English II
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya · LL.B. Semester 2 · LAIBTA5N
Unit I — Foundations of Professional Communication
Introduction to communication—definition, nature, types, scope and process of communication—importance of communication skills for legal professionals— verbal communication (oral and written)—non-verbal communication including body language, appearance, kinesics, proxemics, chronemics, sign language and paralanguage—features of legal language: brevity, clarity, simplicity, accuracy and appropriateness—barriers to communication and methods to overcome them.
Unit II — Reading and Professional Writing Skills
Importance and methods of effective reading—developing reading habits— reading comprehension and interpretation of media and legal texts including statutes, judgments, legal instruments and reports—essay writing on contemporary legal issues—paragraph writing, precis, picture interpretation, short notes, newspaper reports, critical reviews, CV and cover letter drafting— case comments on landmark cases—editing skills including punctuation, tense and usages.
Unit III — Listening, Speaking and Courtroom Communication
Importance and challenges of listening—listening techniques, note-taking, summarizing and comprehension—introduction to English phonetics, IPA and pronunciation—paralanguage including pitch, intonation, stress and pace— rhetoric, style, proposition, defence, satire, agreement, disagreement and rejoinder—courtroom etiquettes, protocols of addressing judges, and vertical and horizontal communication in courts.
Unit IV — Public Speaking and Advocacy Skills
Principles and practice of public speaking—overcoming fear and anxiety— analysis of speeches of renowned public speakers—audience analysis and topic research—delivery techniques including articulation, voice modulation, pronunciation and body language—extempore speaking—use of rhetoric, style and figures of speech—arguments and debates.
Unit V — Legal Vocabulary and Literary Works of Jurists
Legal terms, phrases and maxims with meanings and usages—study of literary and intellectual works of eminent jurists including Justice M. Hidayatullah ( A Judge’s Miscellany ), Nani Palkhiwala ( We, The People ), and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. ( The Mind and Faith of Justice Holmes )—analysis of legal thought, ethics and advocacy reflected in these writings. Note: (Practical Exercises - Free Speech, Elocution, JAM, Group Discussions, Panel Discussion, Declamation, Debate, Ex Tempore, Turncoat /Double Debate, Seminar, Workshop, Colloquium, Symposium, Advertising, PPT Presentation, watching legal movies, plays and discussion thereafter )