Legal English and TOLES Exam Preparation

The Course in Legal English and TOLES exam preparation is aimed at both undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Law School who wish to improve their knowledge of English and acquire sufficient knowledge of Legal English to be able to enter the world of work, and to certify this by passing the corresponding exam (TOLES).

This course, which is the first of its kind at Universidad CEU San Pablo is justified by the growing need for professionals in the field of Legal Sciences to be equipped with the linguistic tools that will allow them to enter the labor market in an international context, where, both in Spain and abroad, they will require the necessary skills to be able to understand, discuss and draft documents in English. Likewise, these professionals will need English in their training and later in the practice of their profession, when consulting documents and bibliographies, making contacts, attending meetings or discussing agreements.

The training provided will lead to the award of a Diploma in Legal English and TOLES Exam Preparation, which is recognised by most of the major Spanish and foreign law firms and allows students to certify their excellence in the language with a view to their entry into the labour market.

• Students can enrol on a TOLES course in any year of their degree programme. The diploma awarded at the end of the course will state the number of credits awarded on successful completion of the course and the level of legal English achieved.

• Students can choose to take the official TOLES English exam (Foundation, Higher or Advanced, depending on the level achieved in their training). Help will be given to students when registering for the official exam.

• This course is independent of the curricular language courses that are part of the degree programmes, and cannot be validated by them, nor does its concession imply overcoming the language requirements for undergraduate students at Universidad CEU San Pablo.

• The cost of the course is €500.

• The timetable will be adapted to the needs of the students.

   

Students will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of general English (either by taking an INTERNAL level test or with an OFFICIAL certificate), depending on the level to be studied. The official level required to start this course is B1.

OBJECTIVES:

• To acquire basic legal vocabulary in different areas: commercial agreements and contracts, company documentation, intellectual property contracts, financial documentation and types of companies.
• To understand the legal system of Anglo-Saxon countries. 
• To become familiar with the practice of international law in real-life contexts. 
• To practise oral and written skills in legal terminology in English. 
• To prepare for the TOLES Foundation exam. 

COMPETENCES:

• To understand basic legal texts in English.
•  To accurately use basic legal vocabulary and English grammar.
• To know and distinguish between the different branches of the common law. 
• To identify the different professions in the Anglo-Saxon legal system.
• To write confidently about simple international legal issues.
• To interpret and explain simple contractual clauses.
• To pass the TOLES Foundation exam.

Admission requirements will be twofold.

Firstly, students will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of general English (either by taking an INTERNAL level test or with an OFFICIAL certificate), depending on the level to be studied. The official level required to start this course is B2.

Secondly, in order to begin the HIGHER level without having already passed the Foundation level, students will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of Legal English by taking an INTERNAL level test.

OBJECTIVES:

• To extend knowledge and use of legal vocabulary in different areas: commercial agreements and contracts, company documentation, intellectual property contracts, financial documentation and types of companies.
• To extend knowledge of the legal system of Anglo-Saxon countries. 
• To extend familiarity with the practice of international law in real-life contexts. 
• To develop oral and written skills in legal terminology in English. 
• To prepare for the TOLES Higher exam.

COMPETENCES:

• To understand complex legal texts in English.
• To become fluent in the use of English legal terminology in oral and written production.
• To develop knowledge of common law and international legal practice.
• To write complex texts and deal with real oral situations in the legal field.
• To interpret and explain complex contractual terms.
• To pass the TOLES Higher exam.

Admission requirements will be twofold.

Firstly, students will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of general English (either by taking an INTERNAL level test or with an OFFICIAL certificate), depending on the level to be studied. The official level required to start this course is C1.

Secondly, in order to begin the ADVANCED level without having already passed the Higher level, students will need to demonstrate an appropriate level of Legal English by taking an INTERNAL level test.

OBJECTIVES:

• To study in depth the legal system of Anglo-Saxon countries.
• To acquire the vocabulary and grammar necessary for drafting contracts in English.
• To draft international legal documents.
• To be familiar with using formal and informal English.
• To become familiar with Plain English or the use of simpler legal English expressions and the difference between Plain English and Legalese.
• To perfect accuracy in written and oral expression.
• To prepare for the TOLES Advanced exam.

COMPETENCES:

• To incorporate English legal terminology into oral and written production with near native accuracy.
• To develop knowledge of English law and international legal practice.
• To draft complex legal texts and deal with complex oral situations.
• To interpret, explain and draft complex contractual clauses.
• To pass the TOLES Advanced exam.