ID:
GIU0458
Duration (hours):
28
CFU:
4
SSD:
LINGUA E TRADUZIONE - LINGUA INGLESE
Located in:
Como - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (24/02/2026 - 25/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is to develop appropriate communication, writing, and reading strategies within the legal field and to provide students with the essential tools required to manage negotiations, contracts, forms of representation, alternative dispute resolution methods, legal correspondence, and legal advice with proficiency in the English language and in sector-specific terminology.
The course focuses on the analysis of the most relevant lexical, grammatical, and stylistic features of the English language in the legal domain, with the objective of enabling students to operate effectively in both formal and informal contexts and to understand the distinctive characteristics of Plain English and Legalese. Throughout the course, a variety of legal documents will be read, translated, and examined; the terminology addressed will reflect different linguistic contexts, including British English, American English, EU English, and International English.
Textual analysis will be accompanied by reflections on the differences between Common Law and Civil Law systems and on the structural features of their respective legislative and judicial frameworks. Students will also engage in the consultation of websites, web corpora, and online dictionaries, with the aim of fostering innovative and continuously updated research and study pathways.
In addition, the use of Artificial Intelligence will be introduced as a tool to support the learning of Legal English. The potential of AI tools for translation, textual analysis, and the production of legal content in English will be explored in order to optimize study strategies and refine linguistic competence in the legal field.
The course focuses on the analysis of the most relevant lexical, grammatical, and stylistic features of the English language in the legal domain, with the objective of enabling students to operate effectively in both formal and informal contexts and to understand the distinctive characteristics of Plain English and Legalese. Throughout the course, a variety of legal documents will be read, translated, and examined; the terminology addressed will reflect different linguistic contexts, including British English, American English, EU English, and International English.
Textual analysis will be accompanied by reflections on the differences between Common Law and Civil Law systems and on the structural features of their respective legislative and judicial frameworks. Students will also engage in the consultation of websites, web corpora, and online dictionaries, with the aim of fostering innovative and continuously updated research and study pathways.
In addition, the use of Artificial Intelligence will be introduced as a tool to support the learning of Legal English. The potential of AI tools for translation, textual analysis, and the production of legal content in English will be explored in order to optimize study strategies and refine linguistic competence in the legal field.
Course Prerequisites
An optimal prerequisite for the course is a command of General English at or above level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Teaching Methods
The course is delivered during the second semester. Grammatical and lexical analysis will be integrated with practical exercises and activities involving reading, translation, and textual comprehension, including the use of Artificial Intelligence tools and online corpora.
Assessment Methods
The examination consists of a written test and includes quiz-based exercises (such as, by way of example and not exhaustively, listening exercises, reading comprehension tasks, matching or gap-filling exercises, and/or translation tasks, and/or multiple-choice or true/false questions) relating to the course syllabus and to any seminars organised within the framework of the course, which constitute an integral part thereof.
During the examination, the use of legal/commercial dictionaries and monolingual and/or bilingual dictionaries is permitted. The use of personal notes, prescribed textbooks, or any other manuals is not allowed.
Assessment: for students enrolled under code A18 (Como), the final mark will be expressed on a scale of thirty (out of thirty). For students enrolled up to the academic year 2017/2018, assessment will be expressed as Pass/Fail.
During the examination, the use of legal/commercial dictionaries and monolingual and/or bilingual dictionaries is permitted. The use of personal notes, prescribed textbooks, or any other manuals is not allowed.
Assessment: for students enrolled under code A18 (Como), the final mark will be expressed on a scale of thirty (out of thirty). For students enrolled up to the academic year 2017/2018, assessment will be expressed as Pass/Fail.
Contents
The first part of the course will be devoted to consolidating the principal grammatical structures of the English language and the most common lexical expressions used in the legal field. Particular attention will be paid to the use of modal verbs, prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs, false friends, and the selection of the nouns most frequently employed in legal language. Exercises will involve continuous comparison between Plain English and Legalese, as well as between British English and American English.
In the second part of the course, students will undertake an in-depth study of legal correspondence and attend lectures dedicated to the differences between Common Law and Civil Law systems, with specific focus on tort law and on the distinctive features of Legal English as used within the European Union.
A key component of the course will be the integration of Artificial Intelligence as a support tool for learning Legal English. Students will employ AI tools for the analysis and translation of legal texts, the drafting of legal content, and the advanced consultation of terminological databases and online sources. This approach will enable the exploration of personalised learning strategies and enhance the acquisition of legal terminology and linguistic structures characteristic of legal discourse.
In the second part of the course, students will undertake an in-depth study of legal correspondence and attend lectures dedicated to the differences between Common Law and Civil Law systems, with specific focus on tort law and on the distinctive features of Legal English as used within the European Union.
A key component of the course will be the integration of Artificial Intelligence as a support tool for learning Legal English. Students will employ AI tools for the analysis and translation of legal texts, the drafting of legal content, and the advanced consultation of terminological databases and online sources. This approach will enable the exploration of personalised learning strategies and enhance the acquisition of legal terminology and linguistic structures characteristic of legal discourse.
Course Language
Italian-Eglish
More information
Throughout the course, extensive use will be made of the compulsory readings listed on Leganto, as well as materials drawn from leading specialised websites and resources prepared and provided directly by the lecturer, which will be uploaded to the students’ e-learning platform.
Office hours are held by appointment upon request via email at: roberta.bogni@uninsubria.it
Office hours are held by appointment upon request via email at: roberta.bogni@uninsubria.it
Degrees
Degrees
LAW
Single-cycle Master’s Degree
5 years
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People
People
Teaching staff
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