OT-ES-E 404
 Cambridge Legal English for the Civil Service

Zielgruppe

This course is intended for Austrian public-sector employees who need Legal English in an administrative, regulatory, policy, or international context. It is suitable for civil servants, legal officers, policy staff, administrative staff, project managers, and employees working with EU institutions, international partners, cross-border procedures, procurement, data protection, or regulatory matters.

Inhalt und Ziele

This course develops the participants’ ability to use Legal English accurately, confidently, and appropriately in the context of Austrian public administration and government service. The focus is on the language needed to explain legal concepts, discuss administrative procedures, understand EU and public-law terminology, and communicate professionally with international partners. Participants will practise speaking and writing about Austrian law, EU law, data protection, administrative procedure, and selected specialist areas relevant to their work. By the end of the course, they should be better equipped to handle legal and administrative communication in English with clarity, precision, and professional confidence.

The course combines core areas of Legal English for public administration with selected specialist topics based on the participants’ professional needs. The first session is used to establish the legal and linguistic starting point of the group, introduce key language for discussing legal systems, and identify priorities for the remaining sessions.

The course content may include the following areas:

Core Public Law (almost universally relevant):

  • Administrative law and procedure (Verwaltungsverfahrensrecht) — AVG, appeals, administrative courts
  • Constitutional law — federal/state division of powers, fundamental rights, rule of law principles
  • EU law — regulations, directives, infringement procedures, CJEU decisions

Regulatory and Sector-Specific Law:

  • Environmental and planning law — EIA, Natura 2000, permits (relevant to infrastructure, transport, agriculture ministries)
  • Public procurement law — ÖNORM, EU thresholds, award procedures (relevant to virtually all agencies that spend public money)
  • Data protection and information law — GDPR, DSG 2018, freedom of information
  • Labor and civil service law — Beamtendienstrecht, Vertragsbedienstetengesetz, collective agreements

International and Cross-Border Law:

  • International treaties and conventions (especially for foreign affairs, customs, tax, transport)
  • Mutual legal assistance and extradition (relevant to justice, interior, police)
  • WTO, bilateral investment treaties (trade and economic ministries)

Financial and Fiscal Law:

  • Public finance and budgetary law — Bundeshaushaltsgesetz, audit obligations
  • Tax law basics — VAT, customs (Zoll), excise (customs, finance ministries)
  • State aid rules (EU law angle, relevant to economic promotion agencies)

Specialized Technical Law:

  • Health and pharmaceutical law (health ministry, AGES)
  • Food safety and consumer protection law
  • Energy and infrastructure regulation
  • Immigration and asylum law (interior, foreign affairs)

The course consists of 24 teaching hours over 12 weeks, with one two-hour session per week. The group size is limited to 6 to 10 participants to ensure active participation, relevant discussion, and individual feedback.

Class time is used for practical language work, including discussion tasks, case studies, short presentations, document analysis, drafting practice, and structured feedback on accuracy, clarity, and professional tone.

Trainer

John Scott Hess

Zeit und Ort

Seminarnummer:
OT-ES-E 404
Trainingsform:
Online-Tr. / Webinar
Dauer:
12 Tag(e) (24 Stunden)
Termin:
16.09.2027 - 09.12.2027
Stundenplan:
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
15:00 - 17:00
Ort:
Online

Anmerkungen

The costs for this seminar will be covered by Verwaltungsakademie des Bundes.

Technical requirements:

  • PC / laptop / tablet / smartphone (possibly private) with camera and microphone as well as internet access, headphones are recommended
  • Webinar software platform MS Teams

Organisation

Seminarleitung:
Hütterer Katrine, Mag.
Sekretariat:
Fröhlich Elisabeth

Über den/die Trainer/in

John Scott Hess

Head Teacher of The Cambridge Institute. He puts at your service nearly a quarter century of experience of teaching English and managing in language education, plus five years in business and property law. Specialized in the English of law, management, politics, economics and science, with extensive experience training and coaching members of large organizations and the civil service. He holds academic degrees as Magister and M. A. (Modern European History).