Diploma in English Communication for Lawyers - oratory, writing, listening and accuracy

English is the weak link in many lawyers' careers. You can’t make it to a good law firm unless you have strong English communication, both in speaking and writing. You are likely to be judged by clients, peers, employers and judges harshly if you do not have good English communication. In High Courts or Supreme Court it is impossible to do well unless you are really good with your English communication.

Substantive skills often come after your language skill, and not having good English communication is almost surely going to block your way from having a great legal career. 

On the other hand, good English communication skills will open doors for you that are otherwise not available. 

I am sure we need not convince those of you who are struggling with English proficiency as to why you must learn it. 

We bring to you the most advanced course for lawyers to learn English - speaking, writing and communicating effectively and accurately, at a professional level. 

Introductory Price: 5000 per month, if you buy an annual subscription, you only pay INR 50,000. Inclusive of taxes. Please note that we expect to increase the price to around 1 lakh per year in the future, as we can serve only a small class size given the way the course is designed. 

Hard copy material will be provided to those who enroll for an annual subscription free of cost. Those who buy only a monthly subscription to the classes, must pay separately for the hard copy study material, a price of INR 1500.

LawSikho 30-45 days refund policy applies to this course. 

Please note that while we are using legal material to teach this course as legal context is useful for you, we are teaching no law here. And please do not expect the teachers to teach you any law in this course.

Who should take this course

• Lawyers who want to move from practising law in various vernacular languages in local courts to practicing in High Court or Supreme Court where English is mandatory.
• Law students who are struggling to get jobs or internships due to language being a  barrier.
• Lawyers who want to work on their business communication, oratory, and writing skills 
• Lawyers who are unable to bag top corporate clients due to lack of polished communication skills despite having good legal skills. 
• Lawyers or law students who studied in the vernacular medium and are not able to access opportunities due to language being a barrier.
• Lawyers who want to work in the judiciary or other government jobs.
• Lawyers who want to get a stable and well-paid job at an LPO.
• Lawyers who feel under confident about their performance due to imperfect grammar and syntax and get harshly judged at the workplace for language errors.
• Writing IELTS or TOEFL? We are teaching you way more than what you need to score well in those exams. 
• Highly recommended if you are looking to migrate to English speaking countries as a lawyer or going to such countries for higher studies. 

What benefits can they expect from the course

• Rapidly discover your weakest areas and frequently made mistakes and fix them for once and all.
• Write and speak flawless English within months. 
• A smooth shift from drafting and arguing in vernacular languages to perfect English
• Learn oratory skills so that you can do better in court, give speeches in events and gatherings, develop your own social media presence through video communication, get more clients with higher-paying capacity.
• You will be able to effectively communicate with foreign and English speaking clients.
• You will drastically improve your communication as you will be more coherent, confident and clear, leading to greater success in your career.
• You will develop strong listening skills and conversational skills that would make you a better lawyer in court, client calls, meetings, and in negotiation situations too.
• Better communication skills will make you a better colleague at the workplace, a more effective leader to your juniors, and a more interesting person in your social circles.
• You will be able to draft in perfect English, in a concise and precise language that will bring you admiration from your peers, judges, and clients
• Weekly vocabulary exercises, phrasal verbs, grammar and syntax training
• Legal vocabulary and latin terms list

What are the skills they can expect to learn

• Develop a powerful vocabulary that helps you express nuances and finer points of your arguments and ideas precisely.
• How to use the appropriate language for various specific legal scenarios.
• Effective communication in client counseling.
• Writing notices and replies.
• Drafting documents in perfect English.
• Command over important technical terms and jargons.
• Communication in mediation.
• Use of language and communication skills in negotiations.
• Article writing. 
• Communication for business development.
• Crafting powerful courtroom arguments.
• Enhancing the delivery of arguments and responding to questions.
• Communication skills for impactful business meetings with corporate clients.
• How to prepare for meetings and personal interviews.
• How to give expert opinion or quotes to journalists.
• Preparation and delivery for job interviews.
• Effective communication for training juniors.
• Effective communication with colleagues and reporting managers.
• Effective communication with CEO, Director level business leaders.
• How to be effective on Youtube videos.
• How to be effective in guest lectures or training sessions.
• Effective communication for public relations and reputation management.
• How to prepare and strategize for your cross-examinations from a communication perspective. 
• How to craft arguments that land on judges, clients, your boss and the other side (during negotiations) quickly,
•  How to draft effective memos and opinions.
• How to draft public statements for your clients or organization.

