English for Lawyers: a Legal English Course

Legal English is a distinct register with its own terminology, grammar patterns and even a particular style of argument. A lawyer with general B2 reads an international contract fairly quickly, yet advising a foreign client or defending a position before an arbitral tribunal calls for a different level. What you need here is not just vocabulary, but the ability to build a legal argument in English.

How legal English differs from general English

First, terminology: force majeure, indemnification, jurisdiction, breach of contract, consideration — each word carries a precise legal meaning that differs from its literal translation. Second, structures: legal texts are full of the passive voice, third conditionals and archaic formulas (herein, whereas, notwithstanding). Third, register: advising a client and drafting a contract demand different language, and mixing them either confuses the client or looks unprofessional on paper.

In lessons with lawyers the gap is rarely vocabulary; reading a contract is usually fine. The harder skill is explaining its meaning to a client in plain English without losing precision, and that is exactly what role-play scenarios train.

What the programme covers

The Legal English programme covers legal terminology by area (corporate, international, employment law); drafting and analysing contracts, deeds and letters of intent; oral consultations and negotiations with foreign clients and partners; business and demand-letter correspondence; and preparing for international conferences and arbitration. Lessons are online, so the course is open to practising lawyers anywhere in Ukraine or abroad.

Where to start

Legal English rests on a solid base of business language, so a sensible first step is the Business English course, or Legal English straight away if your general level is already B2. To find your starting point, take a quick online level test