
◦ Exercise: Diagramming the court structure.
UNIT 2: LEGAL PROFESSIONALS AND EDUCATION
• 2.1. Working in Law
◦ Distinction between Solicitors and Barristers (UK)
◦ Legal Education: The LL.B, JD, and Bar Exam
◦ Vocabulary Focus: Attorney, counsel, in-house counsel, judge, magistrate.
• 2.2. Language of the Courtroom
◦ Persons in Court: Claimant/Plaintiff, Defendant, Witness
◦ Exercise: Matching roles to definitions and transcript analysis.
UNIT 3: ACADEMIC LEGAL SKILLS
• 3.1. Reading and Understanding Legislation
◦ Structure of a Statute (Acts of Parliament)
◦ Key verbs: Enact, repeal, amend, enter into force
• 3.2. Reading Case Law
◦ Anatomy of a Law Report: Facts, Issue, Holding, Reasoning
◦ Exercise: Reading and summarizing a landmark case (Case Briefing)
UNIT 4: CONTRACT LAW (PART I: FORMATION)
• 4.1. The Elements of a Contract
◦ Offer, Acceptance, Consideration, and Intention
◦ Defenses to Contract Formation: Capacity and Legality
• 4.2. Contract Terminology
◦ Vocabulary Focus: Void vs. Voidable, Executed vs. Executory
◦ Exercise: Identifying elements in a sample contract.
UNIT 5: CONTRACT LAW (PART II: TERMS AND REMEDIES)
• 5.1. Terms of a Contract
◦ Conditions, Warranties, and Exclusion Clauses
◦ Boilerplate Clauses: Force Majeure, Severability, Governing Law
• 5.2. Remedies for Breach
◦ Damages (Compensatory, Punitive, Liquidated)
◦ Equitable Remedies: Specific Performance and Injunction
◦ Exercise: Drafting a simple advice letter regarding a breach of contract
UNIT 6: TORT LAW
• 6.1. Fundamentals of Tort
◦ Definitions: Tort, Tortfeasor, Liability
◦ Negligence: Duty of Care, Breach, Causation, and Harm
• 6.2. Specific Torts
◦ Defamation, Nuisance, and Trespass
◦ Vocabulary Focus: Foreseeability, proximate cause, strict liability.
◦ Exercise: Case study analysis – Donoghue v Stevenson.
UNIT 7: COMPANY AND COMMERCIAL LAW
• 7.1. Business Structures
◦ Sole Practitioner, Partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies
◦ UK vs. US Terminology: Company vs. Corporation
• 7.2. Corporate Governance
◦ Roles: Directors, Shareholders, Board Meetings
◦ Memorandum and Articles of Association (Constitution)
◦ Exercise: Reading a Certificate of Incorporation.
UNIT 8: LEGAL WRITING AND CORRESPONDENCE
• 8.1. Principles of Clear Writing
◦ Plain English vs. Legalese
◦ Avoiding Archaic Words (Herein, Thereof, Aforesaid)
• 8.2. Drafting Legal Documents
◦ Writing Formal Emails and Client Letters
◦ Structuring Legal Arguments (IRAC Method)
◦ Exercise: Rewriting legalese into plain English.
APPENDICES
• Glossary of Key Legal Terms
• Answer Key to Exercises
• Sample Legal Documents (Contracts, Court Forms)
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