Legal English for Bachelor students
The Legal English for Bachelor's Students course is an optional course and open only to students who have completed at least the first two years of their Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Law. The course aims to improve the English language skills within a legal context.
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Practical information
| number of sessions | 10 sessions of 90 minutes |
| preparation | 3 to 4 hours per session |
| level | 300 |
| ects | 5 ECTS |
| target group | Third year students of Law at the Univerisity of Leiden |
| max. number of participants | 18 |
| language of instruction | English |
| course conclusion | Class participation and presentation (30%); written test on vocabulary, listening and reading (70%) in the week following the final session of the course. |
| materials | Krois-Lindler, A. and M. Firth (2008). Introduction to international Legal English. a course for classroom or self-study use. (Student’s book). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (ISBN: 978 0 521 718998)
This material is not included in the price. Participants have to order the book themselves. |
| price | not applicable |
| enrolment | You can fill in an enrolment form at the front desk of the Academic Language Centre (Lipsius Building room 125; 9.00 - 12.30 and 13.30 - 17.00 hrs). Enrolment forms that have been filled in and handed in before the start of the registration period (i.e. before 4 January) will only be processed on 4 January 2012. Registrations at the front desk will be given preferential treatment. |
course programme 2011-2012
| code | day | times | period* | start enrolment |
| leb-ia | Monday | 9.15-11 | 5 Sept-14 Nov** | 8 August 2011 |
| leb-ib | Tuesday | 9.15-11 | 6 Sept-15 Nov** | 8 August 2011 |
| leb-ic | Monday | 9.15-11 | 30 Jan-9 April | 4 January 2012*** |
| leb-id | Tuesday | 9.15-11 | 31 Jan-10 April | 4 January 2012*** |
* No tutorial in week 41 and week 10.
** The exam is scheduled to take place in the week after the last session, i.e. Friday 25 November, 9.00 - 11.00 *** Enrolment forms that have been filled in and handed in before the start of the registration period (i.e. before 4 January 2012) will only be processed on 4 January 2012. Registrations at the front desk will be given preferential treatment.
level and admission
The course is an optional course and open only to students who have completed at least the first two years of their Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Law. Participants are expected to have English language skills comparable to VWO level, or at B2 level according to the Common Europeabn Framework of Reference for Languages. For more information, please contact the Academic Language Centre.
course description
The course aims to improve the English language skills within a legal context. Participants learn to read and understand legal texts such as articles and legal correspondence. Also, they will learn to write letters and memo’s. Listening skills will be practised by means of a variety of listening exercises, such as lectures, presentations and interviews. Speaking skills will be practiced though (group) discussions, presentations, interviews and role plays. At the end of the course students will be able to describe the Dutch legal system in broad outline.
The legal terminology of this course focuses on commercial law, civil law, property law and contract law. However, other fields of law, such as criminal law and comparative law will also be discussed.
After completing this course students may carry on to do the Preparation Course for the ILEC Examination, which focuses on acquiring the language skills needed in Legal English to pass the examination for the International Legal English Certificate (ILEC). This external examination can be taken at the British Council, on payment of the appropriate fee. The diploma acquired is internationally recognised.
course objectives
- Listening: students acquire the skills needed to attend Law lectures and seminars where English is spoken.
- Reading : students have developed skill in reading authentic, academic legal texts; they are able to apply different reading techniques.
- Speaking: students are able to participate in class discussions and give short oral presentations on legal topics; they are also able to describe their life as a Law student and the Dutch legal system in broad outline.
- Writing : students are able to write letters and memo's on a legal topic in grammatically and stylistically correct English.