Legal English
Professional Certificate – 8 sessions
Online Classes
Date
Time
Provided by
Course Description
Legal English refers to the English terminology used by practitioners within the legal profession in drafting legal documents such as contracts, memos, affidavits and court documents. Since English is a global language, it is essential for all practitioners to develop a comprehensive understanding and develop legal skills within this context.
Legal English is an in depth course designed for lawyers with only basic knowledge of the English language. Its aim is to allow lawyers to develop an understanding of legal vocabulary, and terminology as well as common law principles. The core focus of this course is to develop basic legal writing skills to build strong grounds for Contract Drafting (Introduction) course and to efficiently prepare participants to partake in any legal activity using proper legal English.
The syllabus works as an agenda and a reference for students whereby it includes a time table with specific lectures, texts, questionnaires, and readings to be covered throughout the course and a list of objectives to be achieved by the completion of this course.
The course adopts an active learning approach whereby participants will be given exercises, and case studies to discuss and debate with the instructor and among each other along with mock simulations and speeches as previously mentioned.
Speaker
Rami Itani is an Attorney at Law and senior legal advisor at Fransabank SAL Group, based in Beirut. He graduated with honors in law (LLB) from La Sagesse University. Rami was admitted to the roll of the Beirut Bar Association in 2004. After graduating with an M.A degree in Diplomatic Affairs at Jean Monnet University in 2007, he pursued his studies at Queen Mary University in London and earned his second M.A in Law (LLM) in 2009.
Rami advises a range of clients, from business start-ups to seasoned companies, in all areas of corporate transactions. His areas of expertise include banking and finance, corporate restructuring and commercial transactions in Lebanon and abroad, compliance, and general commercial advisory. His experience includes as well negotiation and drafting key transaction such as share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, due diligence reports, disclosure bundles, , and general commercial agreements.
The course covers eight different chapters:
The different legal systems:
- Common Law vs. Civil Law (definitions; key differences)
- Sources of Law (acts of parliament; regulations; court’s decisions; codification)
- Documents in court, Legal education, Law firm Structure.
Company law
- Company vs. partnership (types of business entities)
- Formation/Creation: The Constitutional documents (shall vs. may)
- Management and duties: Key persons (duties and responsibilities)
- Decision making (The Board of Directors; the Shareholders)
- Changes in companies
- Minutes of Meeting ( General Assemblies, board of directors)
- Shareholder rights
Company law
- Company vs. partnership (types of business entities)
- Formation/Creation: The Constitutional documents (shall vs. may)
- Management and duties: Key persons (duties and responsibilities)
- Decision making (The Board of Directors; the Shareholders)
- Changes in companies
- Minutes of Meeting ( General Assemblies, board of directors)
- Shareholder rights
Contracts
- Contract formation (offer, acceptance, consideration; intent vs. negotiation; essential terms)
- Types of contracts (Express vs. implied contracts)
- Issues in formation of the contract
- Covenant
- Third Parties Beneficiaries (Privity of contracts; agency; assignment and delegation; trust; Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999).
- Common drafting terms and examples
- Remedies (damages; liquidated damages vs. penalty; concept of repetitions in drafting contracts)
- Lawyer-client correspondence; persuasive writing; court rulings
Company Law
- Company vs. partnership (types of business entities)
- Formation/Creation: The Constitutional documents (shall vs. may)
- Management and duties: Key persons (duties and responsibilities)
- Decision making (The Board of Directors; the Shareholders)
- Changes in companies
- Minutes of Meeting ( General Assemblies, board of directors)
- Shareholder rights
Real Property Law
- Introduction to property Law
- Essential terms in property Law
- Easements
- Understanding the Tenancy agreement
- Case review
Negotiable Instruments
- Definition of Negotiable Instruments
- Promissory Note
- Legislation governing electronic negotiable instruments
Intellectual property
- Definition
- Types of intellectual property (patents, trade-marks, copyrights, designs and patents).
- Infringement and Remedies