Academy of Legal English
TOLES Legal logo TOLES certified centre

Academy
of Legal English

Professional English language training for legal professionals and the wider professional community.

The Academy of Legal English is a professional education centre providing language training in Legal English and selected professional fields.

We provide professional language training for lawyers, trainee lawyers, notaries, enforcement officers, judges, in-house counsel, public administration and local government professionals, managers, economists, HR professionals, real estate professionals, and other professionals who use English in their work.

We have been teaching Legal English and professional English since 2014. The Academy of Legal English was established in 2024 as an independent professional education centre.

We are also an official TOLES (Test of Legal English Skills) preparation and examination centre.

Our goal is not for you to speak perfect English. Our goal is for you to be able to perform your professional role confidently in English.

Latest News

  • This autumn, we are launching a new LL.M. programme in Legal English & Professional Legal Communication. Please contact us for more information.
  • Enrolment for our public TOLES preparation courses for the 2026/2027 academic year is now open. More information is available below.
  • We also offer individual preparation for job interviews. Please contact us for more information.
Legal literature – Contract Law, Legal English, Civil Procedure

1. Individual Legal English Training

Each lesson is tailored to the client's individual needs and professional practice.

We do not teach phrases to be memorised. We teach our clients how to communicate about the work they actually do.

During the lessons, we focus on professional terminology, legal documents, contracts, business communication, negotiations, and other situations that clients encounter in their professional practice. Depending on the client's needs, we may also work with real cases, case files, submissions, contractual documentation, and other materials from their day-to-day work.

Often, the best textbook is the client's own work.

Lessons can be arranged on a regular basis or as intensive preparation before a negotiation, presentation, examination, or other professional event.

Price

Online training – €110 / 60 minutes

2. Individual TOLES Preparation Courses

We offer online preparation courses for all three levels of the TOLES examination – Foundation, Higher and Advanced.

Further information about the examinations is available on the official website of the organisation: https://toleslegal.com/

Individual preparation can begin at any time of the year. As TOLES examinations are held on several dates throughout the year, both the preparation schedule and the examination date can be tailored to your availability and the level you wish to take.

Individual preparation allows us to focus entirely on your current level, professional background and target examination. The course is therefore not a general Legal English programme, but a structured and personalised preparation aimed at helping you achieve the best possible result in the TOLES examination.

Price

€2,200
The price includes an initial assessment, 20 hours of individual tuition and the TOLES examination fee.

3. Programmes for Law Firms, Companies and Organisations

We offer professional language training programmes for closed groups. Each programme has a clearly defined structure, content and thematic modules. Programmes can be delivered on a regular weekly basis or in the form of intensive training blocks.

We currently offer the following programmes:

Foundations of Legal English

A practical and interactive language programme for legal professionals and law students. The programme is designed for lawyers, trainee lawyers, in-house counsel, notaries, enforcement officers, law students, law graduates and other professionals working in the legal sector who want to communicate confidently, accurately and professionally in English.

The programme focuses on practical situations encountered in legal practice, including contract terminology, litigation, compliance, data protection, criminal law terminology and professional legal communication.

Course structure: The programme consists of 4 modules. Each module comprises four 60 minute sessions.

Modules

Module 1: Contracts and Legal Documents

  • core contract terminology in English
  • common types of contracts encountered in legal practice
  • linguistic differences between Slovak and English-language contracts
  • key contractual clauses and legal concepts

Module 2: Litigation and Procedural Communication

  • core litigation terminology
  • claims, statements of defence and procedural submissions
  • communication with clients during litigation
  • settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution

Module 3: Compliance, GDPR and Regulation

  • internal policies and corporate rules
  • data protection and GDPR terminology
  • whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms
  • legal communication in a regulatory environment

Module 4: Criminal Law and Legal Liability

  • core criminal law terminology
  • criminal proceedings and procedural steps
  • the accused, injured party, witness and defence counsel
  • criminal liability of individuals and legal entities
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to
  • communicate professionally in English in a legal environment
  • use and understand core Legal English terminology
  • understand contracts and legal documents in English
  • communicate effectively in litigation and procedural matters
  • understand key concepts relating to compliance and GDPR
  • work with terminology relating to criminal law and legal liability
  • communicate confidently with international clients and professional partners

Completion: final assessment and certificate of completion.

