The Hague, 2 January 2017 — MLE programme has helped Dutch lawyers for three years. The Mastering Legal English programme (MLE) has been very successful over the last three years (2014 to 2016). During this time, MLE courses have been taught on a regular basis at five of the top law firms in the Netherlands (including Allen & Overy and Baker & McKenzie) and to a number of smaller internationally oriented boutique law firms. The programme has also been taught to about half of the counsel working at ABN AMRO legal department, to the lawyers and judges working at the Amsterdam Court and to the lawyers at one of the largest corporations in the Netherlands (Heerema). The training has also been regularly given at OSR Juridisiche Opleidingen, arguably the finest CLE training organisation in the Netherlands. The MLE programme is actively and successfully helping Dutch lawyers to work even more effectively in their international legal practices.
The Hague, 15 January 2016 — Revised 2016 version of Mastering Legal English published. Greg Korbee announced today that the 2016 version of this training resource and desktop reference has been published. A few new explanations have been added and others updated. Mastering Legal English was written by English-speaking lawyers specifically for Dutch legal professionals working in English in a Dutch legal context.
Amsterdam, 8 May 2015 — Somen Becker has died at age 71. Somen Becker died today, not long after being diagnosed with an unexpected and devastating condition. Somen had a distinguished 25-year career in teaching in-firm and in-company courses to Dutch attorneys, civil-law notaries and in-house counsel. He started his career as a South African solicitor and in-house counsel to the merchant banking arm of a large multinational. He later trained and worked in England as a teacher, specializing in English as a Second Language. Sometime in the 1980s, he arrived in Amsterdam. By that time, he was an extremely experienced teacher. Around two thousand Dutch lawyers had taken his course “Practical Legal English” (the predecessor of “Mastering Legal English”), and he was widely regarded as a leader in his field. From 1986 to his retirement in 2013 (around 27 years), Somen’s clients included some of the largest law firms and companies in the Netherlands. He was very active in the Ridwhan school, which he loved. He left behind family in the US and Canada and many friends in the Netherlands and throughout the world.
The Hague, 15 January 2015 — Revised 2015 version of Mastering Legal English published. Greg Korbee announced today that the 2015 version of this training resource and desktop reference has been published. A few new explanations have been added and others updated. The book has also been thoroughly edited. Mastering Legal English was written by English-speaking lawyers specifically for Dutch legal professionals working in English in a Dutch legal context.
The Hague, 15 January 2014 — Revised 2014 version of Mastering Legal English published. Greg Korbee announced today that the 2014 version of this training resource and desktop reference has been published. The improvements to the 2014 version include completion of the detailed table of contents, a subject index and a word index. A few new explanations have been added and others updated. The book has also been thoroughly edited. Mastering Legal English was written by English-speaking lawyers specifically for Dutch legal professionals working in English in a Dutch legal context. The materials in this guide are divided into 27 chapters grouped into seven categories: (1) writing conventions, (2) legal words and phrases, (3) grammar (mainly verb tenses), (4) sentence structure, (5) style and register (including formality and politeness), (6) modality (i.e. obligations, entitlements, conditions and hypotheticals) and (7) speaking skills. This resource is provided only to participants in the Mastering Legal English programme.
The Hague, 1 October 2013 — Legal English Profile added to MLE. Today a new online system for processing MLE participants went live at www.legalEnglish.nl. Completion of the Legal English Profile is part of a comprehensive intake process that helps lead to a more focused and more relevant course. By completing this profile before the course, a participant also gains more insight into various aspects of legal English and the bilingual practice of law. The online Legal English Profile, which was designed by professional web designers working closely together with a legal English educator, is a unique service and another example of why MLE remains a cutting-edge programme.
The Hague, 1 June 2013 — Interest in the MLE programme is high. Greg Korbee announced today that interest in the Mastering Legal English programme has been high. Six organisations, including five major law firms and a prominent legal training organisation, have so far ordered in-house MLE courses for 2013.
The Hague, 20 May 2013 — MLE website goes live. A website providing information about the Mastering Legal English programme has gone online. The address is www.masteringlegalenglish.nl.
The Hague, 1 May 2013 — Introduction of Mastering Legal English programme. Greg Korbee announced today that a comprehensive new legal English programme called “Mastering Legal English” (MLE) has been developed and is now available. Prepared by lawyer-linguist Greg Korbee, MLE is a revised and expanded version of Somen Becker’s successful “Practical Legal English” course. MLE maintains the approach and content of the PLE course, but includes additional material (including an online component). Designed by English-speaking lawyers specifically for Dutch-speaking lawyers, MLE (like its predecessor) is the highest quality legal English training available in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam, 25 March 2013 — “Legal English Services” becomes “Jurisfluence”. Somen Becker’s business, “Legal English Services”, has been acquired by Greg Korbee. Greg has been providing training, assistance and support to Dutch legal professionals since 1997. Greg will be carrying on business under the name “Jurisfluence”.
Amsterdam, 25 March 2013 — Somen Becker retires. Somen Becker announced today that he has retired from teaching. This ends a distinguished 25-year career in teaching in-firm and in-company courses to Dutch attorneys, civil-law notaries and in-house counsel. Around two thousand Dutch lawyers have taken his course “Practical Legal English” and he is widely regarded as a leader in his field. Since 1986, Somen’s clients have included some of the largest law firms and companies in the Netherlands. He started his career as a South African solicitor and in-house counsel to the merchant banking arm of a large multinational. He later trained and worked in England as a teacher, specializing in English as a Second Language.