- Legal English exam for law students and lawyers
- Level - upper intermediate to advanced English
- Trainers qualified and experienced in teaching English for Law
- Course length 6 weeks
- Maximum 12 per class
- 25 hours (60 minutes) plus 10 hours of teacher-assisted private
study per week - Courses run outside summer period
The International Legal English Certificate (ILEC) is an important
exam specifically for law students and lawyers who need to show
proficiency in legal English. The exam is administered by Cambridge
ESOL, the board responsible for the famous Cambridge First Certificate
(FCE).
At CAE we are particularly well-equipped to prepare students for the
ILEC, having already successfully taught English for Law Students courses for many years.
The course at Cambridge Academy has two main goals:
- Development of general English skills and practice in examination
techniques required to pass ILEC (15 hours per week). - Preparation of the student in the specific language of legal English
in three areas: (i) contract law, (ii) civil (including commercial)
law, and (iii) legal systems. It will include such topics as: the
different types of lawyer, lawyering skills, competition law,
employment, European Law, intellectual property, administrative law
(10 hrs per week).
ILEC is designed to be a challenging test of English for Law. Success
in the examination will require a high degree of competence in both
general and legal English. Preparation is therefore intensive: each
of our courses consists of 25 hours (with a further 10 hours of
private, teacher-assisted study) per week over a period of 6 weeks.
We also require students to have at least good Upper Intermediate
English skills at entry.
ILEC Frequently Asked Questions
1. What level of English do I need?
The ILEC exam is directed at students with advanced levels of English (Common European Framework: C1).
2. Do I need to be a practising lawyer?
No, but you should have at least 2 years’ experience of studying law at university level.
3. Will I be studying legal English the whole day?
Your days will be divided into 3 hours of General English in the mornings and 2 hours of ILEC preparation every afternoon.
4. Who will I be studying with in the mornings?
The other students in your General English morning class may or may not be ILEC candidates but they will be of a similar English level to you.
5. Why can't I study legal English all day?
The ILEC exam requires a high level of English. By studying General English with people of a similar level in the mornings, you will be developing all of your English skills so that you are better prepared for the exam.
6. Is ILEC an internationally-recognised qualification?
ILEC is run by Cambridge University’s ESOL section which is responsible for First Certificate, the Cambridge Advanced Exam and Cambridge Proficiency. As such, it is internationally recognised and respected.
7. Does the fee include the cost of the exam?
No. The fee covers all tuition and course materials but the exam is extra (approximately £150)
8. When does the ILEC exam take place?
The exam is offered up to 12 times per year in the UK. However, our ILEC preparation courses lead to the exams in March, May and November.
