The British Chamber of Commerce for Italy
INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH CERTIFICATE
LEGAL ENGLISH MODULE

The Legal English Module assesses the candidate's ability to understand and use English in legal contexts. While familiarity with common legal lexis is required, the examination is not a test of the candidate's knowledge of legal principles or practice. The examinations are based on authentic listening and reading materials, which may relate to any of the topics listed in the Legal Content sections below.

SYLLABUS - C1 LEVEL

1. LANGUAGE CONTENT

LEVEL: Council of Europe CI (Effective Proficiency)

FORMAT: 3 assessment elements:

Reading/Use of English - 1 hour 40 minutes - 50% of total marks
Listening - 20 minutes -25% of total marks
Speaking - 10 minutes -25% of total marks

POSSIBLE TASK TYPES:

Reading/Use of English:

Prediction: choose appropriate continuation of text from discourse cues

Lexis: insert missing words choosing from alternatives supplied
match synonyms/definitions

Content: answer true/false and open content questions
identify writer's attitude

Discourse: insert appropriate connectors

Punctuation: Divide and punctuate a legal text

Editing: in a text identify location of missing words and supply them
locate and correct lexical/grammatical/stylistic errors

Listening:
Intensive, repeated listening (2 or 3 times) to extended authentic texts, focussing on factual content, implied meaning and interpretation of speaker's attitude and communicative purpose, via gap fill, multiple choice, word identification and completion exercises.

Speaking:
Answer questions about work, studies, future plans.
Translate and/or summarise a short Italian article about a legal issue, and comment on the writer's attitude.

2. LEGAL CONTENT
Common Law system and Commercial Law
Common Law:
the English legal system
the legal profession
sources of law
doctrine of precedents
Commercial Law and Law of Contracts
commercial law in the U.K. and U.S.
terms related to business transactions
commercial contracts: guidelines for determining parties' intentions
offer and acceptance
express clauses (arbitration, termination, etc.)
performance of contract
breach and remedies for breach of contract
Legal drafting
Commercial Agreements - Drafting commercial agreements: basic principles
Sale of goods contract
Common Types of Business Associations
A. Partnerships
B. Companies
The Law of Property & Trust
A. The Law of Property in U.K.
B. The Trust
Contract Law in the U.S.
Corporation Law in the U.S.
Intellectual Property
Trademark and Patent Law
Copyright Law
Domain names

SYLLABUS B2 LEVEL

1. LANGUAGE CONTENT

LEVEL: Council of Europe B2 (Vantage)

FORMAT: 3 assessment elements:

Reading/Use of English - 1 hour 40 minutes - 50% of total marks
Listening - 20 minutes -25% of total marks
Speaking - 10 minutes -25% of total marks

POSSIBLE TASK TYPES:

Language Use Section:
Lexis: match synonyms/definitions
Lexis: insert missing words choosing from alternatives supplied
Grammar/Lexis: correct common lexical or grammatical errors
Discourse: insert appropriate connectors
Writing: complete common phrases from legal documents and correspondence.

Listening:
Intensive, repeated listening (2 or 3 times) to extended authentic texts with:
True/False questions.
Comprehension of factual information questions.
Phonological distinction section.

Speaking:
Answer questions about work, studies, future plans.
Discuss common English legal terms.
Comment in English on a short Italian article.

2. LEGAL CONTENT

Basic Legal Concepts

Common Law and Commercial Law
Common Law:
the English legal system
sources of law
the doctrine of precedents
Commercial Law and Law of Contracts
Ccommercial law in the U.K. and U.S.
Business transactions
Commercial contracts
Performance of contract
Breach and remedies for breach of contract
Legal drafting : basic principles
Partnerships and Companies
Partnership agreement
Incorporation of company
Formation
Corporate Law
Competition
Business Law
Discrimination
Fraud, licences and patents
Intellectual property
Basic Criminal Law