MP409Zk Language I.4 - English for Lawyers

Faculty of Law
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Štěpánka Dillingerová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Radmila Doupovcová (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Alena Hradilová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. et Mgr. Věra Hromádková (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Barbora Chovancová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Kateřina Chudová (seminar tutor)
PhDr. Hana Kallus, M.A., Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Radek Šimek, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Ing. Daniela Svobodová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Barbora Chovancová, Ph.D.
Language Centre, Faculty of Law Division – Language Centre
Contact Person: Lenka Pavlíková
Supplier department: Language Centre, Faculty of Law Division – Language Centre
Prerequisites
( MP309Z English for Lawyers || CM308Z English for Lawyers ) && ( MP210Z English for Lawyers || CM210Z English for Lawyers )
The students are expected to build on the work done during the previous terms. The course aims to expose the students to various types of authentic legal texts - both written and oral. The students are expected to show their command of English in writing as well as orally. They are expected to reach at least B2 level, present their academic skills, and guide their legal English expertise.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to prepare and deliver a well-structured presentation using visual aids on a specialized topic. Students will be trained to write a presentation abstract and make a presentation poster. They will become familiar with the structure of a case brief and study tricky terms in legal English (false friends). Speaking skills will be practised not only through presentations but also through discussions on topics covered this semester. Students will be provided with both written and audio materials for study and analysis so that by the end of the semester, they will be prepared to take the final language exam.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to prepare and present a well-structured conference paper using visual aids in English on a specialized topic. They will be capable of writing a presentation abstract and a presentation poster. Students will have a very high level of proficiency in communicating with clients (through linguistic mediation), both in written and oral forms. They will be familiar with the structure of a case brief and tricky terms in legal English (false friends). Students will be able to discuss the topics covered this semester. They will be introduced to written and audio materials and will be prepared to take the final language exam.e ready to take the final examination.
Syllabus
  • Civil rights - Constitution, separation of powers - checks and balances, elections Human rights – civil vs. human rights, international agreements, UDHR, Amnesty International, European Convention on Human Rights, case studies and case brief Presentation skills and academic English - group presentations and abstracts False friends in legal English and Czech Employment law – the job interview, discrimination (rights), civil procedure, CV and cover letter
Literature
    required literature
  • BILOVÁ, Štěpánka, Radmila DOUPOVCOVÁ, Alena HRADILOVÁ, Věra HROMÁDKOVÁ, Barbora CHOVANCOVÁ, Hana KALLUS and Radek ŠIMEK. Právnická angličtina : kniha ušitá na míru českým právníkům. První vydání. Praha: Grada, 2022, 325 stran. ISBN 9788027125371. URL info
  • https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/law/jaro2024/MP409Zk/um/
    not specified
  • New Introduction to Legal English, Volume I. 4th ed. Praha: Karolinum, 2003, 562 pp. ISBN 80-246-0720-4. info
  • KROIS-LINDNER, Amy and Matt FIRTH. Introduction to International Legal English. 1st ed. Cambridge: CUP, 2008. ISBN 9780521718998. URL info
  • KROIS-LINDNER, Amy and TRANSLEGAL. International Legal English. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, 2011, 336 pp. ISBN 978-0-521-27945-1. info
  • CHROMÁ, Marta. English-czech law dictionary. 2., upr. vyd. Praha: Leda, 1997, 341 s. ISBN 808592725X. info
  • Česko anglický právnický slovník s vysvětlivkami (Czech-English Law Dictionary with Explanations). 1st ed. Voznice: LEDA, 2001, 478 pp. ISBN 90-85927-90-X. info
  • New introduction to legal English, Volume II. 4th ed. Praha: Karolinum, 2003, 554 pp. ISBN 80-246-0738-7. info
Teaching methods
interactive language seminar
Assessment methods
The course is completed with an examination consisting of three parts: a graded team oral presentation given in class during the course, a written test and an oral examination. To be allowed to take the written test and, subsequently, the oral exam, the students are required to participate actively in class, give a graded oral team presentation on a legal topic in front of a peer group, and complete a written task - a letter to a client (Continuous assessment). Written test: 90 minutes - listening - reading comprehension - language-focus and grammar (translation in the context, sentence transformation) - writing (letter/email/memorandum) Oral Part: - explaining terms and discussion on a given legal topic: Introduction to Law and Its Sources, Civil and Criminal Procedure + Judicial Institutions, Legal professions, Contracts, Criminal law and procedure, Torts, Property, Trusts, Intellectual Property, Company Law, Sale of Goods, Family Law, Civil Procedure, Employment Law, Civil Rights, Human Rights.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
http://law.cjv.muni.cz/
All the relevant information about English seminars for lawyers can be found in "Interaktivní osnova", as well as on the notice board of the Language Education Center at the Faculty of Law, Masaryk University, and in the IS MU. This includes the course syllabus, bibliography, and the requirements for obtaining credits, including attendance requirements for the seminars. The teachers' consultation hours are published in the IS and department.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
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