Научно-исследовательский семинар "Правовая лингвистика"

Бакалавриат 2025/2026

ID 961486

Статус: Курс обязательный (Юриспруденция)

Кто читает: Департамент английского языка

Где читается: Факультет гуманитарных наук (Нижний Новгород)

Когда читается: 3-й курс, 2, 3 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Преподаватели: Ватлецов Сергей Германович

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 4

Контактные часы: 36

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Legal Linguistics course is designed for undergraduate students in law and aims to develop their legal and linguistic competencies. It is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary course that enables learners to find out and apply professionally relevant information for their academic research. This discipline is also to enhance effective communication skills for English-speaking lawyers from different jurisdictions. The course consists of a synchronous part (offline seminars) and an asynchronous online part on SMART LMS and control work, offers theoretical materials (lectures, videos, textbooks) and practice (quizzes, mocks, analyzing legal acts), writing legal and academic texts (contracts, objective memoranda, IRAC analyses, scientific papers).

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

Interim Assessment

2025/2026 3rd module
0.3 * Exam + 0.25 * Written assessment + 0.2 * Oral test + 0.25 * Independent work
2026/2027 3rd module
0.25 * Written assessment + 0.3 * Exam + 0.2 * Oral test + 0.25 * Independent work

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

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
Kuratko, D. F. (2007). Corporate Entrepreneurship. Boston: Now Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=214836

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
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
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

Course Syllabus