Specific weekly learning objectives

Grammar, Syntax and Reading comprehension

All the following segments will be taught through legal material, incorporating legal texts, articles, judgements, in order to enhance the understanding. There will be worksheets provided pertaining to the respective topic that is taught in each class. Reading and understanding a text is equally important. There will be comprehensions based on the respective topic taught each week. The comprehension text is also built on legal texts. We have adapted a holistic approach, in order to understand each parameter of learning a language efficiently. 

Week 1 - Introduction to basic grammar concepts in order to understand simple structures.
Week 2 - Introduction to subject pronouns, to build a stronger base for further understanding of conjugations.
Week 3 - Understanding Verbs - static, auxiliary, action.
Week 4 - Profound and coherent understanding of verbs.

Week 5 -  Understanding complexities of verbs.
Week 6 - Stative Verbs and their functions in sentence structures.
Week 7 - Incorporating Infinitives and constructing sentences. 
Week 8 - Recognition of Infinitives and its assimilation towards various direct purposes in sentences. 

Week 9 - Introduction to tenses.
Week 10 - Understanding the Present tenses and its myriad uses. 
Week 11 - Future forms and assimilation. 
Week 12 - Introduction to Relative Clauses and incorporating the same in complex clauses and sentences. 

Week 13 - Using the past tense to express present and future. They why and the how. 
Week 14 - Future continuous and its uses. 
Week 15 - Introduction to Conjunctions, its types, and clauses. 
Week 16 - Linking words to express disagreement and contrast. 

Week 17 - Phrasal verbs and its uses. Assimilation of the same in free speech.
Week 18 - Introduction to Cleft sentences and its uses in adding emphasis to various parts in a sentence. 
Week 19 - Native speaker mistakes - recognition, understanding, rectifying. 
Week 20 - Complex native speaker mistakes - Irregularities and conditions of the same. 

Week 21 - Using Future tense as a tool to speak of the past - plans, predictions, and plans. 
Week 22 - Understanding articles and its importance in sentence construction. Kinds of articles and comprehending whether a sentence needs one or not. 
Week 23 - Understanding obligations and the correct way to express the same. 
Week 24 - Correct usage of for and since in present perfect tense. 

Week 25 - The differentiation between Future tense and Near Future tense.
Week 26 -  Understanding the difference between might, may, and could for expression various possibilities. 
Week 27 - Grasping and correct usage of structures like - too much, too many, enough, not enough, and very. 
Week 28 - Using comparatives and superlatives in free speech across all parameters. 

Week 29 - Advanced learner mistakes and avoiding the same. 
Week 30 - Essential Discourse Markers and their usage. 
Week 31 - Subject-Verb agreement and sentence construction. 
Week 32 - Subject-Verb agreement and it’s implied usage. 

Week 33 - Subject-Verb agreement advanced understanding of usage and incorporating the same in language. 
Week 34 - Understanding the word ‘wish,’ the difference and correct usage. 
Week 35 - Incorporating soft skills with spoken English. 
Week 36 - Advanced Discourse Markers and usage of the same in free speech. 

Week 37 - Question tags, its placement and the right manner of usage in order to extract the correct information. 
Week 38 - Understanding Participles and using the same as a subordinate clause so as to express effectively in less words. 
Week 39 - Introduction to First Conditional, and sentence construction. 
Week 40 - Incorporating Second Conditional, and building complex sentences. 

Week 41 - Understanding Third Conditional, and it’s effective usage in all parameters for widening the language base. 
Week 42 - The intricate and essential difference between ‘if,’ and ‘whether.’
Week 43 - The finer nuances between ‘let,’ and ‘allow.’
Week 44 - Understanding adjectives and adverbs, and then moving onto Comparative adjectives and adverbs. 

Week 45 - Linking devices of contrast to aid better sentence formation.
Week 46 - Understanding Intensifiers and its usage. 
Week 47 - Understanding complex Punctuation and its usage. 
Week 48 - Different forms of writing texts in order to produce effective arguments. 

