Our History

Our Beginnings

The Center for Legal English was founded in 2003 by Professor Craig Hoffman, who recognized something about multilingual, international students that was not yet widely understood: these students bring unique strengths and expertise to U.S. law schools, and with support, they could thrive in — and enrich — the Georgetown Law community. He recognized, too, that these students are not only acquiring a new language but a new form of legal discourse — the ways lawyers think, argue, and communicate — and that pairing linguists and lawyers was the key to unlocking the strengths this population brings to the study and practice of law.

As a leading scholar of law and linguistics, Professor Hoffman brought intellectual rigor and curiosity to the field of legal English pedagogy, helping to shape it into the discipline it is today. As a leader, he built a team grounded in trust and purpose, investing in each person and wanting everyone around him to excel at work they love. The current faculty of lawyers and linguists are committed to continuing his vision and the global community he made possible.

Our Current Mission

What began as a response to the needs of a specialized LL.M. program grew into something much larger. Since its inception, our faculty have worked with hundreds of students from around the world, guided by an approach rooted in linguistics, legal scholarship, and genuine care. Over two decades later, the Center for Legal English, one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the United States, continues to evolve. It stands as a pioneering center dedicated to innovative, research-informed approaches to law and language for all LL.M. students, both foreign- and domestic-trained.