Legal English: Advanced Legal Writing

January 3 - 9, 2010; Miami Beach, Florida

The Institute’s Advanced Legal Writing program is an intensive one-week Legal English seminar that focuses exclusively on legal writing and emphasizes: (1) persuasive legal writing in the context of pleadings and other adversarial documents central to the resolution of disputes; (2) contract drafting; (3) the proper use of language in common commercial and corporate documents; and (4) non-adversarial written communications between lawyers and between lawyers and clients. Although it is an advanced seminar that requires pre-existing fluency in English, common errors in grammar and punctuation will be noted throughout. This IUSLAW program will take place at The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach, Florida (www.thepalmshotel.com). In addition to the daily academic component (mornings and afternoons), the program includes a number of extra-curricular and social activities in the Miami Beach area.

The primary instructor for this one-week seminar is Professor Debra Lee from Vanderbuilt University Law School. Professor Lee, perhaps the most experienced and innovative Legal English teacher in the country, is the author of American Legal English: Using Language in Legal Contexts (2nd Edition, 2007), published by the University of Michigan Press (with translations funded by the U.S. Department of State). She has taught Legal English in several U.S. Government sponsored programs around the world and is the author of numerous articles on the subject. In addition to her professional degrees, she also has a masters degree in English. Practicing U.S. lawyers with relevant expertise will also speak to the group during the week regarding the drafting of specific types of legal documents. Writing assignments and exercises will be individually reviewed by the instructors.

Tuition for the "Advanced Legal English" program is $1,595.

The Institute has negotiated the discounted hotel rate for participants of $219 per night (exclusive of taxes and special fees) at The Palms Hotel & Spa , a luxury resort hotel directly on the beach. For those participants requiring a lower cost housing option, the Palms Hotel & Spa will make available rooms in its nearby affiliated hotel "Circa 39" for $135 per night (exclusive of taxes and special fees).