Speaking and Oratory

Week 1 - Greeting a police officer on a phone call

Week 2 - Talking to a client to gather information 

Week 3 - Asking client for the right documents you need urgently to submit with bail application

Week 4 - Identifying the questions that a judge may ask during 156(3) hearing and preparing answers for them

Week 5 - Seeking information from various departments regarding name, designation, contact details, etc. so as to draft an application to the respective person. 

Week 6 - Understanding the grounds for the rejection of the RTI, and discussing the way forward with colleagues and seniors.   

Week 7 - Discussing with journalists about how the government is withholding important and essential information; requesting them media coverage for the same. 

Week 8 - Briefing a lawyer to argue on your behalf. 

Week 9 - Convincing the perpetrator over a phone call to take a post down. 

Week 10 - Explaining to the media the reason before filing a defamation suit. 

Week 11 - Giving instructions and guidelines to a junior lawyer on how to draft a counter-affidavit. 

Week 12 - Discussing a strategy with your seniors about drafting written statements. 

Week 13 - Negotiate Non-disclosure Agreement

Week 14 - Negotiate Co-founders Agreement

Week 15 - Asking your senior for further instructions in order to draft a notice for breach of contract. 

Week 16 - Pointing out to a counterparty that they are not acting in good faith.

Week 17 - Talk to a customer representative regarding deficiency of service. 

Week 18 - Give feedback to your colleague regarding the first draft of a consumer complaint. 

Week 19 - Preparing a speech to present your case before a judge. 

Week 20 - Consulting a senior lawyer regarding the appeal. 

Week 21 - Make a video for YouTube describing your best day as a lawyer. 

Week 22 - Call up a lawyer inviting him/her to co-author a blog post. 

Week 23 - Make a video review of your favourite movie and tweet the same, tagging the director. 

Week 24 - Invite a potential employer or a lawyer that you respect to do webinar with LawSikho 
Call a mentor you respect very much to do a webinar with LawSikho, and if he agrees, call up the webinar coordinator from LawSikho

Week 25 - Record a video review of top 10 legal podcasts in the world as per you

Week 26 - Brainstorm with a group of lawyers regarding how a certain podcast episode can be improved

Week 27 - Write the script for an episode of your own podcast

Week 28 - Strategize with a friend how you will entice a top lawyer to come to your podcast for a candid interview

Week 29 - Explain to the group who is your favourite mooter on Youtube and why

Week 30 - Explain 2 things you liked about a moot speech and 2 things you didn’t like

Week 31 - Argue with logic -  why should India be allowed to join the UN security council?

Week 32 - Argue an issue from a moot court problem for 5 minutes

Week 33 - Review a notice invoking arbitration and prepare a strategy to counter - together with a colleague 

Week 34 - Frame questions to ask an expert witness who you are going to bring before an arbitral tribunal

Week 35 - Frame questions to cross examine an expert witness introduced by the your opposite party - in a respectful and polite way

Week 36 - Framing the issues during a negotiation - practice with your batchmates

Week 37 - Discuss your BATNA with a colleague

Week 38 - Discuss the negotiation strategy with your client and take his/her consent. 

Week 39 - Make a concession during a negotiation deal and make a big deal out of it. 

Week 40 - Console a client who is extremely scared regarding going to jail. 

Week 41 - A client is hiding information while discussing the matter with you. Ask the necessary questions in order to find out the details.

Week 42 - Persuade your client to pay the bills quickly. 

Week 43 - During a mediation, reconcile two opposing parties, who are unable to come to a common platform due to emotional issues. 

Week 44 - Review a resume and help your friend to find a suitable job. 

Week 45 - Informational interview 

Week 46 - Mock interview

Week 47 - Seek feedback from the interviewer about your performance and what you can improve

Week 48 - write a speech about your journey of learning to speak English

Writing

Week 1 - Identifying Parts of Speech in various texts and producing texts highlighting the same. 
Week 2 - Understanding subject pronouns and it’s usage in written text. Creation of texts around the same.
Week 3 - Creation of text based on verbs and its types. 
Week 4 - Understanding various nuances of verbs, identifying and creation of texts. 

