• Required: Legal English Studies (40 hours) 

The objective of this course is to introduce students to fundamentals of the American legal system. The following topics will be addressed in Module 1: Origins of the legal system, The Constitution and Constitutional Law, The Court Systems (including jurisdiction, appeals, and the jury system). The following topics will be addressed in Module 2: Criminal and Civil Law and Procedure, Torts, and Corporate/Business Law and Contracts. The course also familiarizes students with words and phrases that occur frequently in legal, academic, and professional contexts. 

Students will also take two of the following classes:  

• Professional Presentation Skills (20 hours) 

This course covers techniques used to create and give dynamic presentations for various professional purposes. Course topics include organization, structure, audience rapport, vocal techniques, and body language. 

• Professional Writing Skills (20 hours) 

The focus of this course is to provide instruction and practice that you will need to produce clear and correct professional documents. You will draft memos, emails, reports, and everyday correspondence. You will work on elements of grammar and style such as sentence variety, word choice, and conciseness.  

• Professional Discussions (20 hours) 

This course will cover different topics and situations that arise in a professional setting. Course topics include managing and communicating within a meeting, understanding group dynamics, handling conflicts, and project planning. 

• Pronunciation and Fluency Seminar (20 hours) 

This course is designed to help students speak English more clearly and fluently. It includes instruction and practice on sounds, sound combinations, intonation, and other important areas of pronunciation. The course will focus on tips and tools needed to refine your pronunciation in a professional setting. 
 

Curriculum 

Program Topics include: 

• Origins of U.S. Legal System 
• U.S. Constitution and Constitutional Law 
• The Court Systems 
• Criminal Law 
• Civil Law 

Legal English is taught in two modules and students may take the program two times. 

Legal English also includes: 

• A visit to a courthouse to observe a public proceeding  
• An expert guest speaker on a selected area (or areas) of Law 

In the 15-hour* per week part-time Legal English schedule, not all listed topics will be covered, and some projects will be omitted. 

Duration: 4 weeks

Levels: 6-8 

Delivery method: In-person

Visa: F-1 student visa (20 hours per week) or Tourist/ESTA (15* hours per week) 

Program Schedule:

• Monday - Friday
• 15* or 20 hours per week

Sample Schedule:

*The 15-hour-per-week program does not qualify for the Form I-20.

Age: 18+  

Language Proficiency: Pre-Advanced or Advanced (levels 6-8)

Placement Test: For the best learning experience, every student must take an online placement test to determine their English level before starting the Legal English program. This test helps us understand your current English level, ensuring you start the program at just the right spot for your study abroad journey. Additionally, all enrolled students are required to complete an online pre-arrival orientation before the beginning of the program. This orientation, which includes the online placement test, is a crucial step in preparing for the Legal English program.

Previous Legal experience (work or study) preferred. 

2024 Dates

• January 8 - February 2 
• February 5 - March 1 
• July 1 - 26 
• August 5 - 30 
• October 14 - November 8 - CLOSED
• November 12 - December 6 - CLOSED

2024 Prices

• Application Fee: $175 (nonrefundable) 
• Part-time Tuition: $2,050 (15 hours per week / 60 hours total)*, OR 
• Full-time Tuition: $2,300 (20 hours per week / 80 hours total) 
• International Student Service Fee:  $200 
• UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance: $220 
• Books/Materials: Approximately $200 (Payment CANNOT be made in advance. Books and materials must be purchased upon arrival at UC San Diego.) 

2025 Dates 

• January 6 - 31
• February 3 - 28
• July 7 - August 1 
• August  4 - 29 

2025 Prices 

• Application Fee: $225 (nonrefundable) 
• Part-time Tuition: $2,490 (15 hours per week / 60 hours total), OR 
• Full-timeTuition: $2,790 (20 hours per week / 100 hours total) 
• International Student Service Fee: $250 
• UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance: $240 
• Books/Materials: Approximately $150-175 (Payment CANNOT be made in advance. Books and materials must be purchased upon arrival at UC San Diego.) 

   

  For all 2025 program dates and prices, visit the Dates and Prices page or download the 2025 Dates & Prices document. This document also lists the financial verification required for your program application if you need the Form I-20 for a student visa.

  
  *The 15-hour-per-week program does not qualify for the Form I-20.

Rachel Nero 
Brazil 

The Legal English program was extremely important for my career. It prepared me to apply for law school and pursue a master’s degree in Comparative Law. It really helped me improve my English skills and provided me with a necessary overview of the most important topics of American Law. After studying Legal English, I went to the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law and completed an LLM in Comparative Law. I then worked as a legal auditor in San Diego before returning to Brazil to practice law. I now have my own successful law practice in Rio de Janeiro. 

Advisory About Language Proficiency Level
   
If our online pre-arrival placement tests indicate that your English proficiency level does not permit placement in the original 4-week program class, we will place you in 4 weeks of study in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program or provide a combination of classes and individual tutoring to ensure a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. Alternatively, we may decide to place all 4-week program students in level-appropriate classes in a corresponding 4-week or 8-week program in order to provide a program of 15 or 20 hours per week for 4 weeks. When this happens, the students’ 4-week program will have the features described for the new 4- or 8-week program, not the features described for the original program. The tuition and fees for the students’ 4-week program enrollment will remain the same. 

Advisory About Variable Enrollments

Enrollment numbers in our 4-week English language programs vary from month-to-month. Therefore, if we have low enrollments in the original 4-week program, we will notify you within 30-days of your program start date, so that you may cancel your enrollment or enroll into another 4-week program.