Workshop: Legal English

This workshop offers an introduction to Legal English from the perspective of Applied Legal Linguistics. The focus is on knowledge and skills that are required to move competently and confidently on legal terrain in the English language. The transmission of background knowledge about the Anglo-Saxon legal system and various aspects of comparative law is combined with practical language exercises.

Target group

The workshop is aimed at university staff interested in Legal English. Legal background knowledge is an advantage, but not a requirement.

Goals

After completing the module, participants will be able to:

• Describe key differences between Austrian law and the Anglo-Saxon legal system
• Recognise linguistic challenges concerning the differences between those legal systems
• Communicate on selected problem areas of commercial law accurately, correctly and adequately to the situation
• Gain confidence in speaking about legal aspects of your research and responding to questions about it

Content

• Useful phrases for comparing and contrasting concepts and systems
• Key terms and their collocations in the area of contract law, tort law and civil procedure law
• Text comprehension, paraphrasing, debating
• Avoiding German interference during exchanges in international settings

• Describing key differences between Austrian law and the Anglo-Saxon legal system
• Recognising linguistic challenges concerning the differences between those legal systems
• Communicating on selected problem areas of commercial law accurately, correctly and adequately to the situation
• Gaining confidence in speaking about legal aspects of your research and responding to questions about it