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
- 2022/2023
- 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. All students who require further tuition in general English are advised to request or follow courses organised by the CUR. Supplementary seminars to be held by Prof. Danila Patricia Fiordelmondo are available.
Course programme
- The full course for 6 Credits consists of Modules I, II, III, IV, below.
The reduced course for 3 Credits consists of two Modules from I, II, III and IV, below, of the candidate’s choice.
The numerical references given in each Module, below, correspond to the relative sections of the adopted textbook: Legal English and the Common Law, Alison Riley, Wolters Kluwer Italia (Cedam) 4th ed. 2018 (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. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 1, pages 5-39.)
Powerpoint presentations for Module I include: English in legal contexts / Vocabulary in the law /
Additional text for consultation:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
II) The Language of a Legal System. Laws, courts and constitutions. (14 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. 2.7 Brexit. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 2, pages 49-75, 89-96.)
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 / The Brexit referendum and its impact: a legal and linguistic overview
III) The European Dimension and Human Rights. 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. The language of rights. Convention rights. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 3, pages 97-128).
In addition to the Textbook sections, above, we will consult:
1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2) European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR/CEDU): Section 1 – Rights and Freedoms
Powerpoint presentations for Module III include: Human rights – an introduction. From the Universal Declaration to the European Convention / European integration: treaty events /
IV) The Language of Criminal Law and Human Rights. Criminal prosecution and trial. (8 hours)
4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Criminal prosecution: the Crown Prosecution Service. 4.3 Criminal trial and conviction. The adversarial trial. (Legal English and the Common Law: Chapter 4, pages 155-170.)
Case study in human rights: the death penalty.
In addition to the Textbook sections, above:
1) European Convention on Human Rights, Art. 1, 2, 3 + 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 exam is in English and consists of a written paper for all candidates, followed by an optional oral exam for students who wish to improve their written grade. The same examination method applies to students taking the reduced 3-Credit exam. The final grade expresses an average between the written and oral results (50:50), with 3 bonus points available for the oral.
Regular attenders only may take the written paper in December 2018; further, regular attenders with a good level of spoken English may present a group presentation in the final weeks of the course for which up to 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 covered in the course syllabus and on appropriate legal expression; credit will be given for the ability to comment on topics discussed in appropriate language.
1) Written paper (time: 6 Credits - 90 minutes; 3 Credits - 60 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.
2) Oral exam. Candidates who have attended the course regularly and who wish to improve on the grade obtained in the written paper, may choose one subject from the course syllabus for oral discussion. All other candidates may choose their first subject for discussion and will also be questioned on other parts of the syllabus. Credit will be given for the ability to discuss original legal texts in the exam; students wishing to investigate topics further should consult the various Tasks in the textbook, or Ideas for further reading given at the end of each chapter or in the material contained in the Legal Grammar Handbook by Patricia Sours (same volume as Legal English and the Common Law, chapters 7 to 11).
Reference texts
- A) Adopted textbook: Legal English and the Common Law, 4th ed., Alison Riley, Wolters Kluwer Italia (Cedam) 2018; 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) and is updated to 2018, so please bring your personal copy to every lecture from day one. Photocopies are not permitted.
B) Supplementary texts essential for your studies. You are advised to download and print your personal copy of these authentic texts in English from the official websites, below.
i) For Modules III and IV, 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) For Modules I, III and IV, 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) Powerpoint presentations used during lectures are available to students.
D) 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.
E) You are recommended to use a monolingual learner’s dictionary of English of your choice, for example: Oxford Wordpower Dictionary www.oup.com/elt, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English www.pearsonlongman.com , Collins COBUILD English Dictionary, www.cobuild.collins.co.uk
