Legal English Exam
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
Students will acquire the linguistic and pragmatic skills to understand legal documents, write short legal texts and interact orally in English. Special attention will be given to the lexical, syntactic and pragmatic aspects of English for Law, as well as to the analysis of select legal doctrines and documents in English.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to understand legal documents (e.g. statutes, court decisions and contracts), write short legal texts and interact orally on legal topics in English. The course aims to provide students with an appropriate knowledge of English legal terminology.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Giudizio di approvazione
Assessment result: superato/non superato
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course will analyse select legal doctrines of the English legal system and the related lexical, syntactic and pragmatic aspects. Hints will also be given on the American legal system and on international and European Union law. The topics will be: Constitution, Legislature and Courts; Tort Law, Contract Law and Civil Procedure; Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure; International Law and European Union Law.
Prerequisites for admission
Students who enrolled from the 2018/2019 academic year onwards must have a reasonably good command of English at level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) before taking the Legal English Exam.
This level may be attested in one of the following ways:
- by submitting a language certificate of level B2 or above, obtained no more than 3 years prior to the date of submission;
- by means of a Placement Test issued by the University Language Centre SLAM only during the first year, from October to January for single cycles. In the event of failing the test, it will be necessary to attend the courses offered by the University Language Centre SLAM. The Placement Test is compulsory for all those who do not have a valid certificate. Those who do not take the Placement Test by January, or who do not pass the final test within 6 attempts, shall obtain privately a certificate.
For information on certificates or the Placement Test, contact the University Language Centre SLAM or the student secretariat, not the lecturer.
This level may be attested in one of the following ways:
- by submitting a language certificate of level B2 or above, obtained no more than 3 years prior to the date of submission;
- by means of a Placement Test issued by the University Language Centre SLAM only during the first year, from October to January for single cycles. In the event of failing the test, it will be necessary to attend the courses offered by the University Language Centre SLAM. The Placement Test is compulsory for all those who do not have a valid certificate. Those who do not take the Placement Test by January, or who do not pass the final test within 6 attempts, shall obtain privately a certificate.
For information on certificates or the Placement Test, contact the University Language Centre SLAM or the student secretariat, not the lecturer.
Teaching methods
Each topic will be treated through both theoretical explanations and exercises to develop the various linguistic skills.
Teaching Resources
The book, which will be compulsory for both attending and non-attending students, is:
Alison Riley and Patricia Sours, Legal English and the Common Law. With Legal Grammar Handbook, Wolters Kluwer, 4th ed., 2018, ISBN 9788813365172.
Other materials will be uploaded to the myAriel website and will also be compulsory for both attending and non-attending students.
Alison Riley and Patricia Sours, Legal English and the Common Law. With Legal Grammar Handbook, Wolters Kluwer, 4th ed., 2018, ISBN 9788813365172.
Other materials will be uploaded to the myAriel website and will also be compulsory for both attending and non-attending students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is a written exam lasting 40 minutes. Candidates will be asked to answer fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice questions. The same type of exam will be administered to both attending and non-attending students.
L-LIN/12 - LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION - ENGLISH - University credits: 3
Lessons: 30 hours
Professor:
Masieri Carlo Maria
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Appointment via email
Students can meet dr. Masieri either at the Department of Private Law and Legal History or via Microsoft Teams. Please contact dr. Masieri via email in advance.