Legal Minds Think Alike: Legal English Syllabus Design and the Perceived Language Needs of Present and Former Students of Law

The article discusses the results of and the rationale behind a needs analysis survey carried out among students and recent graduates with the aim of modifying and innovating an existing course syllabus. It documents the preparation of the changes in the Legal English syllabus at the Faculty of Law as part of Impact project implemented at the MU Language Centre. The findings from the questionnaire surveys are contrasted with the language requirements that major law firms place on their recruits. The paper proposes some ways of including changes in the new syllabus of legal English for undergraduates. The preparation of the new syllabus aims to make the course as relevant as possible to the CEFRL and the future language needs of law students.Článek se zabývá analýzou potřeb a jejím vlivem na tvorbu sylabů právnické angličtiny. Srovnány jsou odlišně vnímané potřeby u frekventantů kurzů a u jejich budoucích zaměstnavatelů.The article discusses the results of and the rationale behind a needs analysis survey carried out among students and recent graduates with the aim of modifying and innovating an existing course syllabus. It documents the preparation of the changes in the Legal English syllabus at the Faculty of Law as part of Impact project implemented at the MU Language Centre. The findings from the questionnaire surveys are contrasted with the language requirements that major law firms place on their recruits. The paper proposes some ways of including changes in the new syllabus of legal English for undergraduates. The preparation of the new syllabus aims to make the course as relevant as possible to the CEFRL and the future language needs of law students