Bournemouth Business School International (BBSI), one of the most highly-accredited business schools and English colleges in Britain, offers international students the opportunity to undertake an English language course in Britain, while also studying the concepts and acquiring the skills required for a career related to law and the legal profession. Our Higher-Certificate Course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law comprises 30 lessons weekly, is of 24 weeks duration and is carefully designed to enable international students at an Upper-Intermediate level in English or above to gain a sound grounding in legal English, acquire a law qualification accredited by NCFE and prepare for the University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. In addition to acquiring a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of modern concepts in law and legal procedures, students will also develop competent English-language and professional communication skills, and the ability to both understand and draft legal documents.
University of Cambridge ESOL International Legal English Certificate. The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is a University of Cambridge ESOL examination produced and assessed by Cambridge ESOL Examinations in collaboration with TransLegal, Europe’s leading firm of lawyer-linguists. BBSI is an accredited ILEC Examination Centre. English is an essential tool for any lawyer working with international matters, and employers need to know that the legal staff they appoint have a sufficient level of English to be able to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries. At the same time, law students and newly-qualified lawyers need to be able to show employers that they have the required language skills. The ILEC examination allows candidates to demonstrate their skills, and therefore to increase their employability. It is based on realistic texts, tasks and topics of the kind legal practitioners might meet in their daily working lives. Preparation for the ILEC is included automatically within this BBSI study programme.
Additional English and Business English Qualifications. Students will develop competent legal English and professional communication skills. Moreover, in the supplementary English-language elements of the course, students can study for 2 of 3 different University of Cambridge ESOL† qualifications: the First Certificate in English (FCE), the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), or the Business English Certificate (BEC). Alternatively, you can opt to join our ongoing weekly English Language Workshop‡ (ELW) at a language level to suit your needs. The course is conducted around a busy social and activity programme, and the maximum class size is 12, which can extend to 15 during the summer months, July-September.
Study Options. There are 2 study options for this course. For those students with a sound Upper-Intermediate level in English or above, we offer Study Option 1, which enables participants to develop their legal English and professional communication skills to a more advanced level of proficiency, while studying a more extensive range of specialised topics related to the legal profession and important aspects of law. However, for those international students with a lower, Intermediate level in English, who require more emphasis initially on developing their general, business English and professional communication skills, prior to the introduction of more advanced legal studies and training in law, we offer Study Option 2, which builds more gradually in professional intensity and specialisation.
Study Option 1
Designed for those students with a sound Upper-Intermediate level in English or above, Study Option 1 enables participants to develop their legal English and professional communication skills to a more advanced level of proficiency, while studying a more extensive range of specialised topics related to the legal profession and important aspects of law.
Course Outline:
Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 6.0 (Upper-Intermediate)
Course Duration: 24 weeks (2 terms)
Course Code: CLS 24
Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)
Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes' duration)
Minimum Age: 17 years
Course Structure & Content:
20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in English Language
(selected each term from one of the following options)
- preparation for the University of Cambridge FCE
- preparation for the University of Cambridge CAE
- preparation for the University of Cambridge BEC
- English Language Workshop (ELW)
Awards:
BBSI Higher-Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
Optional Examinations+:
University of Cambridge ILEC
(examination - annually May & November)
University of Cambridge FCE
(examination dates)
University of Cambridge CAE
(examination dates)
University of Cambridge BEC
(examination dates)
Course Objectives.
- develop an understanding of current legal theory and practice
- acquire a sound and professional understanding of international and commercial law, and legal procedures
- acquire vocational qualifications related to law and legal studies
- build appropriate legal vocabulary
- acquire the necessary communication skills for a career in law
- develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
- develop confidence and fluency in the English language to advanced Level
- prepare participants for one of a range of English, legal English and business English qualifications
- provide participants with the opportunity to acquire additional English and business English qualifications
Course Elements. In addition to providing students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English, Study Option 1 incorporates all the following specialised elements:
- UK and comparative legal systems
- law of property
- international law, human rights and competition policy
- criminal law
- conflict of laws
- public international law
- international trade
- commercial, consumer and employment law
- contract Law
- current affairs and the Law
- partnership law
- intellectual property
- law of tort, including physical injury and economic loss
- company law (shares, company capital, legal entities ..)
- international legal English (drafting legal documents and letters, understanding legal documents, legal negotiations, client interviews ..)
