Introduction

Introduction

Today 70 countries use English as an official language in government, courts, media and education. It is the predominant language of international relations and business. English is the working language in international industry sectors such as finance, petroleum, aviation and the Internet. Accordingly, Legal English is now a global phenomenon. It is the style of English used by lawyers and other legal professionals in the course of their work. It has a significant role as a legal language within the European Union. Legal English is practically one of the main languages of almost all major international organizations.

In the study of law, Legal English has great importance. Students who study law should understand not only the importance and necessity of studying a professional English legal language, but also that it differs in many respects from General English. This is a general practice. All legal systems develop certain linguistic features that differ from those of ordinary language. Lawyers and judges may develop language that is entirely different from ordinary language. Typically, the legal profession uses language that contains a substantial amount of technical vocabulary and a number of distinct (often archaic) features. When you study jurisprudence, you are actually learning a new language, new terminology, etc. These differences are also characteristics of Legal English.

First, and most obvious, you will be learning new words that you probably have not encountered before. Words or phrases such as sentence, executor, interest, oblige students to acquire some new vocabulary. Learning the meaning of these words is essential to understand any question, judicial case or discussion.

Second, and a bit more difficult, some recognizable words take on different or new meanings when used in the jurisprudence. For example, “consideration” in contract law, has nothing to do with thoughtfulness; it means something of value given by a party to an agreement. “Fixtures” in property law are much more than a piece of equipment or furniture which is fixed in position in a building or vehicle.. There are many words like this in the law, and students must shake loose their ordinary understanding of many words in the benefit their legal meaning.

Third, students will need to develop a respect for linguistic precision. Because the meaning of words is so crucial to the profession of a lawyer, students will be expected to use words carefully and precisely. You will learn, for example, that there are legally significant differences between “Ann lives in Great Britain,” “Ann resides in Great Britain,” “Ann is domiciled in Great Britain,” and “Ann is a citizen of Great Britain.”

Even grammar and punctuation can be crucial. The lawyer drafting any document needs to know how to wield them, or how to avoid any confusion.

Forth, there are words whose meaning expands or changes, depending on the context or the place in which it is used.

Finally, there are words that have come to signify large bodies of law or legal doctrines, and act as shorthand terms for complex concepts. The terms “unfair competition,” “due process of law,” “foreseeable,” “reasonable and unreasonable” are a few examples. These terms have been subject to interpretation by judges in many cases over long periods of time, and there is no any method of finding a clear and concise definition that can serve in all contexts.

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