Week 5 - Recognising gerunds and Infinitives in various texts and producing texts pertaining to the same. 
Week 6 - Stative Verbs and its usage, practising the same by creating text. 
Week 7 - Constructing sentences using Infinitives. 
Week 8 - Creating sentence structures targeting infinities of purpose. 

Week 9 - Introduction to Tenses, identifying the same in various texts generating texts for better assimilation. 
Week 10 - Uses of present tense, in various ways, and creating content on similar lines. 
Week 11 - Creation of text pertaining to future forms of verbs. 
Week 12 - Using Relative clauses for better sentence structures.

Week 13 - Creating text that highlights the use of past tense to talk about present and future. 
Week 14 - Usage of future continuous tense, identification and creation. 
Week 15 - Using various types of Conjunctions in clauses — recognition and building complex sentences. 
Week 16 - Understanding contrasting linking words and creating texts in order to assimilate and apply the same in free speech. 

Week 17 - Identifying and using phrasal verbs in written text to enhance sentence formation. 
Week 18 - Using cleft sentences for augmented use of language. 
Week 19 - Creation of text by highlighting, identifying, and avoiding native speaker mistakes. 
Week 20 - Creation of text by highlighting, identifying, and avoiding advance native speaker mistakes. 

Week 21 - Using Future tense for talking about the past and creation of text on similar lines. 
Week 22 - Using and avoiding articles as per the need of the sentence. Generating text to assimilate the same. 
Week 23 - Understanding sentences that demonstrate obligation and producing text. 
Week 24 - Creating content by using for and since correctly. 

Week 25 - Producing content which underlines the difference between Future tense and Near-Future tense. 
Week 26 - Using might, may, and could for expressing possibilities by generating written content on similar lines. 
Week 27 - Using too much, too many, enough, etc. correctly and creating text in order to understand the finer nuances of the language. 
Week 27 - Using Comparatives and Superlatives in free written text. 

Week 28 - Identification and rectification of advance learning mistakes. Creation of text in order to understand and avoid the same. 
Week 29 - Using Discourse markers in complex sentences. 
Week 30 - Understanding Subject-Verb agreement, practising the same by creating text. 
Week 31 - Understanding finer nuances of Subject-Verb agreement, using the same effectively by producing articles. 

Week 32 - Using Subject-Verb agreement in complex sentences and generating blogs, texts, articles featuring the same. 
Week 33 - Understanding the word ‘wish,’ and its various facades by creating content of each type. 
Week 34 - Applying methods to tone down written speech for effective communication by practising the same. 
Week 35 - Understanding advance discourse markers and using the same to create blogs, articles, etc. 

Week 36 - Using question tags to obtain the required information in written context. 
Week 37 - Understanding Participle clauses and effective implementation of the same in letters, essays, articles, etc. 
Week 38 - Introducing First Conditional and practising the same by creating content. 
Week 39 - Usage of Second Conditional in sentences and creation of text on similar lines. 

Week 40 - Implying Third Conditional and using the same in creation of complex structures. 
Week 41 - Understanding finer nuances between ‘if,’ and ‘whether.’ Creation of articles, blogs underlining the difference. 
Week 42 - Using ‘let,’ and ‘allow,’ in written text and thereby assimilating the difference coherently. 
Week 43 - Understanding adjectives and adverbs, moving onto comparative adjectives and adverbs and using the same effectively by writing articles, letters, blogs. 

Week 44 - Using contrasting linking devices to highlight differentiation by producing text to exemplify the same. 
Week 45 - Using Intensifiers to enhance the quality of written text. 
Week 46 - Using simple and complex punctuation in order to make the text coherent and increase its effectiveness. 
Week 47 - Understanding different forms of writing - argumentative, factual, etc. in order to produce the right text basis on the need of the respective need. 

