Introduction to International Legal English

Introduction to International Legal English

Introduction to International Legal English is targeted toward intermediate-level learners who are either studying or currently practicing law. It focuses on commercial law vocabulary, since this is the most widely used in the International Legal Community.

While this text and CDs are not a preparation for the ILEC exams, they should provide a good lead in for those headed that direction, as Krois-Lindner and TransLegal are also responsible for the exam prep text, International Legal English.

Each of the book’s 10 units focuses on a different area of commercial law and the book provides 3 actual case studies at the end, allowing learners to test their integrative English skills. Because the book is designed for self-study as well as classroom use, it is a perfect tool for working one to one with lawyers. The excellent glossary and solid vocabulary explanations throughout will assist even the least legal-minded of instructors in feeling comfortable teaching this specialized terminology.

Although targeting intermediate-level learners, the text is very dense and the vocabulary challenging from page one. This is unavoidable, given the topic, but means the book is best used with very strong intermediate students (post-Upper students capable of a good FCE score, for example) or those who already possess strong knowledge of legal terms and wording.

The text also strives to encourage learners to compare their own legal systems with those of the UK and US, and points out areas where legal standards are similar across international borders. In many ways the book does seem geared to those who are studying English and Law simultaneously. Furthermore, although there is a speaking component in each unit, the book seems to lean a bit more towards individual/self-study. An exception to this is the Case Study section at the back of the book, which integrates skills and revolves around a negotiation exercise. For classroom work it would be helpful to have more than three such activities.

The CDs are well-recorded, and the listening activities plentiful and varied. An effort is made to provide a variety of accents and speakers- always a good thing- and none of the accents are terribly obscure. The listenings start a bit slower and more deliberate than natural speech and given the complexity of the vocabulary and structures, this is probably a good choice. The first 8 listenings slowly work towards a natural, native rate of delivery and from that point on (somewhere in Unit 3), the variations all feel quite natural. UK, US and Australian speech are all represented (in a fairly mainstream ‘broadcast English’ sort of way), and the usual smattering of ‘foreigners speaking English’ all have distinct accents (although they are either watered-down versions or the speaker speaks more slowly). It is arguable whether this is useful ‘practice’ or not but students should not, at any rate, find it frustrating.

The book includes full audio transcripts, answer keys, and the aforementioned glossary. The 2 CDs are part of the Student Book package, a trend that I hope continues.

Verdict: a useful ESP text.