If you are going to law school or are a legal professional looking to learn professional or law-related English, then taking an ESL course related to law is key. Many lawyers study English at regular ESL schools but could do a lot more for their careers if they focused on studying ESL that teaches legal vocabulary and works with legal scenarios.

If your plan is to practice law in the United States, the UK, Canada, or any other English-speaking country, or if you are going to be conversing with other attorneys and legal staff from English-speaking countries, then having a background in legal English is essential.

What Should I Look For in a Legal English Course?

Having someone who is familiar with the law is important when hiring a legal English teacher. Hiring someone who has gone to law school and worked as a lawyer is optimal. In addition, a native speaker who has a background as a teacher is very helpful. There are not too many people out there who have the combination of a law degree, legal experience, and educational credentials such as a CELTA and MA TESOL. However, I have this background and would love to help you reach your goals.

In addition to the required credentials, a good legal English course should use materials and resources that are based on the practice of law. The following methods make for a top-tier legal course:

•Actual case analysis using real cases and legal language.
•Practice of key legal vocabulary that is used daily in a legal setting.
•Exercises that simulate actual activities that happen in the daily life or a lawyer or law student.
•Understanding how to read and write legal English, and how to brief a case and create a legal memo.

What Level of English Should I Speak To Take a Legal English Course?

I personally recommend that you be at an intermediate level of English to get the most out of legal English courses. The better your proficiency in English, the more you will benefit from a course tailored to the legal profession. The most important factor when learning English is to learn and use vocabulary related to your profession and how you will be using the language. If you are going to the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, or any other English-speaking country to practice law or attend law school, it makes sense that your English education is centered around law. Many future lawyers and legal professionals take general ESL courses that teach virtually nothing related to the legal profession. If you take a legal-related English course, you can avoid a significant amount of self-study and confusion.

Even if you are advanced in English, taking a legal English course can help you build a solid vocabulary and understand legal theory in the English language. Additionally, you will gain skills and insights related to the practice of law in the English-speaking world that you won't find in a general ESL course.

Let Me Be Your Legal English Tutor

I would love to help you learn legal English! I have a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in New York, a Master's in Education: TESOL, and a CELTA teaching certificate. I have worked for the New York Bar and Seattle Bar Association, as well as private law firms in Manhattan and Seattle. In addition, I have a degree in Economics and have taken courses in Family Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Property Law, Torts, Intellectual Property, Copyright Law, Constitutional Law, EU Law, International Law, Corporate Law, and many more.

With ten years of experience teaching English, I am at the top of my field. Book me for a private lesson and learn from one of the best legal tutors out there.