Legal English is designed to assist those who wish to develop and enhance their skills in the use of the English language within a legal context, whether as a native English speaker or someone using English as a second or foreign language. It enables the reader to confidently write on, and discuss, legal topics as well as actually conduct legal work – such as advocacy, interviewing and advising, negotiation, legal writing and drafting. The book provides the necessary tools to build on language skills in a professional context through familiarisation with realistic legal scenarios and materials prepared by a qualified lawyer. The exercises are suited to both self-study and group work. Legal English: ● includes exercises which progressively enhance communication skills in oral and written English ● develops legal vocabulary alongside grammatical construction and pronunciation ● presents realistic legal scenarios to advance professional language skills ● enhances the study process through the inclusion of learning objectives, glossary of terminology, sample letters, legal documentation and contracts Legal English is ideal for those studying law within an English language jurisdiction. It is also an invaluable reference for those involved in the legal or business domain whose work brings them into contact with legal practice. William R. McKay is a qualified solicitor and Lecturer at the Inns of Court School of Law, Institute of Law, City University, London. He currently teaches civil litigation, civil advocacy, opinion writing and drafting and employment law on the Bar Vocational Course. He is also part-time lecturer for legal reasoning and employment law at Birkbeck College, University of London. Helen E. Charlton (MA, TEFL) has taught English as a foreign language for several leading language schools. She teaches Business English to clients from major corporations and has worked in Japan. www.pearson-books.com ‘This is a much needed text on legal English. It deserves a place on the shelf of every law teacher, and should be on the reading list of all students who need to get to grips with language issues… An excellent and up-to-date book that makes the resolution of language law issues accessible and interesting.’ Dr Sharon Hanson (PhD), Director of Legal Studies Programmes, Birkbeck College, University of London ‘This book fills a very important gap and will be gratefully appreciated by both students and teachers of legal English. It is an authoritative introduction to a field which is becoming more and more significant internationally.’ David Rowson, MBE, Head of English, Bellerbys College, London MCKAY AND CHARLTON LEGAL ENGLISH LEGAL ENGLISH MCKAY AND CHARLTON How to Understand and Master the Language of Law Cover image © Getty Images 0582894360_COVER(McKay) 28/2/05 1:48 pm Page 1 Legal English 01PRELIM 03/07/2005 10:19 AM Page i We work with leading authors to develop the strongest educational materials in law, bringing cutting-edge thinking and best learning practice to a global market. Under a range of well-known imprints, including Longman, we craft high Hidden page Hidden page Hidden page Hidden page Hidden page Hidden page Hidden page International Legal English A course for classroom or self-study use Amy Krois-Lindner and TransLegalO ~CAMBRIDGE ::, UNIVERSITY PRESS www.cambridge.org Introduction InternaflOtlai Legal Engl,sh (ILE) is an uppef"lnlenned.ate to advanced level course fOf" leamefS who need to be able 10 use English in the legal profession. The course is intended fOf law stUdents and practising lawyers alike. The book has been written to prepare candidates for the new International Legal English Certificate (llEC) examina\lOn develope<:! by Cambridge ESOL and TransLegal. but il can also be used effectively in legal English courses of all kinds. ILE is SUitable for both self- study and classroom use. Since the vast majority of practising lawyers m the world deal With commercial law. ILE focuses on the use of English for this purpose. Within the field of commercial law. a number of important tOpICS (such as company law, contract law. Intellectual property. real property law, employment law and sale of goods, to name a few) have been selected as the legal subtect matter of the umts. ParlJcular emphasIs IS placed on the areas of company law and contracts - With three units dedICated 10 each - as the rnaJOllty of commercial lawyers practIse Ir'l these areas. The authors of ILE are well aware that most students USing the book need to be able to provide adviCe regarding their own legal system In English as opposed to mastering US or UK legal concepts. Thus. while the legal coocepts introduced in thiS book are those found in the legal systems of the UK and the USA. It also Includes texts about legal matters in other countnes and legal systems. It is imporlant to emphasise that nearly all of the legal concepts covered are found in legal systems and Jurisdictions the world over. Smce many of the tasks encourage you to compare aspects of the law in your own JUrisdiction with those presented in the book, an international perspective is fostered. It is important to bear in mind that ILE is intended 10 help law students and lawyers learn English In a legal context and to prepare for the ILEe exam. Therefore. ILE should only be used for the purpose of learning Jegal English and should not be relied upon lor legal advice or assIstance in the practice of law. ILE conSISts of 15 units, UnIt 1 grves you an introductIon 10 baSIC legal coocepts in English, WIth a focus on general aspects of the legal system as well as SpecIfIC matters connected With a career In the law. Units 2-15 deal WIth a dIfferent area of commefClallaw. Each Unit begins With a reading ten which prOVIdes you With an cwervlew of the topIC area in question. These overview texts introduce crucial legal concepts while presentmg a variety of relevant vocabulary In the topic area. The maIO concepts covered in this text appear In bold. meaning that they appear in the glossary at the back of the book. In the main body of each unit. there are vanous types of authentIC text material of the kmd commonly encounlered by practISing lawyers In their work. These texts. both written and spoken. are accompamed by a WIde range of tasks. all designed to build the core ~ills 01 reading. wntlng, listerllng and speaking. At the end of each unit, there is a link to an online task which is Intended to improve your online legal English research skills. Each of the 15 tasks presents an aUlhentic language problem that a commercial lawyer may encounter while at work. You are then shown a research strategy. usmg the Internet. that leads you to a soMion to the problem. The final part 01 each unit is the Language Focus section. which contains exercises on the vocabulary and language topics covered in the unit. This section offers an opportunity to consolidate International Legal English A course for classroom or self-study use Amy Krois-Lindner and TransLegalO ~CAMBRIDGE ::, UNIVERSITY PRESS www.cambridge.org Introduction InternaflOtlai Legal Engl,sh (ILE) is an uppef"lnlenned.ate to advanced level course fOf" leamefS who need to be able 10 use English in the legal profession The course is intended fOf law stUdents and practising lawyers alike The book has been written to prepare candidates for the new International Legal English Certificate (llEC) examina\lOn develope