Admission requirements
The course is open 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 European Framework of Reference for Languages. For more information, please contact the course co-ordinator.
The course is an optional course and open only to students who have completed at least four and preferably five of the following six courses of the BA-2 and BA-3 law degree programme:
Verbintenissenrecht
Goederenrecht
Onderneming en Recht
Staatsrecht
Materieel Strafrecht
Strafprocesrecht
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, case briefs and statutes. Also, they will learn to write summaries, case briefs and essays. Listening skills will be practised by means of a variety of listening exercises, such as lectures, presentations and interviews. Speaking skills will be practiced through (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 international law, criminal law, civil law, property law and contract law. However, other fields of law, such as company law and comparative law will also be discussed.
Course objectives
Objectives of the course
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 the Dutch legal system in broad outline.
Writing : students are able to write summaries, case briefs and essays on a legal topics in grammatically and stylistically correct English.
Timetable
Click here.
Mode of instruction
There are ten 90-minute tutorials. Students are expected to prepare assignments for each tutorial. In addition, the course involves self-study for the examination.
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
written assignment (30%); oral presentation (20%); written test on vocabulary, reading and writing (50%). Students must come to tutorials prepared, and they must attend at least 8 out of 10 tutorials. If they attend fewer tutorials, they will not be allowed to sit the exam. The tutorials have the status of a practical exercise.
Resit
If the overall grade at the end of the course is a fail, students can choose to either re-submit their written assignment, or re-take the exam.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.
Blackboard
More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.
Reading list
Amy Krois-Lindler & Matt Firth, Introduction to International Legal English: A course for classroom or self-study use (2008), Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-71899-8.
Gillian Brown and Sally Rice, Professional English in Use: Law (2007), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-3-125-39583-1 (Edition with answers)
Oxford Dictionary of Law (8th revised edition), Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-199-66492-4
http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/talencentrum/engels/legal-english-bachelor-students.html
Registration
Via the Academic Language Centre
Contact information
Name: Dr. S. Cheng
Work address: Cleveringaplaats 1, room 125
Contact information:
Telephone number: 071-527 2332
E-mail: talencentrum@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institution: Academisch Talencentrum
Division: Sectie Engels
Room number secretary’s office: Cleveringaplaats 1, room 125
Opening hours: weekdays 9.00-12.30 and 13.30-17.00
Telephone number secretary’s office: 071 527 2332
E-mail: talencentrum@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
This course has a strictly limited number of places available. More information on this course is found on this website.