Welcome to the world of teaching Legal English, where language and law intersect to form a unique and vital discipline within the field of TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language). If you want to teach Legal English you’ll not only need a TEFL certificate, you’ll also need to understand the subject matter.
Legal English, often referred to as “Legalese,” is a specialized form of language used internationally by legal professionals and scholars to communicate with precision.
As the international legal community continues to expand, the importance of having proficient legal English skills is increasing. This means that there are a multitude of non-native speakers around the world involved in the legal profession who need to learn legal English. The responsibility for this usually falls on the shoulders of TEFL teachers. However, you can’t just be any old TEFL teacher, you’ll need to specialize in teaching legal English.
In this article, we take a close look at what legal English is and how to teach legal English. So, put on your judge’s wig and read on!
What is Legal English?
Legal English, or “Legalese,” refers to a specialized form of language used in the legal profession to communicate legal concepts, principles, and documents. It involves precise and technical terminology, specific legal writing styles, and the use of formal language to ensure clarity and accuracy within the context of the law.
It is used by lawyers, judges, solicitors, legislators, and others who are related to the legal profession. They use legal English to discuss the law. Usually, you’ll encounter it in legal documents and during court proceedings.
As such, it requires knowledge of specific terminology related to the law. It also demands a more precise way of speaking, because minor differences can create significantly different meanings. For example, the word “damage” describes harm to property or a person, while the word “damages” means monetary compensation awarded by a court for damage suffered. If you are teaching legal English, you will need to highlight such differences.
For students, mastering legal English opens doors to a multitude of opportunities and can broaden their horizons as legal professionals. So, they must receive specialist tuition.
How to Teach Legal English
Teaching legal English requires a comprehensive approach to equip students and non-native legal professionals with the necessary English language skills to excel in the complex world of law. You’ll need to ensure that your students can navigate the intricacies of legal terminology, contract drafting, and courtroom communication in English. The good news is that there are a variety of innovative techniques and tailored methodologies to help you achieve this.
Here are some pointers on how to teach legal English:
Emphasize Legal Terminology and Vocabulary
One of the foundational aspects of teaching legal English is introducing students to the extensive and specialized language of law. Make an effort to explain legal terms in ordinary English. Students will learn more legal English terms and phrases if they can describe them in simple English.
You can employ interactive methods, such as flashcards, word games, and real-world examples, to help learners grasp legal terms and phrases effectively. Encourage the use of legal dictionaries and online resources to build their legal vocabulary continually.
You should also make a point of highlighting any key differences within the language. As mentioned, minor differences can create significantly different meanings in law. Words like “ensure” and “insure” can be easily confused and it’s important that your students avoid such mistakes.
As a reminder, “ensure” means to make certain that something will happen or be the case, typically by taking specific actions or precautions. On the other hand, “insure” refers to providing financial protection or compensation against potential losses, such as purchasing an insurance policy to safeguard assets. So, these are two words you don’t want to confuse in a legal context!
Analyze Legal Texts and Case Studies
Exposing students to authentic legal texts, such as statutes, contracts, and court opinions, is paramount in understanding legal language in context. Engage learners in analyzing case studies and legal documents to enhance their comprehension of legal jargon and drafting styles. Encourage critical thinking and discussion, allowing students to apply the language to real-world scenarios.
You should also keep in mind that studying law can be exhausting. There are thousands and thousands of pages of legal text and dozens of books your students have to read as part of their studies or work. So, if you give them extensive research material on legal English, there’s a chance that they won’t be able to cover all of it and could lose interest. Do things in moderation and bring variety to your lessons and it should yield much better results.
Introduce Legal Writing Skills
Teaching legal English is incomplete without incorporating legal writing skills. Once your students are up to speed on the vocabulary and legal texts you can increasingly introduce writing.
It can be worth starting with a basic piece of writing or a legal assignment that they are familiar with from their studies in their own country. You can always ask your student to provide you with some examples of their previous work if you are unsure what to assign here. If they have any trouble writing something and you’re unable to help, they can always seek out a law assignment helper for guidance.
When your students have got a handle on writing some basic legal texts, you can start to provide guidance on drafting contracts, legal memoranda, and briefs. The focus here should be on clarity, precision, and the appropriate use of language.
Foster an environment where students can practice their writing skills and receive constructive feedback to improve their legal writing proficiency.
Incorporate Listening and Speaking Exercises
Expose students to authentic legal dialogues, speeches, and recordings of court proceedings to enhance their listening comprehension and expose them to different legal accents and dialects. Engage in role-playing activities to improve their speaking abilities and encourage them to respond to legal scenarios orally.
Simulate Courtroom Communication
Developing effective courtroom communication skills is crucial for aspiring legal professionals. Conduct mock trials, debates, and oral arguments, allowing students to practice speaking confidently and persuasively in a legal setting. Encourage them to adopt a professional tone and demeanor while presenting their arguments.
Another way you can do this is to encourage practicing mediation and negotiation. These are both important legal strategies and forms of dispute resolution, but they differ in their approach and process.
Mediation involves the presence of a neutral third party (the mediator) who facilitates communication and helps parties reach a mutually agreeable solution. The mediator does not impose decisions but guides the parties towards finding common ground.
On the other hand, negotiation is a direct communication between the parties involved in the dispute, without the involvement of a third party. In negotiation, the parties themselves discuss the issues and attempt to reach a resolution through bargaining and compromise.
While mediation aims to achieve a collaborative solution, negotiation may involve competitive elements, and parties may represent their own interests without the assistance of a mediator. You can assign your students to different roles to make it interesting.
This type of role-play and acting can provide a welcome break from regular lessons and help in making students look forward to your classes. Plus, you don’t necessarily have to cover a legal topic in class if you want to practice them.
Discuss Current Events
As legal professionals, your students should be up to date with current events and be prepared to discuss controversial topics. You can introduce such topics to discuss in class with specific guidelines, and if they tie in with legal English it’s ideal. The more fascinating the topic, the more students will want to get involved and express their opinion. That way you not only create great orators, but great orators in legal English.
Utilize Technology and Multimedia Tools
Leverage technology to create engaging and interactive learning experiences. Employ language learning apps, virtual reality simulations, and online resources to supplement traditional teaching methods. Embrace online teaching tools and media to provide visual aids and promote a more immersive learning environment. That way your students will remain engaged in your lessons and you can also encourage them to continue their learning outside of the classroom.
Encourage Professional Development and Lifelong Learning
Empower students to continue refining their legal English skills beyond the classroom. Promote self-study, participation in legal writing competitions, and attendance at workshops and seminars to foster continuous professional development and a lifelong commitment to language mastery.
Your students may wish to take the TOLES exam (Test of Legal English Skills), which allows them to prove their level of specialized legal English. It tests the specific vocabulary and grammar necessary to understand and draft cross-border contracts in English and the English needed to feel confident when dealing with international commercial liabilities and financial matters.
Teach Legal English
Teaching legal English requires a comprehensive approach, emphasizing legal terminology, practical writing skills, courtroom communication, and cross-cultural awareness. By employing innovative methods and encouraging continuous learning, you can empower your students to excel as language-savvy legal professionals. The tips shared here should help you go some way to achieving that and leave you feeling “not guilty” about your knowledge of how to teach legal English.
The post How to Teach Legal English: From Language to Law (TEFL) appeared first on DoTEFL.