What is the course methodology

• Audiolingual method - Using this method, a learner will be able to listen and speak much before reading or writing. It ensures that the session isn’t only focussed on textual understanding, but also comprehending the set data. 
• Oral and situational language teaching - This is based on a structural view of language. Speech, structures and focus on a set of basic vocabulary items are seen as the basis of language teaching. An analysis of English and a classification of its prominent grammatical structures into sentence patterns. It ensures that learners internalise the grammar rules. 
• Grammar translation - transition from controlled structures to freer practice of structures, and from oral use of sentence patterns to automatic use in speech, reading, and writing. 
• Task based language teaching
• Extremely interactive 
• Immersive method
• Language and content amalgamated and taught through various CLIL methodologies (Content and Language Integrated Learning) : 
• BILD - Bilingual integration of languages and discipline.
• LAC - Language across curriculum.
• EMI - English as a medium of instruction.
• FLIP - Foreign language immersion programme.
• Focus on assimilation and application.
• Task based explanation of concepts in order to ensure the thresholds are being met. 
• Weekly charts will be given and effective implementation of the same will be done.
• Weekly questionnaires will be shared, to check the understanding of the pupil. 
• A stipulated time will be allotted at the end of each class to ensure that the doubts/questions are being cleared in each session. 

What is unique about the course

• 3 classes per week
• Every week, you will work on one writing assignment, one editing exercise and one public speaking exercise based on a weekly learning objective
• We will work on a new theme every month, and cover a different legal situation or settings. For instance, if the theme in January would be cross-examination, in February it could be job interviews, in March it could be communicating with journalists and in April you may work on different kinds of notices.
• The goal of this course is not to teach you any legal work, but the English language and communication skills you need to succeed as a lawyer and these various legal tasks and situations only provide a context to this language and communications tutorials. 

Documents that would be used for language training

• Police complaint
• RTI related appeals, applications and communications
• Departmental notes
• Chargesheet
• Notices for breach
• Reply to legal notice
• Contract to negotiate
• Sample complaints
• Sample bail application
• Sample applications for temporary injunctions
• A contract with lots of track change versions from two sides
• Settlement Agreements
• Sample CV for mock job interview
• Sample articles 
• Interrogatory Applications
• Statement of Claims
• List of Dates from an arbitration 
• Defamation Suit
• Written Statement
• Writ petition
• Non-disclosure Agreement
• Co-founder Agreement
• Notice for breach of agreement
• Consumer complaints
• Moot memos
• Arbitration Notice
• Conciliation Order
• Statement of positions for negotiation

Monthly themes for activities and exercises along with weekly breakdown

June 2020
Police Investigation

Week 1
Drafting police complaints

Week 2
Bail applications

Week 3
Chargesheet

Week 4
Application before magistrate to direct police to register FIR

July 2020
Right to information

Week 1
RTI Application

Week 2
Order rejecting RTI Application 

Week 3
RTI Appeal before Appellate Officer

Week 4
Application before State Information Commission or Central information Commission. 

August 2020
Defamation

Week 1
Social media posts that constitutes defamation 

Week 2
Defamation Suits

Week 3
Affidavit and counter-affidavit

Week 4
Written statements

September 2020
Contracts

Week 1
Non-disclosure Agreement

Week 2
Co-founders Agreement

Week 3
Breach of contract

Week 4
Acting in good faith and mitigation

October 2020
Consumer Complaints

Week 1
Notice for deficiency of service 

Week 2
Draft of a consumer complaint

Week 3
Arguing your own matter before a judge

Week 4
Appeal against adverse order

November 2020
Social media

Week 1
Connecting with potential clients on social media

Week 2
Blogging

Week 3
Connecting with celebrities on Twitter

Week 4
Connecting with potential collaborators or employers on LinkedIn

December 2020
Podcasts

Week 1
Top legal podcasts in the world

Week 2
How can you improve an episode of a podcast you already like

Week 3
Create your own podcasts

Week 4
Invite guests and interview on your podcast

January 2021
Moot courts 

Week 1
Videos of various moot courts

Week 2
What makes these speakers better than the others

Week 3
10 best moot arguments ever

Week 4
Create an original moot problem

February 2021
Arbitration 

Week 1
Notice invoking arbitration

Week 2
Statement of claim 

Week 3
Expert witness

Week 4
Cross examination

March 2021
Negotiations 

Week 1
Information gathering and listening in the context of Negotiations

Week 2
Summarising positions, outlining areas of differentiations

Week 3
Creating negotiation strategies

Week 4
Making concessions

April 2021
Mediation

Week 1
Listening with empathy

Week 2
Understanding context and reading between the lines

Week 3
Persuasion

Week 4
Reconciliation 

May 2021
Job interview and application

Week 1
Resume 

Week 2
Job Application

Week 3
Interview preparation

Week 4
Interview