Legal English

Program Facts

  Summer, 8-week Sessions (4-week sessions available)

  20 Hours/Week

   High Intermediate to Advanced Levels, CEFR B2-C2

   In-person, Full-time or Part-time

   F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, B-1/B-2, Permanent Resident, U.S. Citizen

The Legal English Program is an intensive program designed for international students who plan on attending law school in the U.S. as well as for practicing international lawyers seeking to refine their English language skills. 鶹Ժ on an F-1 or J-1 visa take the full program, while students on a tourist visa can enroll in individual courses. 鶹Ժ have the opportunity to attend CU Law School events, lectures, and activities. 鶹Ժ who have been conditionally admitted to the CU Law School and who choose to enroll in the Legal English Program must successfully complete all requirements of the Legal English Program prior to beginning their LLM program at the university.  

Practicing International lawyers who are not conditionally admitted to the CU Law School must have a minimum B2 CEFR proficiency level or a 72 TOEFL score to register for the program. 

“It is a useful tool for lawyers who wish to start their studies in the United States, as well as understanding the country's legal system before starting classes at the university.”

-Yuly Paola Campiño

CEA accreditation

Legal English Flyer

Core Courses Electives Sample Schedule Conditionally Admitted 鶹Ժ Placement Test Dates & Prices Housing & Meals Frequently Asked Questions Colorado Law's LLM Testimonials
Core Courses

The Legal English Program consists of four core courses:

  • Legal Writing & Rhetoric
  • Legal Oral Communication
  • Understanding Legal Texts
  • Law School Prep

Develops legal writing skills and terminology as a means of communicating effectively in different legal contexts such as case briefs, emails, memorandums, statements of facts, and motions. Course emphasizes guided practice in organizing legal discussions and synthesizing cases to formulate rules of law. Extensive instructor feedback is provided on assignments to improve fluency, clarity, and accuracy in writing.

Builds listening and speaking skills through group work and seminar-style speaking activities. Specific attention is given to developing critical thinking skills in conjunction with vocabulary understanding. Focused practice includes becoming familiar with the Socratic method of interpreting and answering open-ended questions related to case studies, presenting oral summaries, and developing note-taking and outlining skills.

Explores a variety of law texts by reading, interpreting, and summarizing their key components. Focus areas include annotating effectively, skimming and scanning for important information, understanding vocabulary and terminology commonly found in case studies, and learning to efficiently and effectively read a large volume of legal texts.

(For conditionally admitted LLM/MSL students; availability determined by cohort needs and enrollment)
Prepares international students for successful graduate study. Course examines strategies for interacting with law professors and classmates both in and outside the classroom. Focus areas include practicing email etiquette, interpreting syllabi and class assignments, understanding plagiarism and academic dishonesty, and navigating textbooks and other Law School resources. 鶹Ժ also attend events at the CU Law School and tour a local Boulder courthouse.

The elective course complements the core Legal English Program and provides students with the opportunity to focus on a specific skill or content area such as Intercultural Communication, Pronunciation, or Public Speaking.

鶹Ժ have the option to take one elective course at an additional cost. Elective courses complement the core courses and provide students with the opportunity to focus on a specific skill.

• Each elective course meets 4 hours per week

• Elective courses are multi-level and may include students from other programs 

• Elective options may include the following courses:

  • Pronunciation
  • Pulic Speaking 
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Grammar

 

 MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
8:30-10:10Legal Writing
and Rhetoric		Understanding
Legal Texts		Legal Writing
and Rhetoric		Understanding
Legal Texts		Legal Writing
and Rhetoric
10:10-10:30Break
10:30-12:10Legal Oral
Communication Skills

Law School Preparation

or Elective
 

Legal Oral
Communication Skills

Law School Preparation

or Elective

Legal Oral
Communication Skills
12:15-13:00     

鶹Ժ who have been conditionally admitted to the CU Law School’s LLM Program may meet the English proficiency requirements by successfully completing the Legal English Program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and no grade lower than a B-.

  Legal English Conditional Admission Test Requirement  

Prospective students may take our online placement test to ensure a minimum English proficiency level.

New students take a placement test on the first day of the session. This test determines their level of English. The placement test includes:

  • Reading (a computer-based test)
  • Listening (a computer-based test)
  • Grammar (a computer-based test)
  • Narrative essay
  • Expository essay
  • All dates and prices are subject to change without notice.
  • All prices are in U.S. dollars.
  • Tuition is due on the first day of class unless otherwise noted.
    Dates & Prices 

Legal English Program students have 3 housing options:

  • On-Campus Residence Hall
  • Self-Housing

  More About Housing 

If you need the IEC to issue immigration documents, all your application materials must be received at least one month prior to the session start date for consideration.

No. The I-20 you will receive from the IEC will only show details for the Legal English Program. However, when applying for your visa, you should also show your acceptance letter from the CU Boulder Law School. You should explain that your admission to the CU Boulder Law School is dependent on completing the Legal English Program at CU Boulder's International English Center.

Yes. It is possible to study in the Legal English Program with a B-1 visa. However, you may only study part-time (up to 16 hours per week) on a B-1 visa.

Yes. The International English Center will help you find housing before you begin your Legal English Program studies. However, once you have finished the Legal English Program and have matriculated to CU Boulder’s main campus, you will need to contact the law school regarding housing options during your LLM program.

For more information about Colorado Law’s LLM degree, please visit 
Colorado Law's LLM  

 

"The Legal English program at Boulder was essential for my preparation for starting the LLM. I developed and improved my English skills and became familiar with legal vocabulary. I also had the opportunity to discuss relevant Supreme Court cases. This experience was valuable." -Tamiris Wollenweber (Brazil)

"It's a very useful and valuable program that can help you improve your Legal English skills in a supportive and safe environment. I highly recommend this program to international students because it provides a solid foundation for entering an LLM program." -Chunxia Jiang (China)

"I highly recommend this Legal English program to attorneys who want to improve their English skills. The course's structure is organized to provide a wide introduction to American law and give useful tools to international attorneys who want to pursue a legal career in the US. The teachers are committed and knowledgeable about the course." -Greta Mateu Sulca, Peruvian attorney and LLM candidate.

"My name is Chaewon Wang (Korea). If you are planning to earn an LLM, even you are not, the Legal English Program will be your fantastic and helpful experience. Every class is scheduled well and teachers are passionate. You can improve your English skills and get confidence. I really appreciate that I took this program."

"The Legal English Program significantly improved my legal vocabulary and comprehension, enabling me to engage more effectively in professional legal discussions. The structured curriculum and experienced instructors make it an invaluable resource for anyone looking to enhance their legal English skills. This course was really valuable before my LLM program. I strongly recommend this program to all students because the experience here was amazing and necessary for my United States career." -Andressa Gonzales de Souza (Brazil)