English for Commercial Law

A practical and interactive language programme for legal and business professionals. The programme is designed for lawyers, trainee lawyers, in-house counsel, entrepreneurs, managers and other professionals who want to communicate confidently, accurately and professionally in English.

The programme focuses on practical situations encountered in commercial and legal practice, including client communication, contract terminology, corporate structures, negotiation of commercial terms and professional business communication.

Course structure: The programme consists of 4 modules. Each module comprises four 60 minute sessions.

Modules

Module 1: Contracts and Commercial Documentation

  • common commercial contracts used in legal practice
  • sale and purchase agreements, non-disclosure agreements, framework agreements and mandate agreements
  • linguistic differences between Slovak and English-language contracts
  • key contractual clauses and commercial law terminology

Module 2: Professional Communication in a Business Environment

  • communication with clients and business partners
  • legal and commercial emails
  • business meetings and negotiations
  • negotiating terms and revising proposals

Module 3: Company Law

  • principal types of business entities
  • company formation and relevant terminology
  • managing directors, boards of directors, shareholders and members
  • general meetings and corporate decision-making

Module 4: AI Tools in Commercial Law and Business

  • using AI in contract preparation
  • legal analysis and information research
  • creating effective prompts in English
  • reviewing texts, summarisation and translation
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to
  • communicate professionally in English in the field of commercial law
  • use and understand core commercial law terminology
  • understand contracts and commercial documentation in English
  • conduct business negotiations and professional correspondence
  • understand the fundamentals of company law in English
  • use AI tools effectively in professional practice
  • communicate confidently with international clients and business partners

Completion: final assessment and certificate of completion.

English for HR and Employment Law

A practical and interactive language programme for HR professionals, lawyers and managers. The programme is designed for HR managers, recruiters, HR business partners, in-house counsel, lawyers, employment law specialists, senior employees and other professionals who want to communicate confidently, accurately and professionally in English in the fields of human resources and employment law.

The programme focuses on practical situations encountered in HR and employment practice, including recruitment, employment contracts, internal communication, employee relations, termination of employment, compliance and data protection.

Course structure: The programme consists of 4 modules. Each module comprises four 60 minute sessions.

Modules

Module 1: Recruitment and Onboarding

  • conducting job interviews in English
  • job offers and communication with candidates
  • onboarding international employees
  • HR documentation and core terminology

Module 2: Employment Contracts and Employment Law

  • employment contracts and amendments
  • probationary periods, working time and employee benefits
  • internal policies and working conditions
  • employment law terminology in English

Module 3: HR Communication and Employee Relations

  • feedback and performance reviews
  • warnings and disciplinary meetings
  • absence, workplace conflicts and grievances
  • professional email communication

Module 4: Termination of Employment, Compliance and Risk

  • termination by notice and termination by agreement
  • discrimination and equal treatment
  • whistleblowing and internal investigations
  • GDPR in the HR environment
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to
  • communicate professionally in English in HR and employment law matters
  • conduct job interviews and communicate with candidates in English
  • understand and use core employment law terminology
  • prepare and explain employment-related documents in English
  • handle sensitive employee matters professionally and confidently
  • understand key compliance and GDPR issues in the HR context
  • communicate professionally with international employees and management

Completion: final assessment and certificate of completion.

English for Public Administration and Public Institutions

A practical and interactive language programme for professionals working in the public sector. The programme is designed for lawyers, employees of ministries, public authorities, regulatory bodies, local and regional government institutions, public-sector organisations and other professionals who want to develop their professional communication skills in English within the field of public administration.

The programme focuses on practical language training through professional discussion, reading, vocabulary development and active use, translation exercises, conversation, professional communication and topics relating to public law, public authorities, decision-making processes and international cooperation.

Course structure: The programme consists of 4 modules. Each module comprises four 60 minute sessions.

