Introduction

Legal meetings are often fast-paced, informal in tone, and full of expressions that never appear in contracts or case law. For non-native English-speaking lawyers, these moments can be more challenging than drafting or research. The difficulty is not legal knowledge, but understanding the spoken Legal and Business English that lawyers use in meetings, calls, and internal discussions.

This post highlights common Legal English phrases regularly used in meetings that non-native lawyers often misunderstand. These expressions are drawn from real conversations in law firms and in-house legal departments.

Legal English Phrases Commonly Used in Meetings

1. “Let’s take this offline”

This does not mean leaving the internet. It means continuing the discussion later, usually privately or outside the meeting.

Example:
“Let’s take this offline and discuss it after the call.”

2. “We need alignment”

This does not refer to physical positioning. It means agreement or shared understanding among stakeholders.

Example:
“We need alignment between legal and the business before proceeding.”

3. “Can you flag that issue?”

This does not involve a literal flag. It means drawing attention to a problem or risk.

Example:
“Please flag any compliance issues during your review.”

4. “Let’s circle back”

This means returning to a topic later, not immediately.

Example:
“Let’s circle back to this once we have more information.”

5. “We should table this”

In American English, this means postponing discussion. In British English, it can mean introducing a topic. Context matters.

Example:
“Let’s table this issue until the next meeting.”

6. “That’s above my pay grade”

This does not refer to salary. It means the decision must be made by someone more senior.

Example:
“That question is above my pay grade. We need executive input.”

7. “We need buy-in”

This does not involve purchasing. It means obtaining approval or support from key stakeholders.

Example:
“We need buy-in from senior management before moving forward.”

8. “Let’s set that aside for now”

This means temporarily pausing discussion of an issue without rejecting it.

Example:
“Let’s set that aside for now and return to it after the review.”

9. “What’s the ask?”

This refers to the specific request or action being sought.

Example:
“Before we proceed, what’s the ask from legal?”

10. “We’re not there yet”

This means the issue is premature or not ready for decision.

Example:
“We’re not there yet on approving the settlement.”

11. “This is a moving target”

This means the facts, requirements, or expectations keep changing.

Example:
“The regulatory guidance is a moving target right now.”

12. “Let’s make sure we’re on the same page”

This means confirming that everyone has the same understanding.

Example:
“Let’s make sure we’re on the same page about the timeline.”

13. “That’s helpful context”

This usually means the information helps frame the discussion, not that it changes the outcome.

Example:
“That’s helpful context for assessing liability.”

14. “Can you walk us through this?”

This means explaining something step by step.

Example:
“Can you walk us through the proposed structure?”

15. “From a legal perspective”

This signals that the speaker is separating legal risk from business considerations.

Example:
“From a legal perspective, this creates potential exposure.”

16. “That raises a concern”

A polite way to signal risk without sounding confrontational.

Example:
“That raises a concern regarding data protection.”

17. “We may need to escalate this”

This means involving more senior management or decision makers.

Example:
“We may need to escalate this to the general counsel.”

18. “Can we narrow the scope?”

This means reducing the size or complexity of a request.

Example:
“Can we narrow the scope to focus only on the U.S. operations?”

19. “Let’s confirm next steps”

This signals the end of discussion and focuses on action items.

Example:
“Before we close, let’s confirm next steps.”

20. “We’ll need to think this through”

This does not mean refusal. It means further analysis is required.

Example:
“We’ll need to think this through before committing.”

Why These Phrases Matter

Misunderstanding meeting language can lead to missed expectations, silence at critical moments, misaligned follow-up actions, or reduced professional credibility. For lawyers, meetings are where risk is framed, decisions are influenced, and trust is built. Understanding how these expressions function in real time helps ensure your legal expertise is clearly understood and properly valued.

Conclusion

Legal meetings rely heavily on informal but precise language. These phrases are rarely taught in textbooks, yet they appear daily in professional practice. For non-native English-speaking lawyers, learning how these expressions work in context is essential for effective participation, confidence, and influence in meetings.

Improve Your Spoken Legal English

At LegalEnglish4Lawyers.com, we work with lawyers, in-house counsel, and law students who want to strengthen their spoken Legal or Business English for real professional situations, including meetings, calls, interviews, or classroom discussions.

Lessons are taught by an experienced lawyer and Legal English teacher and focus on helping you:

• Understand and use spoken Legal English in meetings or internal discussions
• Navigate Business English commonly used in law firms or corporate environments
• Build confidence for client interactions, interviews, presentations, or law school participation

Whether you are already practicing law or preparing to enter the profession, targeted language training can help you communicate more clearly and confidently.

Ready to start? Book your personalized lesson at LegalEnglish4Lawyers.com.

Disclaimer

The content provided herein is for discussion and educational purposes only and may contain errors. The reader is responsible for confirming the accuracy of the information. This content does not constitute legal, professional, or language training advice. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage incurred directly or indirectly from reliance on this material.

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