IMMERSION IN ENGLISH & U.S. BUSINESS LAW
DESCRIPTION
This 4-week program focuses on developing the language and communication skills of lawyers whose first language is not English. Participants will improve their legal communication skills while examining the U.S. legal system, with emphasis on business law topics. Each week, participants will attend over 25 hours of classes, workshops and guided conversation practice. Classes and workshops are taught by law professors, lawyers and experienced ESL instructors with extensive experience teaching international lawyers. Classes are small and highly interactive and include skills development in grammar, writing, vocabulary and accent management. Private meetings with instructors are also available.
Most evenings, participants are welcome to attend small discussion groups to practice speaking in English. The discussions are guided by a lawyer or ESL professional. Topics include U.S. culture, politics, law, business and other areas of interest. Participants are also encouraged to share ideas and knowledge from their own countries and cultures.
The curriculum is flexible and custom-designed to meet the personal and professional goals of each participant as much as possible. Assignments and activities provide many opportunities to use written and spoken English in legal and business contexts.
This program helps participants develop their skills in the following areas:
- Reading
Analyzing legal and financial documents, reading business case studies, reading and interpreting legal memoranda, judicial opinions and statutes
- Writing
Writing business letters to clients, drafting contracts, constructing financial documents, researching and writing legal memoranda
- Speaking
Debating controversial legal issues, delivering oral presentations, negotiating business agreements, representing clients in simulated trials
- Listening
Taking notes at lectures, attending court proceedings
The substantive law classes generally include overviews of the following areas:
- Structure of the U.S. Legal System
The workings of the multi-jurisdictional U.S. "federalist" system
- Sources of U.S. Law
The U.S. constitution, treaties, statutes, regulations and the common law (case law)
- Legal Research in the U.S.
Introduction to law library research and methods of computerized research; includes a research tour of the University of Michigan Law School Library
- Partnerships, Corporations and Other Business Organizations
How to choose the legal forms in which to do business
- Business Finance
Introduction to basic concepts in financing a business
- U.S. Courts and Litigation
Understanding the litigation process in the U.S. through participating in a mini-workshop on trial practice
- Commercial Transactions
The role of the Uniform Commercial Code in state law
- Real Property Law, Real Estate Transactions, and Commercial Lending
A step-by-step view of typical transactions
- Federal Business Taxation
A brief overview of the U.S. tax system with a view to understanding the basic tax aspects of business transactions
Many of the substantive classes use a "hands-on" approach. For example, participants will analyze actual legal documents in order to provide a basis for discussion of large legal areas. Classes also generally include practice writing legal memoranda, letters, and other documents. Participants are encouraged to actively participate in class discussions. In order to make the course as useful as possible to each participant, the substantive curriculum can be modified at times to help accommodate the particular goals of a given group of participants.
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