Legal English in Hong Kong
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Project

Abstract

Learning ‘legal English’, the specialized language that students encounter in law school, is particularly challenging. Law students must learn to use English forms and structures in such a way as to meet the expectations of members of the legal academic community, consistent with the conventions of the legal discipline. Learning legal English is therefore a process which involves elements of both legal expertise and language expertise. As a result, both lawyers and language teachers have something to contribute in order to support this learning process. This interdisciplinary project combines the expertise of lawyers and language teachers/applied linguists to develop a digital multimedia resource for legal English based on an analysis of the language needs of Hong Kong law students. This resource will target the most common tasks and genres for law students, e.g. essays, legal problem questions, memoranda, dissertations, oral mooting, and provide input in two forms: 1) edited video interviews with legal experts providing advice on legal writing and legal argument; 2) task-based activities created by applied linguists providing language-focused extensions on experts’ observations.

Aim

  1. To provide an in-depth analysis of the English language needs of Hong Kong law students;
  2. To develop video-based teaching materials to target these needs, including expert videos, language-focused activities and resources;
  3. To promote the use of these language-focused materials by law professors in legal skills and content courses.

Project Investigators

  1. Dr. Christoph A. Hafner, Associate Professor, Department of English, City University of Hong Kong (PI)
  2. Mr. John Burke, Senior Teaching Fellow, School of Law, City University of Hong Kong
  3. Prof. Katherine Lynch, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong
  4. Prof. Anne Scully-Hill, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong
  5. Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Senior Lecturer, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Australia

Funding Source

University Grants Council of Hong Kong: Collaborative language-related project

PRESENTATIONS »
PUBLICATIONS »
TEAM »
All 12 /All Videos 12 /Expert Interviews 6 /Featured 0 /Legal Writing 0 /Oral Advocacy 0 /Symposium Talks 6

Mr Ian Mann (3): Advice on client correspondence

March 20, 20199027 views/by admin

Mr Ian Mann (2): Advice on client Emails and text messages

March 13, 20192705 views/by admin

Mr Ian Mann (1): What makes good client correspondence?

March 6, 20192791 views/by admin

Professor Janet Ainsworth: How does the discourse of police interrogation create risks for false confession?

August 10, 20173771 views/by admin

The Honourable Mrs Justice Audrey Campbell-Moffat: Language and communication – Does one size fit all?

August 8, 20176248 views/by admin

Dr Rajesh Sharma: The art and science of advocacy

August 3, 201740863 views/by admin

Dr Janny Leung: Tension and goals in legal communication

August 1, 20173892 views/by admin

Mr Richard Bates: Can we cure lawyers of legalese?

July 27, 20173592 views/by admin

Dr Christoph A Hafner: Promoting effective legal communication: An Interdisciplinary collaboration

July 25, 20171639 views/by admin

Mr Harprabdeep Singh (3): My composing process

July 19, 20171636 views/by admin

Mr Alexander Mak (2): Advice on oral advocacy

July 12, 20171670 views/by admin

Mr Alexander Mak (1): Advice on legal writing

July 5, 20172415 views/by admin
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About Us

We are a team of law teachers and English language teachers working at universities in Hong Kong. We have designed this website for law students, their teachers, and anyone with an interest in language and the law.

Email Us

contact [at] legalenglish.hk

Latest Videos

  • Mr Ian Mann (3): Advice on client correspondenceMarch 20, 2019 - 12:00 am
  • Mr Ian Mann (2): Advice on client Emails and text messagesMarch 13, 2019 - 5:41 am
  • Mr Ian Mann (1): What makes good client correspondence?March 6, 2019 - 12:00 am
  • Professor Janet Ainsworth: How does the discourse of police interrogation create risks for false confession?August 10, 2017 - 9:52 am

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