Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Willard]

How much demand is there for teaching Legal English?

I have taught it in the past, and I am well qualified to teach it.

Am I looking only at language schools, or are there other options?

Where should I apply?

Thank you!

[veiledsentiments]

In the 25 years that I have been following education in the Gulf and much of the rest of the Middle East, I have never once seen any advertisement for legal English. I once saw an ad for a job in Germany... and I know someone with an old unused law degree who taught English in the Law School at Hong Kong University.

Those that study law in the Middle East study Muslim law... and it is taught in Arabic.

So, I'd say that the demand is pretty much zero...

VS

[PattyFlipper]

The demand is certainly not zero, however in the Gulf it is comparatively low. I spent a couple of years designing and teaching a series of courses and workshops in legal English and legal communication for the Bahrain Bar Society offered (at the Society's request) through the University of Bahrain in the late eighties. This only occupied about 30 - 40% of my total teaching schedule, however. I have also had the occasional lawyer / judge / official of the Ministry of Justice approach me for private tuition. If you are already employed in the Gulf, it might be possible to persuade one of the language schools to offer a legal English course (or even perhaps organize it yourself), however, there is no way that you will be able to make a living exclusively from it, nor are you likely to be employed solely for your ability to teach it.

In addition, because, as the previous poster pointed out, law is taught almost completely in Arabic throughout the Middle East (with pockets of French here and there), the general English level of lawyers and law students tends to be quite low - false beginner to low intermediate at best - to the point where any attempt at ESP, particularly in a subject as complex as law, can be a frustrating waste of time for all concerned. You may actually have better luck in say Lebanon, Egypt or Jordan as these countries have well-established legal systems and the study of law is both more comprehensive and given higher priority than in the Gulf States. Lawyers from these countries are also often employed in the GCC, including in judicial positions.

There is a much greater demand for English legal communication in Asia or Europe. Try China or Korea. I taught legal English and substantive law subjects for universities in both those countries, though again, not exclusively. The most you can probably hope for is to get a foot in the door teaching general or academic English, and perhaps eventually persuade the university (or language institute) to offer legal English as an elective. Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia might also offer possibilities, however it will be considerably more difficult to find an initial position in these countries.

[veiledsentiments]

Another detail that I didn't point out... and Patty's post about their very low English skills reminded me... is that a law degree is the bottom of the educational barrel in the education systems in the Middle East. It takes the absolute bottom admittance scores and is considered what people major in if they can't get into the Education Department or Agriculture. It has the lowest prestige level of all majors in this part of the world.

That was rather a shock coming from our system where it ranks up just below medicine and above engineering...

VS

[PattyFlipper]

Generally true in France, Spain and other parts of Europe as well. Putting lawyers on a pedestal (or at least placing themselves there) seems to be an Anglo thing.

[nomad soul]

Athough I agree with PattyFlipper that there is some demand for Legal English, don't rule out the Gulf. There's a potential need for Legal English from the perspective of contract law, especially for legal departments and organizations that deal with foreign entities in which English is the language for business. I foresee this field of ESP generating interest among lawyers who have advanced English proficiency but wish to improve their their Legal English communication skills (e.g., contract writing and interpretation). As PattyFlipper suggested, start by contacting language schools, particularly those with an established Business English. You might just offer them an opportunity in an area they never considered.

[volgaman]

[ttxor1]

maybe they'll be looking for people this summer as well?

http://llmlegalwriting.blogspot.com/2013/04/summer-legal-english-lecturer-positions.html