Study Option 2
Designed for those students with a lower, Intermediate level in English, who require more emphasis initially on developing their legal English and professional communication skills prior to the introduction of more advanced legal training and important aspects of law, Study Option 2 builds more gradually in intensity and specialisation.
Course Outline:
Minimum English Entry Level: IELTS 5.5 (Upper-Intermediate)
Course Duration: 24 weeks (2 terms)
Course Code: CLS 24
Main Course Entry Dates: October, January, April or July (term dates 2008)
Lessons Weekly: 30 (each of 45 minutes' duration)
Minimum Age: 17 years
Course Structure & Content:
Term 1
20 lessons weekly in Communication & Business Skills
10 lessons weekly in English Language
(selected each term from one of the following options)
- preparation for the Cambridge FCE
- preparation for the Cambridge CAE
- preparation for the Cambridge BEC
- English Language Workshop (ELW)
Term 2
20 lessons weekly in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(includes the full Cambridge ILEC syllabus)
10 lessons weekly in English Language
(selected each term from one of the following options
- preparation for the Cambridge FCE
- preparation for the Cambridge CAE
- preparation for the Cambridge BEC
- English Language Workshop (ELW)
Awards
BBSI Higher-Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
NCFE Certificate in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law
(continuous assessment)
Optional Examinations+:
University of Cambridge ILEC
(examination - annually May & November)
University of Cambridge FCE
(examination dates)
University of Cambridge CAE
(examination dates)
University of Cambridge BEC
(examination dates)
Course Objectives.
- develop an understanding of current legal theory and practice
- acquire a sound and professional understanding of international and commercial law, and legal procedures
- acquire vocational qualifications related to law and legal studies
- build appropriate legal vocabulary
- acquire the necessary communication skills for a career in law
- develop effective legal English communication and presentation skills
- develop confidence and fluency in the English language beyond Upper-Intermediate Level
- prepare participants for one of a range of English, legal English and business English qualifications
- provide participants with the opportunity to acquire additional English and business English qualifications
Course Elements. In addition to providing students with a thorough and comprehensive grounding in legal English, Study Option 2 incorporates selected topics from the following:
- UK and comparative legal systems
- law of property
- international law, human rights and competition policy
- criminal law
- conflict of laws
- public international law
- international trade
- commercial, consumer and employment law
- contract Law
- current affairs and the Law
- partnership law
- intellectual property
- law of tort, including physical injury and economic loss
- company law (shares, company capital, legal entities ..)
- international legal English (drafting legal documents and letters, understanding legal documents, legal negotiations, client interviews ..)
Certificate, Diploma, University Foundation and
Pre-Masters' versions of the above course are also available.
† University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations
FCE (First Certificate in English)
FCE is an Upper-Intermediate level examination that indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs for example, or in the tourist industry, where contact with English speakers is required. FCE is also useful preparation for students working towards higher-level examinations, such as the CAE.
CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
CAE is the second-highest level of Cambridge ESOL examination and is ideal for those who want to work or study abroad. A CAE certificate demonstrates language skills in a wide range of contexts. The examination is based on realistic tasks, and indicates the ability to use the language in practical situations, such as meetings and discussions.
BEC (Business English Certificate)
There are 3 levels of BEC examination: the BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher. All 3 examinations are ideal for students preparing for careers in the fields of international business and commerce, where a good knowledge of English is required to function effectively. BEC certificates are internationally recognised and demonstrate that the holder has acquired an appropriate standard of English in a professional context.
‡ English Language Workshop
The English Language Workshop is designed to provide general language support for those students who are studying a specialised course and who do not intend to prepare for a specific English language examination. The content of the Workshop includes extensive skills practice in professional areas of the language, which is useful for those who need to improve their ability to communicate effectively with others in a professional international environment, or who later decide to acquire a professional qualification.
Book this course on-Line.The following higher-certificate courses are also available at BBSI:
+ Examination fees for those seeking to undertake external examinations are not included in the BBSI course fees.
BBSI courses are carefully designed and structured at different language levels to enable international students to develop all 4 English language skills simultaneously, while developing their professional communication skills and professional knowledge in academic, vocational or professional context, in the specialised subject of their choice. Students therefore have the flexibility to focus on either academic or vocational progression, depending on their personal training needs and particular learning objectives.
Download a PDF of the BBSI Higher-Certificate course in Legal Studies, International & Commercial Law.