Law firms are increasingly working with international clients, contracts drafted in English and multilingual legal documentation. Even so, language training tends to be pushed aside for lack of time or budget.
Subsidised training through FUNDAE allows firms and in-house legal departments to train their professionals without bearing the full cost. In this article we explain how subsidised language training works for lawyers, what it offers and how to make strategic use of it.
What subsidised training for lawyers is and how it works
Subsidised training is a scheme that lets companies fund part or all of their employees’ training through training credits managed by FUNDAE, the Spanish state foundation for workplace training.
For law firms, this means they can organise language courses for their legal team and offset the cost against their social security contributions.
It works simply:
- The firm identifies a training need (legal English, for example).
- A training programme is designed around the team.
- The company applies the corresponding rebate to its social security payments.
This model gives many firms access to specialist training without having to cover the full cost of the courses.
Why languages are strategic for law firms
Legal practice is ever more closely tied to international contexts: contracts with foreign suppliers, international arbitration or advising clients from other countries.
In these scenarios, command of a language — legal English above all — is not merely a competitive advantage but a working tool.
A commercial lawyer, for instance, may need to review contracts drafted in English, negotiate clauses with international clients or interpret legal documentation from other jurisdictions. As explained in the article on legal English for lawyers and companies, this kind of language uses very specific structures and terminology that go well beyond general English. Mastering it is essential for drafting contracts, non-disclosure agreements or compliance documentation without creating legal ambiguity.
The language barrier can also become a genuine obstacle to international growth. Negotiations with foreign clients, reviews of technical documentation or meetings with international partners all suffer when the team does not command the working language. The article My company wants to go international but language is holding it back looks at precisely these situations and at how a shortage of language skills can limit business opportunities and lead to errors in legal or commercial processes.
That is why more and more firms are introducing language training tailored to their legal work, with the aim of improving communication with international clients and reducing the risk of misreading legal documents.
What kind of language training firms can subsidise
One of the advantages of FUNDAE is that it funds a range of training formats, provided they are linked to the employee’s professional development.
In the legal sector, the most common courses include:
Legal English
The most sought-after option in firms working with international clients or taking part in cross-border transactions.
Training usually focuses on:
- Contract drafting
- Legal terminology
- Negotiating in English
- Professional communication with international clients
Languages for specific practice areas
Depending on the type of firm, it can also be worth training lawyers in other languages such as legal French or German, particularly in areas like international law, taxation or foreign trade.
In many cases the language is woven directly into real professional situations: reviewing clauses, client meetings or drafting reports.
Language training for whole teams
Lawyers are not the only ones who need languages. Others who benefit include:
- Paralegals
- Compliance teams
- Legal administration departments
- Staff dealing with international clients
Designing a training plan around the firm tends to work better than buying in generic courses. Many programmes fail precisely because they ignore the learner’s professional context. This is examined in detail in the article on how to design a corporate language training plan (https://alosidiomas.com/blog/plan-de-formacion-en-idiomas-para-empresas-como-disenarlo-para-que-tenga-impacto-real/), which explains why a strategic approach is what makes training deliver real impact.
The advantages of using FUNDAE to train lawyers
For many firms, subsidised training is an underused resource. Managed well, it can become a strategic investment.
Its main advantages are:
Better cost control
Part of the training is funded through rebates, which significantly reduces the firm’s outlay.
A more competitive firm
Lawyers with language skills can work with international clients and take part in more complex transactions.
Greater legal certainty
Reading legal documents correctly in other languages reduces the risk of misinterpretation and contractual error.
And if some of that document review happens outside the office, a privacy screen filter keeps confidential paperwork out of view of third parties, which matters especially for lawyers who work while travelling or in shared spaces.
Retaining talent
Professionals place growing value on opportunities for development and continuing training.
How to set up subsidised training in a law firm
For training to work, it has to answer specific needs in the firm rather than simply “offer a course”.
Good practice includes:
Analysing real working situations
Contract negotiation, review of international documentation or meetings with foreign clients, for example.
Tailoring the content to a legal profile
General English is not enough in a legal context. You need to work on terminology, structures and real situations from professional practice.
Choosing flexible formats
Many lawyers have demanding diaries. Online classes or hybrid programmes usually work better.
Building training into daily work
The more closely training connects to real work, the greater its impact.
Frequently asked questions
Can a law firm access subsidised training?
Yes. Any company paying vocational training contributions in Spain can access FUNDAE credits to train its employees, law firms included.
Is language training eligible for subsidy?
Yes. Language courses linked to an employee’s professional development can be subsidised through FUNDAE, provided they meet the established requirements.
Does the whole team have to be trained?
No. Training can be aimed at specific professionals within the firm, such as lawyers in particular practice areas, international departments or compliance teams.
Command of languages has become a core competence for many lawyers working in international contexts or with foreign legal documentation.
Subsidised training through FUNDAE allows firms to improve their team’s language skills without bearing the full cost. Designed strategically and adapted to the legal environment, it can become a genuine driver of professional growth and competitiveness for the firm.
If you are considering language training for your legal team, at ALOS we can help you design specialist language programmes for the legal sector, built to meet the requirements of subsidised training.