Lawyers these days need key skills in a job market where thousands of lawyers are applying for a limited number of jobs. One way in which an international lawyer can get a huge advantage in the international job market is to improve his or her English language skills. Many employers such as law firms, international corporations and banks have realised the importance of strong English language skills and are testing job candidates at interview stage by conducting part of the process in English. For those who are already in work, employers are increasingly testing the English skills of associates and interns when considering who to employ in the longer term and who to promote.
So what exactly do employers want when they ask their employees to speak ‘the language of the law’? The answer is a specific type of English, usually referred to as ‘legal English’, and which is a very different language indeed from the English of everyday life. It often surprises lawyers who choose to learn legal English to find that modern day requirements require formality without being too old-fashioned and that the best practice guidance suggests the use of modern, plain English as a better way to communicate than the old ‘legalese’ style. This is true in both the UK and the USA and all leading courses in English for law promote a more transparent style of writing.
As well as style considerations there is the question of what kind of vocabulary should a practical course of legal English teach? Without doubt, employers value lawyers who know the language of commercial contracts and who can draft and amend contracts drafted in English with confidence and accuracy. Lawyers should therefore become familiar with the language of warranties and indemnities, risk and title, finance and penalties. A knowledge of the English legal system, although interesting, is a very different thing from a knowledge of the very specific technical vocabulary of an international agreement. The advice is, for those seeking to learn legal English, to keep your skills modern, practical and relevant. Find the right course for you and ask lots of questions before you commit.
The Article is written by www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk/register-online/drafting-commercial-contracts-english providing English for lawyers at Cambridge Law Studio and Legal english course from www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk. Visit http://www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk/register-online/drafting-commercial-contracts-english for more information on www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk/register-online/drafting-commercial-contracts-english Products and Services___________________________Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links and this copyright statement must be included. Visit www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk/register-online/drafting-commercial-contracts-english for more services!