LEGAL ENGLISH
Academic year and teacher
If you can't find the course description that you're looking for in the above list,
please see the following instructions >>
- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2020/2021
- Teacher
- DANILA PATRICIA FIORDELMONDO
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- L-LIN/12
Training objectives
- This course in English for Specific Purposes focuses on the use of English as a legal language, and aims to provide
the following knowledge base: firstly, an introduction to the language of an internal legal system with special
reference to the English common law system (sources and text-types, legal culture and terminology, both basic and
more specialized in branches of law covered); and secondly, an introduction to the language of European Union
law and international law, with special reference to human rights protection.
The principal skills developed are: the specific linguistic skills required (together with the legal and cultural
knowledge mentioned above) to consult and comment on original legal texts in English, and discuss legal topics in
appropriate language, also from a comparative angle, in both written and oral English; there is a strong focus on
developing independent vocabulary skills in both general and legal English, using specialized reference works and
official institutional websites. Prerequisites
- To follow this course, your general English should be minimum lower intermediate (B1 Council of Europe /
Cambridge PET ) or above. No previous knowledge of legal English is required. Course programme
- The full course for 6 Credits consists of Chapter I, II, III, IV, below.
The reduced course for 3 Credits consists of two Chapters The numerical references correspond to the relative
sections of the adopted textbook: Legal English and the Common Law, Alison Riley, Cedam 3rd ed. 2015 (Course
Textbook).
I) English in Legal Contexts. English legal texts, contexts and terminology in national and international
perspectives. (12 hours) 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Reading, vocabulary and context. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to
Freedom 1.3 A selection of texts on legal themes. 1.4 English legal contexts and English legal texts. 1.6 Discussion
and Reflection: Opinions on legal language. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 1, pages 5-39, 45-46)
Powerpoint presentations for Module I include: English in legal contexts / Vocabulary in the law /
II) The Language of a Legal System. Laws, courts and constitutions. (12 hours) 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Legislation
and the Legislature. Constitutional monarchy. 2.3 Consulting legal sources - legislation: British constitutional
reform - Scottish devolution. 2.4 The legislature: House of Commons and House of Lords. (Legal English and the
Common Law: Chapter 2, pages 49-75.)
And 5.3 Judicial precedent and the English courts. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 5, pages 213-
224).
Powerpoint presentations for Module II include: The British constitution – language and sources /
Constitutional monarchy in pictures /
III) The European Dimension and Human Rights. The impact of European Union law and the European
Convention on Human Rights. (10 hours) 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Languages in international contexts. 3.3 Consulting
treaty law: the European Union. EU citizenship. 3.4 The European Convention on Human Rights. Convention
rights in the British constitution: Human Rights Act 1998 (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 3, pages
97-139). You are also recommeded to read 3.6 Reflection and comparison: L`Italia e la Convenzione europea per i
diritti dell`uomo (di Serena Forlati, 149-153).
In addition to the Textbook sections, above:
1) European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR/CEDU): Section 1 – Rights and Freedoms
2) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Powerpoint presentations for Module III include: Human rights – an introduction. From the Universal Declaration
to the European Convention / European integration: treaty events /
The ECHR in the national legal system /
IV) The Language of Criminal Law and Human Rights. Criminal prosecution and trial. (10 hours)
4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Criminal prosecution: the Crown Prosecution Service. 4.3 Criminal trial and conviction. (Legal
English and the Common Law: Chapter 4, pages 155-170.) The right to liberty and security (Article 5 ECHR) the
right to a fair trial (Article 6 ECHR); case study in human rights: the death penalty.
In addition to the Textbook sections, above:
1) European Convention on Human Rights + Protocol No. 6, Strasbourg, 28 April 1983 + Protocol No. 13, Vilnius,
3 May 2002
Powerpoint presentations for Module IV include: The death penalty. Human rights protection – ECHR case studies. Didactic methods
- Interactive lessons in English are based on consultation of legal texts examined through completion and discussion
of Tasks developed in the course Textbook; slide presentations enhance teacher-led discussion; group work is
essential for oral practice; a systematic approach to learning legal terminology and appropriate legal expression is
an integral part of the learning process. Guidance will be given to practice and improve reference skills (dictionary
use and specialized online research). Italian explanation may be provided on request. Learning assessment procedures
- The programme is the same for regular attenders and non attenders.
Attendence is highly advised to enable a greater competence in the Inglish language.
Regular attenders and non attenders are invited from time to time to view the material present in classroom using codes:
OSG q24gjrl
LIG gq30oa6l
The exam is in English and consists of a written paper for all candidates. The same examination method applies to students taking the reduced 3-Credit exam. Regular attenders with a good level of spoken English may create a presentation in the final weeks of the course for which 3 bonus points may be awarded on an individual basis.
Assessment is based on knowledge and understanding of the legal texts, terminology, notions and sources overed in the course syllabus and on appropriate legal expression; credit will be given for the ability to comment on topics discussed in appropriate language.
Written paper (time: 6 Credits - 90 minutes; 3 Credits - 50 minutes) The written paper consists of a series of
exercises from multiple choice to open questions aiming to verify knowledge and understanding of the course syllabus (for which, see above). When revising, students are recommended to complete the exercises in the Language Focus Tasks section of the course textbook, by Patricia Sours (Legal English and the Common Law, from page 439, with solutions). An example paper is available on the website and other past papers will be examined during the final weeks of the course. Reference texts
- A) Adopted textbook: Legal English and the Common Law, 4th ed., Alison Riley, Cedam, Padua, 2015; the same
volume contains the Legal Grammar Handbook by Patricia Sours, recommended for legal grammar consultation
(Chapters 7 to 11). The textbook contains all the material necessary for your studies (in addition to the
supplementary texts, below) so please bring your personal copy to every lecture from day 1. Photocopies are not
permitted. The 2nd edition (2012) may be used, in alternative.
B) Supplementary texts essential for the study of Modules III and IV of the syllabus. You are advised to download
and print your personal copy of these authentic texts in English from the official websites, below.
i) from the website of the Council of Europe: www.echr.coe.int/echr/ (Click Basic texts)(an Italian version useful
for comparison is also available): Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as
amended by Protocol No. 14, Rome, 4 Nov 1950 (= European Convention on Human Rights = ECHR); ECHR
Protocols: Protocol No. 6, Strasbourg, 28 April 1983; Protocol No. 13, Vilnius 3 May 2002.
ii) Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, United
Nations website: www.un.org (An Italian version is also available, useful for comparison.)
C) Law Dictionary. You are advised to consult regularly throughout the course a monolingual dictionary of law
terms, such as The Oxford Dictionary of Law, Oxford University Press, UK. Many specialized dictionaries are also
available in the library for consultation.
