English is the dominant language of international business relations, and a good working knowledge of the language is essential for today’s legal or business professional. Written with the needs of both practitioners and students in mind, Legal English provides a comprehensive and highly practical approach to its subject-matter and addresses the key aspects of the use of English in commercial legal contexts.

This third edition builds upon the success of its predecessors, but also introduces an important innovation. Instead of being a traditional paper textbook, this new edition combines and integrates both online and traditional print elements.

The book covers the key areas of legal English usage for both written and oral legal communication in typical legal situations. It features expanded terminology glossaries, legal drafting troubleshooting tips, language for negotiation and contract-drafting guidance.

The website contains realistic, in-depth and contextual exercises on each area covered in the book. It is intended as a unique self-study resource to be used in connection with the book, and is supported by an automatic marking facility.

Contents

1. Introduction to Legal English 2. Grammar for Legal Writing 3. Punctuation for Legal Writing 4. Sentence Structure 5. Legal Writing Standards: Dates, Numbers, Citations and Headings 6. Terminology and Linguistic Peculiarities 7. Elements of Good Style: Clarity, Consistency, Effectiveness 8. What to Avoid 9. British and American English 10. Contracts: Structure and Interpretation 11. Contract Clauses: Types and Specimen Clauses 12. Drafting Legal Documents: Language and Structure 13. Correspondence and Memoranda 14.Aspects of Spoken English 15. Meeting, Greeting and Getting Down to Business 16. Interviewing and Advising 17. Dealing with Difficult People 18. Court Advocacy 19. Negotiation 20. Chairing a Formal Meeting 21. Making a Presentation 22. Telephoning

Author Bio

Rupert Haigh gradum Cambridge University in 1992 and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1997. He also holds an LLM in Public International Law from Helsinki University and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate. After completing his legal training, Rupert worked for several years as a practising solicitor in England, specializing mainly in litigation work, before moving to Finland in 2000 since when he has been continuously involved in training legal professionals in Finland and across Europe.