14 Phrases to improve your Legal English
by Mike Davies, Legal English UK
Looking for that competitive advantage that sets you apart from every other international lawyer? Learning Legal English is one of the most important ways that you can improve your career potential.
If you are negotiating a contract, travelling to a conference or looking to stand-out in your current job then this article might be the difference between failure and success.
1. Delivering a Presentation
Most legal professionals will be called upon to deliver presentations on a regular basis. While some presentations are boring, that is no excuse for yours to be either. Here are some phrases to use that can liven up your speech - and remember to keep things relatively informal.
"Hello. My name is XXXX and I work for XXXX as a solicitor."
"Hi everybody. I'm XXXX and I am currently engaged in a legal case involving XXXX."
"Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone. My name is XXXX and I am a lawyer based in London."
"Thank you to all of you for joining us today. My name is XXXX and I am going to talk briefly about XXXX."
2. Talking with Clients
Clients are a lawyer's 'bread and butter' and need to be treated with respect. Here are a few phrases that you can use to put them at their ease.
"Welcome to the firm. Can I get you a tea or coffee?"
"Did you find the office easily? Did you manage to park close to the office?"
"I'm XXXX and I will be dealing with your case."
3. Participating in Meetings.
Wherever we work, we will usually have to attend meetings. While most are humdrum affairs, it is still important that you get your point across clearly. Here are some sentences that you can use for the next time you have a meeting.
"Can I just make a quick point about that?"
"Can I just clarify if I understood that correctly?"
"I think that we're all on the same page here."
"Some people on my team might not think that is the best way to move forward."
4. How to negotiate successfully
If you work in contract law or are a corporate lawyer, negotiating will take up significant time in your working life. These phrases will help you to walk away from the table with a great deal.
"I understand where you are coming from but our bottom line is this..."
"I'm afraid that my client won't be able to move on this."
"If we cannot do that, how about we discuss some alternatives?"
Talk about these phrases with your Legal English teacher online or face-to-face. For further information, register online with us today.
