Essential Legal English in Context: Understanding the Vocabulary of US Law and Government

by Karen M. Ross

Overview

Winner, 2019 Global Legal Skills Book Award, given by the Global Legal Skills Conference


An essential handbook for international lawyers and students

Focusing on vocabulary, Essential Legal English in Context introduces the US legal system and its terminology. Designed especially for foreign-trained lawyers and students whose first language is not English, the book is a must-read for those who want to expand their US legal vocabulary and basic understanding of US government. Ross uses a unique approach by selecting legal terms that arise solely within the context of the levels and branches of US government, including terminology related to current political issues such as partisanship. Inspired by her students’ questions over her years of teaching, she includes a vast collection of legal vocabulary, concepts, idioms, and phrasal verbs and unpacks concepts embedded in US case law, such as how the US constitutional separation of powers may affect a court’s interpretation of the law. The handbook differentiates basic terms in civil and criminal cases and compares terms that may seem similar because of close spellings but in fact have different meanings. For instance, what is the distinction between “taking the stand” and “taking a stand?” What is the difference between “treaties” and “treatises”? Featuring illustrations and hands-on exercises, Essential Legal English in Context is a valuable self-study resource for those who want to improve their legal English terminology before entering a US law school, studying US law or government, or working as a seconded attorney to a US law firm. Instructors can use the handbook in an introductory US legal English course.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781479831678
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	04/04/2019
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Karen M. Ross is the Director of the Legal English Program and a member of the Graduate Lawyering Faculty at New York University School of Law. Ms. Ross holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English (TESOL) and a Juris Doctor degree and has taught legal English to hundreds of international lawyers.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Unit 1 Overview of the Government in the United States

Lesson 1.1 The Three Levels of Government 3

Lesson 1.2 The Founding Documents: The Federal Constitution, State Constitutions, and Local Charters 10

Lesson 1.3 The Three Branches of United States Government 15

Lesson 1.4 The Federal Constitution 19

Unit 1 Review 25

Unit 2 The Federal Legislature

Lesson 2.1 The Constitutional Authority for the Federal Legislature 29

Lesson 2.2 The Structure of the Federal Legislature 31

Lesson 2.3 The Powers of the Federal Legislature 42

Lesson 2.4 The Federal Legislatures Source of Law 50

Unit 2 Review 68

Unit 3 The Federal Executive

Lesson 3.1 The Constitutional Authority for the Federal Executive 73

Lesson 3.2 The Structure of the Federal Executive 76

Lesson 3.3 The Powers of the Federal Executive 84

Lesson 3.4 The Federal Executive's Source of Law 86

Unit 3 Review 94

Unit 4 The Federal Judiciary

Lesson 4.1 The Constitutional Authority for the Federal Judiciary 97

Lesson 4.2 The Structure of the Federal Judiciary 100

Lesson 4.3 The Powers of the Federal Judiciary 136

Lesson 4.4 The Federal Judiciary's Source of Law 140

Unit 4 Review 161

Unit 5 Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances: Cases in Context

Lesson 5.1 Overview of the Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances 165

Lesson 5.2 The Judiciary's Role in the Separation of Powers 167

Lesson 5.3 Cases in Context 169

Unit 5 Review 182

Appendix 1 Selected Provisions of the US Bill of Rights 183

Appendix 2 Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Other Terms 187

Answers 191

Notes 205

Illustrations Credits 211

Index 215

About the Author 223