Teaching Legal English with Natasha Costello

What this episode covers

Natasha Costello, co-author of Practical English Language Skills for Lawyers and a legal English educator, discusses career pathways to teaching legal English. In this episode, Natasha shares insights into learners' needs, lesson content, and resources for anyone interested in exploring teaching legal English as a career.KEY TALKING POINTSGetting into teachingNatasha recounts her transition from a solicitor to a senior lecturer, where she taught law and legal skills. Relocating to France, she discovered a niche in teaching English communication skills to French lawyers, leading to her legal English education career.Relevance of English for French lawyersNatasha explains the growing necessity for lawyers to use English, mainly when dealing with international clients where English serves as a lingua franca. This necessity is driven by global business interactions and international legal practices.Paths into teachingNatasha identifies two main groups of legal English learners: legal professionals and university law students. She explains that educators can come from various backgrounds, including law, business English teaching, linguistics, or even translation.What Legal English involvesFor legal professionals, lessons may focus on preparing for client meetings, writing emails, contract drafting, and other specific legal tasks. University students may focus more on vocabulary and grammar, but practical scenarios and elements of legal systems, history, and politics are also integrated. Lesson exampleNatasha describes a lesson focused on contract law. She teaches the vocabulary of contracts and the grammar needed for giving legal advice, using real-life scenarios to help students practice this language.ABOUTNatasha Costello is a legal English educator based in Paris. She has over 20 years of experience teaching law students and legal professionals. Natasha is passionate about bringing the real world of legal practice into the classroom. She recently co-wrote, with Louise Kulbicki, the book ‘Practical English Language Skills for Lawyers: Improving Your Legal English’, which helps students practise language and workplace skills simultaneously. Natasha regularly presents at conferences about teaching legal English and is on the Board of EULETA, the European Legal English Teachers’ Association. REFERENCES & RESOURCESEuropean Legal English Teachers Association (EULETA) Costello, N. and Kulbicki, L. (2023) Practical English Language Skills for Lawyers Improving Your Legal English. RoutledgeHaigh, R. (2021) International Legal English. A Practical Introduction for Students and Professionals. RoutledgeStudy Legal English Podcast with Louis KulbickiTest of Legal English Skills (TOLES)TRANSCRIPTWatch with closed captions.SUPPORTSay thanks by buying us a coffee here.JOIN OUR EVENTSUpcoming lives and workshopsLEARN HOW TO PODCAST AND MORE HERE.CREDITSProducer Laura WilkesEditor Haven TsangThanks to our inspiring guest, Natasha Costello. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This episode is 13 minutes long.

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This episode was published on May 21, 2024.

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Natasha Costello, co-author of Practical English Language Skills for Lawyers and a legal English educator, discusses career pathways to teaching legal English. In this episode, Natasha shares insights into learners' needs, lesson content, and...

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