(kein AfK-Kurs)
This course is the first part of the three-semester UNIcert® Legal English module and is aimed exclusively at students of law. The overall objective of the Legal English Module is to equip students with the communicative means necessary for further legal studies and/or a legal internship or career in an English-speaking environment.
Topics of the course: the legal profession and the court system in (selected) English-speaking countries, civil law vs. common law, introduction to contract law, introduction to tort law, current affairs and their legal implications
Intended learning outcomes
Using English at B2+ level, by the end of the course you will be able to:
- describe and compare different legal professions, legal education and the court system in Germany and an English-speaking country of your choice
- explain similarities and differences between the common law and civil law systems
- summarise a law-related newspaper article and lead a short class discussion on controversial issues raised in the article
- speculate about the outcome of cases in the areas of contract law and tort law using appropriate vocabulary and supporting your opinion with arguments
- draft certain types of client correspondence (simple letter of advice, letter threatening legal action), using the appropriate structure, vocabulary and style
- prepare for and perform a role in a civil mock trial (e.g. attorney, judge, witness, etc.)
- understand in detail spoken text (news items, podcasts and lecture extracts) related to the topics covered in the course
- understand in detail written text (textbook extracts, newspaper and journal articles) related to the topics covered in the course
Admission requirement: entrance exam in March every year
Credit requirements: active participation, regular homework assignments, presentation, final exam
Credit points: 4
Dieser Kurs ist ausschließlich denjenigen Studierenden der Rechtswissenschaft offen, die im März den Aufnahmetest ablegen/abgelegt haben (s. "Admission requirements" oben).
