JJUA55118U Advanced Legal English: Common Law Language, Reasoning, and Rhetoric

Volume 2019/2020
Content

This course provides an overview of the modes of expression and styles of argument used in the English and American common law tradition. Students learn the basic concepts and interpretive methods used by lawyers in the common law tradition and how to use them to craft legal arguments that resonate with common law reasoning. In addition to a theoretical background on interpretive method and rhetoric, the course provides a hands-on approach by having students read and analyze case law, statutes, contract provisions, and other relevant legal documents and make arguments for and against various interpretations of particular provisions or legal issues in written and oral form. A basic knowledge of English is required. The course builds on other MA courses by providing students with skills and knowledge needed to express in English concepts they learn in other contexts in a way that is compatible with English common law reasoning.

 

This course is part of iCourts Excellence Programme (iEP) – International Law and Courts in a Global World, please see 'Remarks' below.

Learning Outcome

Students learn to describe the characteristics of common law language and reasoning and to identify common law issues that may differ from civil law traditions, to analyze statutes, case law, etc. using prevalent common law tropes and forms of argumentation, and to use correct common law terminology in the proper contexts.

Improves knowledge of legal English, advocacy skills, ability to analyze legal issues and apply abstract reasoning to concrete situations
Students are required to do case presentations, participate in moot court exercises, and engage in classroom discussion
Please observe, this course is part of iCourts Excellence Programme (iEP) – International Law and Courts in a Global World. Students who sign up for the iEP become iCourts Student Fellows and will get a unique opportunity to become part of the research environment of iCourts – the only centre of excellence in law in Denmark. The iEP is open to all Danish and foreign BA and MA students at the Faculty. All iCourts courses may be taken as stand-alone courses but only students who complete a total of at least 45 ECTS courses offered by the centre or of 30 ECTS such courses plus write their MA-thesis with an iCourts Supervisor will receive a certificate confirming their participation in the iEP. Read more about the programme here: https:/​/​jura.ku.dk/​icourts/​education/​excellence-programme/​
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 178,25
  • Seminar
  • 28
  • Total
  • 206,25
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 20 minutes
Oral exam based on synopsis, 20 minutes
Exam registration requirements

In order to attend the oral examination, it is a prerequisite to hand in the synopsis before the specified deadline.
The deadline is agreed upon with the course lecturer.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

Week 51, 2019 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Re-exam

week 5, 2020 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday