Legal English module (LW11014)

This module is for students whose first language is not English. It focuses on the level of academic writing needed to complete a law degree. You will be introduced to key concepts around academic assignments. This includes planning, structuring, and writing legal documents.

As a skills-based course, there is extensive writing practice and feedback time during classes.

Throughout the course, you will reflect on your writing to help improve it. This is an essential skill for both academic studies and future careers.

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• develop your academic literacy skills
• develop an awareness of legal and formal vocabulary
• improving conciseness and reducing ambiguity in your writing
• learn a variety of techniques for using legal sources in your writing
• learn how to correctly reference others' work following the OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) guidelines

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• understand legal academic assignment questions
• make and use outline plans to answer questions
• know how to structure paragraphs and sentences
• edit written work

Assignments / assessment

• Portfolio (100%) 
  • legal academic writing
  • detailed written feedback will be given

This is a Pass / Fail module that will not contribute to the classification of any award and will be taken in addition to your standard credits.
 

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• tutorials
• independent study

Our classes include a high level of critical thinking and reflection. This is best practice for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teaching.

Our classes are small seminar workshops to enable student-led learning. You should interact with your classmates to practice your English. The tutor will work to create an atmosphere to study rather than a simple instructor.

Activities are carefully staged and draw on authentic examples of academic-type texts. You will need to work both independently and collaboratively to complete these activities.