Modules

Module 1: Public Administration and Professional Terminology

  • public administration bodies and their competences
  • ministries, public authorities and public institutions
  • core public law terminology
  • professional vocabulary used in public administration

Module 2: Administrative Matters and Written Communication

  • official correspondence in English
  • opinions, decisions, notices and official documents
  • professional emails and workplace communication
  • translating and drafting official texts

Module 3: Meetings, Discussion and Presenting Positions

  • participation in meetings and professional discussions
  • argumentation and professional debate
  • expressing agreement, disagreement and proposals
  • presenting positions and recommendations

Module 4: International Cooperation and Institutional Representation

  • communication with European and international partners
  • professional meetings, conferences and seminars
  • presenting institutional positions and results
  • representing an institution in English
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to
  • communicate professionally in English in the field of public administration
  • expand and actively use professional vocabulary
  • prepare official correspondence and professional texts
  • work with terminology relating to public law and administrative proceedings
  • participate in professional discussions and present institutional positions
  • communicate confidently in an international environment
  • further develop their English-language skills in the context of public institutions

Completion: final assessment and certificate of completion.

Professional English for Real Estate

A practical language programme for real estate professionals. The programme is designed for real estate agents, managers, developers, administrative staff and other professionals working in the real estate sector who want to communicate confidently, accurately and professionally in English.

The programme focuses on practical situations encountered in real estate practice, including client communication, property presentations, contract terminology, negotiation of commercial terms and professional business communication.

Course structure: The programme consists of 4 modules. Each module comprises four 60 minute sessions.

Modules

Module 1: Contracts and Real Estate Documentation

  • sale and purchase agreements
  • lease agreements
  • explaining contractual terms
  • professional contract terminology

Module 2: Client Communication

  • initial consultations
  • property presentations
  • negotiating terms
  • closing transactions

Module 3: Legal Essentials in Real Estate

  • real estate transactions
  • acquisition of property
  • title deeds and land registration
  • legal terminology

Module 4: Marketing and Property Advertising

  • writing property advertisements
  • professional property descriptions
  • language used in advertising and presentations
  • online marketing and social media
Upon completion of the programme, participants will be able to
  • communicate professionally with clients in English when buying, selling and renting property
  • understand and use core real estate and contractual terminology
  • present properties clearly, persuasively and professionally
  • negotiate prices and commercial terms
  • understand key legal concepts relevant to real estate practice
  • prepare property advertisements and marketing materials in English
  • communicate confidently with international clients

Completion: final assessment and certificate of completion.

All programmes are delivered online. We can also develop additional professional language training programmes tailored to the specific needs and professional focus of the client.

Every profession has its own language. Our goal is to teach you how to speak it in English.

Programme Fee

€3,000
The fee covers the complete programme for a group of up to 8 participants.

4. LL.M. Programme

This autumn, we are launching a new accredited LL.M. programme in Legal English & Professional Legal Communication.

The programme is a non-academic professional postgraduate programme offered as part of continuing professional education. It is designed for lawyers and other professionals who wish to develop advanced skills in Legal English, legal writing, professional communication, and the practical use of English in legal and international professional environments.

The programme will focus on the practical application of Legal English, including legal drafting, professional correspondence, contract language, client communication, negotiation, legal analysis and the ability to present and defend legal arguments in English.

We are currently finalising the programme. We will be pleased to provide further information on the curriculum, admission requirements, assessment methods and programme structure upon request.

Price and Duration

Introductory fee – €1,500

Programme duration – 6–12 months

Professional Confidentiality

Our training often involves working with real cases, professional documents and other sensitive information. We therefore regard confidentiality as a natural and essential part of every client relationship.

Out of respect for professional confidentiality, we generally do not publish client lists or testimonials on our website. Selected references are available upon request.

Academic Leadership

The Academy of Legal English is academically led by Dr Peter Horváth, MBA, LL.M., who has been teaching Legal and Business English since 2014.

He also focused on the teaching of Legal and Business English in his doctoral research.

All our lecturers are qualified English language professionals with relevant academic backgrounds in law.

Modern law office – academic leadership
Contact

If you have any questions or would like to enquire about individual training, courses or programmes, please contact us at:

academy@legalenglishonline.com

We are based in the European Union and work with clients worldwide.

If you would prefer to speak with us by phone or Zoom, please email us with your preferred format, a suitable time, and your time zone. We will get back to you to arrange a call.

Pricing

All prices shown on this website are final amounts payable to us. VAT treatment may vary depending on the client's jurisdiction and tax status.