Because I’ve made these experiences, I decided to offer my own courses in my native language, German. If you have learned some German and want to improve your legal German at B2/C1 level, you’ve come to the right place.

As an Austrian lawyer with 10+ years of in-house experience and C2-level proficiency in English, French, and Italian, I understand what it means to learn another language for legal purposes. It goes far beyond learning words and phrases – it’s a plunge into another legal system. In my work as a lawyer-linguist, I practice this plunge on a daily basis.

While I mainly work as a legal translator and interpreter, I also enjoy sharing my expertise with language learners who want to excel in legal German. This is why I completed a training course in German as a foreign and second language at the University of Vienna many years ago. And maybe more importantly, I have reached C2 proficiency in my working languages English, French, and Italian and I have passed ToLES, the Test of Legal English Skills, with 93 points out of 100.

I know what it means to study a foreign language intensively. And believe it or not, I never studied French in a formal school or university environment, but reached this level mostly by self-studying.

Since you’ve come to my page, you probably know the answer already. Let me guess: You’re a trained lawyer and you already have professional connections to the German-speaking world. Or an aspiring law student looking forward to career at an international company. Or maybe you even consider a (further) career in Austria or professional or private reasons.

But doesn’t every qualified professional in Germany, Austria and Switzerland speak English these days? In general, I’d agree –although the level varies largely. But approaching a business partner or client in their native language still makes a big difference. First of all, it’s a matter of courtesy and helps to build trust in your services. It may attract customers who are explicitly looking for someone who speaks their native language. And last but not least it will help you understand where your partner or client this coming from, legally speaking.

Legal systems differ – and common law and civil law differ considerably. If you’re not sufficiently aware of these differences, you might talk at cross purposes despite speaking the same language. In other words: Learning the legal language of another country will also improve your overall understanding of the other legal system involved, and the differences between the two systems.

I don’t know about you, but my legal training at an Austrian university did not involve any courses on comparative law. But in a time where companies operate across borders and public institutions are in constant exchange with their counterparts from other countries, comparative law cannot be neglected. Or at least, understanding other legal systems and legal languages will give you a competitive advantage.

Every language learner pursues their own purposes. This is why my trainings are not one-size-fits-all, but tailored to your needs and interests.

If you go to a restaurant, what would you prefer? Would you rather have the waiter bring you dish of the day without even asking – or would you prefer a menu where you can choose your own starter, main course and desert from a wide range of offers according to your own taste and taking into account possible dietary restrictions?

I bet you prefer to choose your dishes according to your own taste. This is why I’m offering Legal German training à la carte.

This course is intended for advanced learners (B2/C1 level) who are familiar with the German grammar and know a wide range of general German vocabulary. The focus of this training is on acquiring the legal terminology and a basic understanding of the Austrian and/or German legal system.
We will not be discussing grammar issues or work on improving your general German skills – there are many other causes and private tuition offers for that.

Legal systems differ – and common law and civil law differ considerably. If you’re not sufficiently aware of these differences, you might talk at cross purposes despite speaking the same language. In other words: Learning the legal language of another country will also improve your overall understanding of the other legal system involved, and the differences between the two systems.

I don’t know about you, but my legal training at an Austrian university did not involve any courses on comparative law. But in a time where companies operate across borders and public institutions are in constant exchange with their counterparts from other countries, comparative law cannot be neglected. Or at least, understanding other legal systems and legal languages will give you a competitive advantage.

Just like the legal language and systems of the different English-speaking countries differ, the same is true for Germany and Austria. I am a trained lawyer for Austrian law and this is the country where I have worked as an in-house counsel for many years.

If Austrian legal German is what you’re particularly interested in, look no further. But if not – no problem! I will tailor my classes to your needs. And as you already speak German at the very high level, we might not even touch upon those subtle differences between Germany and Austria that only legal experts are aware of.

Please note that I’m a lawyer-linguist, not a practising lawyer. This training focuses on language skills and legal terminology, not on providing legal advice. The aim of the lessons is to help you improve your legal German skills. To this end, you will also learn about the legal systems in Germany and Austria – but this is not the main focus.

Contact me to discuss your learning goals!