Since 2001, the English Language Center (ELC) has provided Legal-English support to students at the Vanderbilt Law School. The aim of these support programs is to help students achieve their academic goals and relieve some of the stress and anxiety that comes from performing in English in a highly competitive academic setting.
Questions about the ELC's English for legal purposes courses (Summer English for Legal Purposes, Academic Writing for Legal Purposes, and Academic Speaking for Legal Purposes) may be directed to ELC Associate Director Jim Cracraft.
Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP)
This intensive 80-hour program is designed to provide incoming LL.M. students with the language and academic skills needed to succeed in the demanding LL.M. program at the Vanderbilt Law School. The course includes:
- Intensive in-class instruction and additional hours for individual assistance as needed by participants
- The fundamentals of an LL.M. program: learn what to expect at Vanderbilt law school
- Oral and written communication development, including presentations, small-group and large-group discussion and responses
Program Objectives:
- Adapt more quickly to the US law school curriculum
- Increase ability to listen to short lectures and take effective notes
- Gain higher level of self confidence in interacting in the classroom
- Augment legal/academic vocabulary in writing and speaking
- Increase ability to brief cases
- Increase ability to summarize and paraphrase case elements
- Improve clarity, correctness, and conciseness in legal exercises
- Gain higher degree of grammatical accuracy
- Improve use of articles, prepositions, verb tenses in written and spoken language
- Understand how to read like a legal professional
- Become acquainted with U.S. culture and U.S. law school culture
Dates for Summer 2025
Monday, July 21-Friday, August 15
Enrollment
- Enrollment is restricted to Vanderbilt LL.M. students.
- Contact Cynthia Coleman, Director, LL.M. Admissions to enroll in the Summer English for Legal Purposes (SELP) program.
- Tuition: $2,000. Tuition will be billed to your Vanderbilt student account.
- Enrollment and withdrawal policy: After Summer English for Legal Purposes begins, if students withdraw by 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on Day 2 of the program, they will be issued a 90% refund. There will be no refund for withdrawing after 5:00 p.m. (CDT) on Day 2 of the program.
Academic Writing for Legal Purposes
Fall semester only
Academic Writing for Legal Purposes is offered exclusively to Vanderbilt Law School students enrolled in the Master of Laws program. The course focuses on the structures and conventions of academic writing in general and legal writing in particular. Course activities support LL.M. students’ work in their required Legal Research and Writing course and emphasize correct, concise, complete and clear written discourse.
Enrollment
All interested Vanderbilt LL.M. students should contact Cynthia Coleman, Associate Director of Law School Admissions and International Services to enroll.
There is no addition fee associated with this course.
Academic Speaking for Legal Purposes
Spring semester only
Academic Speaking for Legal Purposes is offered to Vanderbilt Master of Laws students who wish to improve their public speaking and pronunciation skills in English and broaden their U.S.-culture knowledge base as well. Students give both prepared and impromptu presentations, read and discuss topics in U.S. news, and work on the sounds and intonation of American English.
Enrollment
All interested Vanderbilt LL.M. students should contact Cynthia Coleman, Associate Director of Law School Admissions and International Services to enroll.
There is no addition fee associated with this course.