TOLES is a series of specialist English language examinations for lawyers and other legal professionals.

TOLES means Test of Legal English Skills.

The TOLES certificates are permanently valid.

There are 3 TOLES exams. The exams are called Foundation, Higher and Advanced.

Global Legal English offer 3 levels so that every learner can make a start in legal English. Students of English who are at elementary level can start with TOLES Foundation.

No. Students can start at any level. Some students take all 3 exams, others take only one. Often a language school or university will choose the level for a class.

TOLES is offered by a private UK organisation called Global Legal English. Global Legal English was established in 1999 and it is a member of the International Division of the Law Society of England &Wales. It works independently of any UK university.

This is the organisation that regulates the professional standards of solicitors in England. It is the body that gives solicitors a licence to practise law.

It is a member because it wants to offer a practical, professional exam that helps lawyers with real working tasks. Its membership of the Law Society means it can consult London law firms about the content of its exams and study materials.

It is not connected to any university because it finds their approach too academic and not attractive enough to law firms.

TOLES is necessary because law firms and EU departments require an exam that will test legal English skills and not just general English skills. Law firms reported to Global Legal English that students who had traditional English language certificates found office tasks difficult.

Even students with excellent general English can find it difficult to understand a contract, amend a contract or write a formal legal letter. The vocabulary and style of writing required are quite different and accuracy is of absolute importance. TOLES is designed to help with these difficulties as quickly and effectively as possible.

Law students, lawyers and legal translators whose first language is not English.

To give working lawyers the skills, accuracy and confidence they need when using English at work.

Students are very positive about the TOLES exams. In most countries law is taught in a very theoretical way. However, students accept that commercial awareness and useful skills are what modern international law firms require. Many students have said that they see TOLES as a bridge between theory and actually practising law.

No. In fact, lawyers are often not the best teachers of TOLES because some of them tend to focus on the law and not the language.

No. We never forget that TOLES students at work will be required to explain the law of their own country and need the English language skills to do that. The focus of TOLES is always on explaining your own law in a clear and accurate way.

TOLES really cannot be compared with general English exams. It is possible to have an excellent score in a general English exam but score very badly on TOLES. A TOLES course offers training in very different skills and vocabulary.

As far as we are aware, TOLES will be the only valued and credible legal English exam on the market from December 2016 onwards when the Cambridge ILEC exam will discontinue.

TOLES was established in 1999 and there are already a number of registered centres around the world, including British Council Schools, Language Schools, Private and Public Universities and individual teachers who are registered to hold exams at their corporate client's offices.

TOLES is highly recognised by a large number of organisations, companies and law firms. These include: • Sony Ericsson • Daimler Chrysler • Mullerat • Banco de Portugal • Linklater Oppenhoff & Radler • European Court of Justice • European Central Bank • Shearman and Sterling • Clifford Chance • KPMG • Bonn & Schmitt & Steichen • Barcelona Bar Association • Stibbe Advfocaten en Notarissen • Leasfinanz AG • Brussels Bar Association • Alcatel Business Solutions • PricewaterhouseCoopers • Baker & McKenzie • Hemmer.club AG • International Criminal Court • Detusche Bundesbank • Qatar Steel Company • Qatar Petrochemical Corporation • Heerema Marina Contractors Ltd • AzBTC • United Law Associates • Lahore Tax Bar Association • NCCI • Man Investments AG • Impress Metal Packaging SA • AgipKCO • Wintershall Libya • DuPont We maintain the confidentiality of some law firms.

The exams are offered around the world on 6days every year. In 2024 :25 January - 21 March - 23 May- 27 June - 22 August - 21 November

Please contact our office. We will always do our best to accommodate an exam date for a group of students and aim to be as flexible as possible.

We do our very best to keep the exams affordable. The cost may vary depending on the TOLES exams students intend to take.