COURSE FACTSHEET
English Plus Law Who is this course for?
Included in the price
This course is ideal for students who would like to improve their English skills for use in a variety of legal contexts. It combines General English with specialist law-related topics.
à2 8 lessons per week àW elcome Information Pack àP lacement test on arrival, weekly progress tests and regular homework àT eaching materials and use of coursebook àU se of Computer Learning Centre àA ccess to Classmate, Kings online learning platform àW ireless internet in College àO ptional weekly lecture programme àO ptional weekly guided self-study sessions àR egular accompanied educational visits to legal institutions àT wo free social activities per week àE nd-of-course certificate (90% or higher attendance required)
Key Facts Start dates: Every Monday: 7 January – 9 December 2019 6 January – 7 December 2020 Locations offered:
Course structure and content London
Level: Kings Level 4 (Lower Intermediate) Length: Minimum 2 weeks (no maximum) Lessons: 28 lessons (21 hours) per week: 20 language lessons per week (15 hours), 8 lessons of law-related topics per week (6 hours) +6 hours (minimum) per week of independent work on course projects Minimum age: 16 Average age range: 18 – 30 Maximum class size: 14 Learning outcomes: à Fluency in all main areas of English à Development of specialised law knowledge à Practical experience of UK law courts and firms
In the mornings, students have lessons in General English, to improve the overall level of their English language. In the afternoons, they are part of a specialised legal English class. Skills developed 1. Language: àR eading àL istening àC omprehension àV ocabulary
àW riting àS peaking àG rammar àP ronunciation
Core subjects à Introduction to Legal English à Company Law à Employment Law à Contracts à Intellectual Property à Property Law à Legal Practitioners à European Union Law à Debtor-Creditor Law à Competition Law
2. Legal English terminology Includes criminal vocabulary, types of court, employment law, intellectual property, company law, property law. 3. Presentation skills, formal letter writing 4. Legal case studies
Sample two-week timetable (during Summer students may have a combination of morning and afternoon classes) Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9.00 – 10.30
General English
General English
General English
General English
General English
11.00 – 12.30
General English
General English
General English
General English
General English
13.30 – 15.00 (Week 1)
Discussion: The practice of law, Vocabulary: Types of courts (examining the differences between civil, common and criminal law, and how these relate to different types of courts.)
Reading: Bodies of law and Types of law, Speaking: Explaining what a law says (focussing on the use of directives, ordinances, statutes and bills in the operations of the law.)
Listening: Documents in court, Vocabulary: Legal Latin (examining the various functions of notices, motions, affidavits, injunctions and other common court documents)
Writing: The use of legal Latin, Reading and discussion: A lawyers curriculum vitae. (developing legal writing skills while examining the use of specific vocabulary.)
Free time
13.30 – 15.00 (Week 2)
Discussion: Law firm structure, Vocabulary: Persons in court (discussing the internal structure of a typical law firm, focusing on the role played by partners and associates.)
Writing and speaking: civil court systems, Reading: Criminal courts (developing legal writing skills while focusing on the nature of various civil court systems. Preparing for a visit to the Central Criminal Court.)
Educational visit: The Old Bailey (The Central Criminal Court) (learning about the workings of the Central Criminal Court and watch sections of a number of real trials.)
Reading and discussion: Documents in court (Following their visit, students examine the various documents used in court)
Free time
COURSE FACTSHEET
Educational Visits Students visit law firms and legal institutions as part of this course. Example visits include: à The Supreme Court à The Houses of Parliament à The Rolls Building à The Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)
à The Law Society à Croydon Crown Court à Firm of solicitors (firm to be chosen in relation to students’ areas of interest) à Magistrate’s Court à The Royal Courts of Justice
Meet the teacher — Susan Brice Susan Brice, the English Plus Law teacher at Kings London, has been teaching for over 30 years. She has a BA (Hons) English Language and Literature, RSA Preparatory Certificate in TEFLA from International House and a Diploma in Linguistics. Sue is a highly experienced tutor of the British Council accredited TOLES (Test of Legal English Skills) exam. In relation to her role delivering the Legal English section of the English plus Law course, Sue has experience of criminal and civil court proceedings, having worked as a solicitors’ clerk.
This has involved attending counsel in court and taking notes of trial for both barrister and solicitor reference; liaising between barrister and solicitor during court hearings, when necessary; attending and recording counsel conferences in lieu of solicitor; attending counsel on prison visits; taking witness statements; filing claims with court office; acting as court interpreter Polish/English. Susan also has five years’ experience teaching legal English skills at Warsaw University, Poland.
“
I wanted to study here at Kings to improve my English because I am a lawyer — I hope it will help me to find a better job. In class we learn a lot of legal vocabulary, which is very important for my job, my life, the things that I want to do in the future. We study a lot of things — for example, international law, contracts, tax law, and the specific vocabulary for these topics. We’ve visited lots of places — for example Bromley magistrates court, we visited parliament (the house of commons and house of lords), we were at the Law Society last week, and next week we a visit to another court. The jurisdiction here is very different here from my country, so for me everything is new. Trials here are really fast, and the process of making new laws and policies etc is totally different, so for me it’s completely new and I really love it.
Julian Camilo Colmenares Lopez, English Plus Law student
1981 08/19
”