84914 - Legal English (B2)

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of Legal English

Course contents

The course aims to refine students' receptive skills, with particular emphasis on written text and on the terminology used in legislative texts and judgments. During the course, the differences between legal English and everyday English will also be examined in depth, with particular reference to the techniques of constructing and drafting legal texts (passive voice, specific vocabulary, drafting techniques).

The course aims to provide adequate knowledge for a better understanding of common law language, as well as the basic knowledge needed to write basic texts of a legal nature.

Particular focus on the terminology used both in legislative language and in the language of the Courts.

The syllabus is structured as follows:

1. Legal vocabulary
   1.1 Languages and languages of the law; 1.2 Legal translation between risks and opportunities; 1.3 Multilingualism in Europe; 1.4 English as a lingua franca; 1.5 The Plain English Movement.
2. English legal language
   2.1 The British common law system and its historical evolution; 2.2 Stare decisis; 2.3 The language of judgments; 2.4 The language of the legislator; 2.5 American legal language; 2.6 False friends.
3. Drafting techniques and legal vocabulary
   3.1 Analysis and structure of English legal texts. 3.2 Sentence structure and form. 3.3 Legal vocabulary: analysis of terms and explanation of meaning.
4. The European dimension
   4.1 English in supranational contexts: differences from pure legal English. 4.2 The language of European institutions; 4.3 Multilingualism; 4.4 The Court of Justice.
5. The language of civil law
   4.1 The system of torts; 4.2 The law of contract; 4.3 The law of property; 4.4 Case study on leading cases. 4.5 Contract in common law: elements of the contract. 4.6 Language of contracts in common law.

Readings/Bibliography

The reference texts are:

1) G. Garzone, R. Salvi, LEGAL ENGLISH, 2nd edition, Egea, 2007.

Barbara Pozzo, Marina Timoteo (eds.), Europa e linguaggi giuridici, Giuffrè, Milan, 2008, pp. 259-300; 303-432.

For attending students, the instructor will indicate which parts of the book will be replaced by lecture notes and/or handouts provided during the course.

Recommended reading for the legal section:
F. De Franchis, Dizionario Giuridico. 2 volumes: English-Italian; Italian-English, Giuffré editore, Milan.

Teaching methods

The course follows an interdisciplinary approach aimed at directly involving students. Lectures are complemented by the analysis of case studies and in-depth work on legal vocabulary.
The intensity and continuity of participation in the course will be verified through self-certification.

Assessment methods

Learning assessment takes place solely through the final exam, which verifies the acquisition of knowledge.
The final exam is oral and consists of an interview covering the topics indicated in the "Syllabus and Contents" section; it aims to assess the level of understanding and mastery of the comparative perspective in the study of the English legal system and English legal language, as well as knowledge of the basic elements for drafting legal texts.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Russo