Кто читает:: Департамент английского языка

Статус:: Курс обязательный

Когда читается:: 3-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Преподаватели

Попова Анна Владимировна

Родионова Алена Олеговна

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Abstract

This course is intended to offer a layout principle of ESP course design tailored for the HSE law students based on Content-based instruction approach. The areas within each topic means to improve and expand the students’ specialist vocabulary, which will further enable them to operate effectively in the field of law. Admittedly, these issues can be viewed from different angles in diverse ESP contexts. Legal Linguistics is taught in the 3d year, its orientation is mainly practical. Focused on a career in the legal profession in an international setting, the aim is to enable the student to present information of a legal nature in English. It complements the English course, which was taken in the first and second year at the HSE, emphasizing the legal notions and concepts that the students have acquired through their study of the law and providing them with the necessary skills and linguistic tools. The course includes comparative analysis of Common Law jurisdictions and Civil law ones; extensive reading of legal texts; debates, case studies, doing research on a legal topic and defending it in class; giving oral presentations; writing business letters to clients. The final output is taking an oral course exam in Legal Linguistics. In this course, we also go through the various sub-fields and issues of legal linguistics; for example, plagiarism, transcription of legal terms, translation, interpreting, while explaining the nature of linguistic evidence and the role that languages play in the legal proceedings.

Learning Objectives

The aim of the course is to build third- and fourth-year students’ competency, which enables them to provide effective reading and speaking Legal English at B2 – C1 level. The course focuses particularly on the language that lawyers need for use in the international environment, for talking and reading on basic topics of Law and for furthering their studies in English as a foreign language.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Applies various legal vocabulary within specific professional contexts, analyzes the core mechanics of legal systems, procedures, and terminology, differentiates between the structure and hierarchy of lower and higher courts, deploys key Latin expressions commonly used in legal English, analyzes criminal indictments, case briefs, and defense strategies to evaluate case components.
Analyzes divorce agreements and child custody cases to identify legal rights and obligations, synthesizes arguments and positions presented by parties during family law mediation sessions, formulates sensitive and professional client letters addressing complex family law situations.
Synthesizes professional advice and legal strategies delivered during technical and digital law consultations, evaluates intellectual property case studies involving copyright infringement and AI-related digital disputes.
Analyzes employment contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and workplace regulations to verify legal compliance, explains statutory employee rights, employer obligations, and discrimination laws to corporate clients.
Drafts structured legal opinions and foundational corporate documentation for early-stage startup enterprises, analyzes incorporation documents, shareholder agreements, and venture capital term sheets for legal risks.
Analyzes corporate governance frameworks, articles of association, and board resolutions to ensure compliance, drafts professional commercial agreements, merger proposals, and corporate minutes using appropriate legal terminology.
Analyzes civil codes, breach of contract claims, and tort liability cases within civil law jurisdictions, drafts formal demand letters, statement of claim documents, and transactional legal opinions using civil law terminology.

Course Contents

Topic 1. Criminal Law & Legal Argumentation. (3 курс)
Topic 2. Family Law & Sensitive Communication. (3 курс)
Topic 3. Intellectual Property & Digital Law. (3 курс)
Topic 4. Employment & Workplace Law. (4 курс)
Topic 5. Entrepreneurship & Startup Law. (4 курс)
Topic 6. Corporate Law & Business Communication. (4 курс)
Topic 7. Legal Communication in Civil Law Contexts. (4 курс)

Assessment Elements

Written assessment
Current assessment includes writing 3 screen tests on topics, 3 legal terminology dictations.
Oral test
Current assessment includes at least two oral presentations.
Independent work
Exam
3 курс - 2 модуль 4 курс - 3 модуль The exam is held according to the schedule of the session or 10 days prior. The oral examination requires the student to answer two questions and translate five sentences.

Interim Assessment

2026/2027 2nd module
0.25 * Independent work + 0.3 * Exam + 0.2 * Oral test + 0.25 * Written assessment
2027/2028 3rd module
0.3 * Exam + 0.25 * Independent work + 0.2 * Oral test + 0.25 * Written assessment

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Company law in practice, Sime, S., 2014
Introduction to International Legal English : a course for classroom or self-study use, Student's Book, TransLegal, 160 p., Krois-Linder, A., Firth, M., 2008

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Ambos, K. (2013). Treatise on International Criminal Law : Volume 1: Foundations and General Part. [N.p.]: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=678146
Ambos, K. (2014). Treatise on International Criminal Law : Volume II: The Crimes and Sentencing. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=678147
Employment law : the workplace rights of employees and employers, Wolkinson, B., 2008
Gower and Davies' principles of company law, Davies, P. L., 2012
Jean-Michel Servais. (2017). International Labour Law. Kluwer Law International.
Legal language as an intellectual and legal communication means. (2018). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.E6320B9E
O’Connor, T. S. (2011). Development of intellectual property laws for the Russian Federation. Journal of Business Research, 9, 1011.
Radevich, E., & Lebedev, V. (2014). Labour Law in Russia : Recent Developments and New Challenges. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=895088
Svetlana Chekhovskaya. (2018). A New Outline of Corporate Law. HSE Working Papers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.p.hig.wpaper.82.law.2018
The global workplace: international and comparative employment law : case and materials, Blanpain, R., 2012
Wadlington, W., O’Brien, R. C., & Wilson, R. F. (2018). Family Law in Perspective (Vol. Fourth edition). St. Paul, MN: Foundation Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1815470
William T. Gallagher. (2017). Intellectual Property. Routledge.

Authors

Rodionova Alena Olegovna
Korovina Natalia Mikhailovna

Бакалаврская программа «Юриспруденция»

Research Seminar "Legal Linguistics"