Spanish for Lawyers
AILA has partnered with American University Washington College of Law to provide a discount on the Spanish for Lawyers Online Course and the Advanced Spanish for Lawyers Online Course to AILA members, law student members, and international associates.
Advanced Spanish for Lawyers Online Course
Registration is currently open for the fall 2024 semester! This course takes practitioners who work with Spanish-speaking clients a step further after they successfully complete the Spanish for Lawyers Online Course. The advanced course provides a 10-week training on immigration law terminology specifically and is taught by a dynamic and engaging practitioner in the field. Every week features a live virtual class plus written exercises and oral discussions. The sessions will run from October 7 to December 13, 2024, and require a weekly commitment of 5 to 10 hours of coursework (synchronous and asynchronous) for 10 weeks. View the course announcement and registration info for the course.
Spanish for Lawyers Online Course
The enrollment period is closed for the fall 2024 semester of this course. This online course is designed to improve legal Spanish speaking and writing skills for immigration and criminal law practitioners. Stay tuned for upcoming semesters.
General Overview
Spanish for Lawyers at American University Washington College of Law introduces lawyers, legal professionals, and law students with a high-intermediate to advanced level of Spanish speaking skills to legal Spanish concepts and cross-cultural communication in the context of U.S. Criminal Law and U.S. Immigration Law. Through lectures, written assignments, and oral exercises, participants will practice a wide array of legal Spanish skills ranging from legal reading and writing strategies to oral presentation of substantive legal issues. The courses will be taught in Spanish.
Listening and Speaking Skills
With the aim of preparing participants for real world situations such as client meetings and conference calls, Spanish for Lawyers incorporates exercises that focus on listening and speaking skills. Participants will give presentations and will engage in discussions and attorney-client meeting simulations.
Requirements
Participants must be practicing lawyers, legal professionals, or law students with a high-intermediate to advanced level of Spanish proficiency. Participants are expected to actively participate in class exercises and complete homework assignments.
Placement Test
If you are not sure that you have a high-intermediate to advanced level of Spanish proficiency, please feel free to take this placement test. Please download the test or print it out and send the filled-out test to the course coordinator, Bjorn Arp, at arp@wcl.american.edu. The program administrators will review your answers and inform you of your score. If you score 70% and above, you can feel comfortable taking the course!
Instructors
The instructors of Spanish for Lawyers are Spanish and Latin American lawyers and teachers who have experience with international students.
Questions
If you have any questions about the program, please contact the Coordinator, Bjorn Arp, at (202) 274-4346 or LegalSpanish@wcl.american.edu.