Общие направления в изучении юридического английского
General topics within legal English study
What is Legal English?
- Generally: legal English has these common attributes:
• very long sentences
• archaic expressions
• providing for all possible contingencies
• greater tendency to use formulaic expressions
- Nuances and shades of meaning can have huge consequences
- Language teachers can teach these nuances and shades
What do lawyers do (in general)?
- Lawyers prepare and analyse documents for business clients
- Lawyers work to avoid disputes (and try to settle out of
court when they do occur)
What do lawyers read?
- correspondence
- memoranda
- contracts and contract clauses
- statutes and case law
- law-related articles
- regulatory filings
- corporate documentation
What do lawyers write?
- letters and emails
- memoranda
- agreements and contract clauses
- legal opinions
- court filings and legal memoranda (briefs)
- regulatory filings
- corporate documentation
In what situations do lawyers speak and listen?
- firm meetings
- client meetings
- seminars and conferences
- negotiations
- informal settings
- phone conversations
- judicial proceedings