MV416K Language II.2 - English For Lawyers

Faculty of Law
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Bc. Merve Aydin, M. B.A. (seminar tutor)
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)
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
MV313Z English for Lawyers II.1. && ! CM111Z English for Lawyers && ! CM210Z English for Lawyers && ! CM308Z English for Lawyers && ! CM408Z Language I.4. - English for Lawyers && ! CM408Zk English for Lawyers && ! MP111Z English for Lawyers && ! MP210Z English for Lawyers && ! MP309Z English for Lawyers && ! MP409Z English for Lawyers I.4. && ! MP409Zk English for Lawyers I.4
The students are expected to improve within the B2 level in Academic skills and English for Legal Purposes. The course develops all language skills, especially reading comprehension, writing, and listening skills.
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
After completing the course this term, the student will be able to communicate effectively with clients, both in writing and orally. They will be able to express in English the differences between continental and Anglo-Saxon law in the areas of criminal law, property law, copyright law, and trusts and discuss these differences. They will name and explain the individual steps in criminal proceedings and describe the differences between various types of crimes (e.g., murder and manslaughter; robbery, burglary, theft). They will use the acquired information in the area of property law to solve case studies. They will practice professional topics in all four types of language skills - writing, reading, speaking, and listening (all at the B2 level).
Learning outcomes
After completing the term, the student will be able to communicate effectively with clients, both in writing and orally. They will be able to write a professional letter to a client, recognize and use the appropriate register, structure the letter correctly, and use polite, formal language so that the client clearly understands the conveyed information. The student will also be able to conduct a professional conversation with an English-speaking client, providing legal advice. The student will be able to express in English the differences between continental and Anglo-Saxon law in the areas of criminal law, property law, copyright law, and trusts, and discuss these differences. They will name and explain the individual steps in criminal proceedings and describe the differences between various types of crimes (e.g., murder and manslaughter; robbery, burglary, theft). They will use the acquired information in the area of property law to solve case studies. They will practice professional topics in all four types of language skills - writing, reading, speaking, and listening (all at the B2 level).
Syllabus
  • Criminal law, types of crimes, definitions, steps in criminal procedure
  • Torts, types of torts, frivolous law suits, case studies
  • Legal correspondence Property law, real and personal property
  • Lawyer client interviews Trusts, diferent types, people involved in trusts, laws of succession
  • Intellectual property, patents and copyright, trademarks
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/MP210Z/um/
    recommended literature
  • New Introduction to Legal English, Volume I. 4th ed. Praha: Karolinum, 2003, 562 pp. ISBN 80-246-0720-4. info
  • New introduction to legal English, Volume II. 4th ed. Praha: Karolinum, 2003, 554 pp. ISBN 80-246-0738-7. 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
  • CHROMÁ, Marta. English-czech law dictionary. Vyd. 1. Praha: Leda, 1995, 341 s. ISBN 8085927012. 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
  • BOČÁNKOVÁ, Milena. Odborný anglicko-český slovník z oblasti ekonomické, obchodní, finanční a právní. 2. rozš. vyd. Praha: Linde, 1996, 912 s. ISBN 8072010409. info
Teaching methods
interactive language seminar
Assessment methods
The work done in seminars is based on interactive teaching. The credit test checks the acquisition of terminology, understanding of the content of texts and language skills closely related to legal English - defining. Requirements: Active participation in class discussion, submitting a written assignment, and final written credit test (a translation, linguistic mediation of selected terms and a short written text); students must score at least 70% points).
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Jazyk II. je rozvrhově sloučen s Jazykem I.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
http://law.cjv.muni.cz/
All the information about the subject can also be found in the Interactive syllabi in the Information System and are placed on the Language Centre notice board. These include the content of seminars, full list of compulsory and recommended literature, credit test requirements, including the attendance. Individual teachers may also upload instructions and materials for specific seminar groups into the MS Teams created for these groups. The consultation hours of the instructors are published in the IS and at the department.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2025/MV416K