Skip to main content

Legal Rhetoric

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:8.00
Study Course Accepted:19.08.2024 10:09:17
Study Course Information
Course Code:JF_063LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Law; State's RightsTarget Audience:Juridical Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Ilze Cīrule
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)12Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures24
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours32
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)4Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures8
Classes (count)1Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes2
Total Contact Hours10
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Skills and ability to use the literary language, perception and knowledge of the most topical issues in the standards of the language and terminology.
Objective:
Acquire knowledge of the principles of legal rhetoric and develop skills and abilities, including theoretical and practical skills in analysing and drafting legal texts, while developing the technique of creative writing of legal texts (while improving knowledge of legal terminology); help and encourage students to develop understanding of drafting and practical application of legislation and documents. It is intended to address the fundamental issues of rhetoric and legal rhetoric, provide insights into the history of rhetoric and legal rhetoric, focusing on judicial communication and judicial speech, the most common errors in lawyers’ speech and writing, since the legal failures in speech content and performance affect the client’s interests and are therefore not to be considered as personal failures.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Definition of rhetoric. Legal rhetoric. The significance of the uttered and written word in the professional activity of a lawyer. Insights into history of rhetoric. Neo-rhetoric. Public speech, its types. General principles of public speech and a written text (preconditions). Rhetorical action in preparing and delivering the speech. Reasoning. Bluffing.Lectures3.00auditorium
Classes1.00auditorium
2Communication and interconnection in the professional activities of a lawyer. Rhetorical basis for communication and interconnection. Monologue and dialogue in a lawyer’s work. Speech language, selection of style, types of exposure to the audience; figures of speech (metaphor, comparison, epithet, hyperbole, etc.); rhetorical figures (antithesis, anaphor, gradation, repetition, rhetorical question, etc.). Speech assessment criteria.Lectures3.00auditorium
Classes1.00auditorium
3Judicial communication. Speeches at the court (accusation speech, speech for the defence). Ethical principles of judicial speech. Judicial speech and language culture.Lectures3.00other
Classes1.00auditorium
4The most common language errors in lawyers’ speeches and articles. Text syntax and standard language.Lectures3.00auditorium
Classes1.00auditorium
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Definition of rhetoric. Legal rhetoric. The significance of the uttered and written word in the professional activity of a lawyer. Insights into history of rhetoric. Neo-rhetoric. Public speech, its types. General principles of public speech and a written text (preconditions). Rhetorical action in preparing and delivering the speech. Reasoning. Bluffing.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Communication and interconnection in the professional activities of a lawyer. Rhetorical basis for communication and interconnection. Monologue and dialogue in a lawyer’s work. Speech language, selection of style, types of exposure to the audience; figures of speech (metaphor, comparison, epithet, hyperbole, etc.); rhetorical figures (antithesis, anaphor, gradation, repetition, rhetorical question, etc.). Speech assessment criteria.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Judicial communication. Speeches at the court (accusation speech, speech for the defence). Ethical principles of judicial speech. Judicial speech and language culture.Lectures1.00auditorium
Classes1.00auditorium
4The most common language errors in lawyers’ speeches and articles. Text syntax and standard language.Lectures1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
• completion of home assignments; • homework for seminars.
Assessment Criteria:
• active participation in classes; • completion of home assignments; • an examination: a written test; • lecture attendance is mandatory; • attendance of seminars is mandatory (if any); • the student is not allowed to sit the examination, if the homework has not been submitted (within the specified time and in the prescribed quality), and the work provided for in the seminars has not been completed; • 25% of total assessment consists of participation in lectures and seminars, 25% of the total assessment consists of home assignments, 50% – a passed written examination.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:A certain set of information on legal rhetoric, its core issues and terminology will have been acquired; understanding of legal text writing, reasoning and research preparation will have been gained; the role of the written and uttered word in professional activity will have been understood. Students will have gained understanding of the basic theory of speech art, the role of public speech, characteristic features and role of the judicial speech in proving guilt or innocence and in practical activity in general.
Skills:Students will have acquired skills to summarise, analyse, conclude and work in practice with information sources; they will have gained knowledge of the research subject and will know how to use it in further activities, including legal text analysis and innovation techniques. Students will be able to manage their own speech and writing skills, to analyse their own performance and that of others, taking into account the specifics of legal rhetoric, terminology and professional ethics, including the relevant legal provisions. Students will be able to express and analytically describe information, problems and solutions in their own field of science or profession using the theoretical bases and skills acquired, to explain them and discuss them reasonably with both professionals and non-professionals.
Competencies:Professional competence, knowledge appropriate to one’s competence; professional, individual and social experience and understanding of legal rhetoric. Are able to formulate, describe and analyse practical problems in their profession.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Apele, A. 2011. Prasme runāt publiski. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC (Poligrāfists).
2Džohansens, S. un Broka, B. 2010. Juridiskā analīze un tekstu rakstīšana. Rīga.
3Grūtups, A. Krievijai netraucēs ne eiro, ne lats, ja tā izdomās uz šejieni sūtīt Pleskavas divīziju.
4Kaminska, G. 2000. Tiesu runas kā publiskas runas sagatavošana un izpildījums. Rīga.
5Kaminska, G. 2002. Tiesu runas problēmas. Rīga.
6Krūmiņa, V. un Skujiņa, V. 2002. Normatīvo aktu izstrādes rokasgrāmata. Rīga.
7Ludvigs, A. Aizstāvības runa Augstākās tiesas Krimināllietu kolēģijā 1980.gada 17.martā. Žurnāls Kriminālā un Administratīvā Justīcija 1998.gada Nr. 1(2).
8Markevičs, A. Aizstāvības runa Latvijas Republikas Augstākās tiesas Krimināllietu tiesu palātā 1997.gada 28.februārī. Žurnāls Kriminālā un Administratīvā Justīcija 1997.gada Nr. 1.
Additional Reading
1Bariss, V. 2003. Darba burtnīca retorikā: metodiskie materiāli bakalauru un maģistru studijām /Voldemārs Bariss; Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. Sociālo zinātņu fakultāte. Filozofijas katedra. Jelgava: LLU.
2Аннушкин, В. 2008. Риторика : вводный курс : учебное пособие /В.И. Аннушкин. Москва : Флинта: Наука
3Eckardt, B. 2000. Fachsprache als Kommunikationsbarrire? Verständigungsprobleme zwischen Juristen und Laien / B. Eckardt. – Wiesbaden: Dt. Univ. Verl., S. 210.
4Wiesmann, E. 2004. Rechtsübersetzung und Hilfsmittel zur Translation. Wissenschaftliche Grundlagen und computergestützte Umsetzung eines lexikographischen Konzepts. Tübingen: Narr, S. 37.
5Forensic, J. 2004. Linguistics: An Introduction to Language, Crime and Law. - London-New-York: J., Forensic Linguistics: An Introduction to Language, Crime and Law. - London-New-York: Continum, – 4.-5.
6Ивакина, Н. 2007. Основы судебного красноречия (риторика для юристов). Москва: Юристъ, Iegūts no: http://royallib.com/read/ivakina_nadegda/osnovi_sudebnogo_k…
Other Information Sources
1Kramiņš, E. 2005. Runas prasme saziņā: monogrāfija. Rīga: BA Turība.
2www.likumi.lv
3www.vestnesis.lv
4www.juristavards.lv, tiesas.lv