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English Language Center
  2. Programs
  3. Discipline Specific
  4. Legal English
  5. English for Legal Purposes

English for Legal Purposes

Since 2001, the English Language Center (ELC) has been providing Legal-English support to students at the Vanderbilt Law School. In 2005, the ELC created the intensive Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP) Program for LL.M. students to further promote the development of high-level language skills and cultural knowledge in this academic context. The aim of these support programs is to help students achieve their academic goals and relieve some of the stress and anxiety that comes from performing in English in a highly competitive academic setting.

Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP) Program

 
 

This intensive 80-hour program is designed to provide incoming LL.M. students with the language and academic skills needed to succeed in the demanding LL.M. program at the Vanderbilt Law School.

  • Intensive in-class instruction and additional hours for individual assistance as needed by participants
  • The fundamentals of an LL.M.: learn what to expect from Vanderbilt’s LL.M. program
  • Oral and written communication development, including presentations, small-group and large-group discussion and responses

Program Objectives:

  • Adapt more quickly to the US law school curriculum
  • Increase ability to listen to short lectures and take effective notes
  • Gain higher level of self confidence in interacting in the classroom
  • Augment legal/academic vocabulary in writing and speaking
  • Increase ability to brief cases
  • Increase ability to summarize and paraphrase case elements
  • Improve clarity, correctness, and conciseness in legal exercises
  • Gain higher degree of grammatical accuracy
  • Improve use of articles, prepositions, verb tenses in written and spoken language
  • Understand how to read like a legal professional
  • Become acquainted with American culture and American law school culture
 
 

Important Dates:

  • Dates: Monday, July 22–Friday, August 16

Enrollment:

  • Enrollment is restricted to Vanderbilt LL.M. students
  • Contact Cynthia Coleman, Director, LL.M. Admissions to enroll in the Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP) program
  • Tuition: $2,000. Tuition will be billed to your Vanderbilt student account.

  • Enrollment and withdrawal policy: After Summer English for Legal Purposes begins, if students withdraw by 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on Day 2 of the program, they will be issued a 90% refund. There will be no refund for withdrawing after 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on Day 2 of the program

Academic English for Legal Purposes

Academic English for Legal Purposes is a series of courses for students admitted into the Vanderbilt Law School LL.M. Program. Courses are designed to assist students who have a first language other than English in their careers by increasing proficiency and confidence in various types of written legal discourse. Among other activities, students summarize articles, discuss current legal events, and practice the generally accepted conventions of written legal analysis in the United States.

Academic Writing for Legal Purposes:

  • Fall semester only: Academic Writing for Legal Purposes is offered exclusively to Vanderbilt Law School students enrolled in the Master of Laws program. The course focuses on the structures and conventions of academic writing in general and legal writing in particular. Course activities support LL.M. students’ work in their required Legal Research and Writing course and emphasize correct, concise, complete and clear written discourse.

Academic Speaking for Legal Purposes:

  • Spring semester only: Academic Speaking for Legal Purposes is offered to Vanderbilt Master of Laws students who wish to improve their public speaking and pronunciation skills in English and broaden their American-culture knowledge base as well. Students give both prepared and impromptu presentations, read and discuss topics in US news, and work on the sounds and intonation of American English.

Enrollment:

  • All interested Vanderbilt LL.M. students should contact Cynthia Coleman, Associate Director of Law School Admissions and International Services to enroll in semester LL.M. courses.

In the Media

Questions?

For more information regarding course content, please contact:

Jim Cracraft, Associate Director
Tel: +1 (615) 322-0247
Email: jim.cracraft@vanderbilt.edu

For more information regarding eligibility, please contact:

Susan M. Barone, Director
Tel: +1 615-322-2277
Email: susan.m.barone@vanderbilt.edu