- Introduction to Legal Studies

Catalog description

Law is simultaneously everywhere, all at once, and nowhere in particular. What is law, exactly? Where does it come from? Why and how does it matter? Drawing on a variety of disciplinary and scholarly traditions (including history, philosophy, politics, and others), students in this course will consider some of the ways that law organizes contemporary life. We will pay particular attention to the law’s historical evolution, legal institutions and actors, and questions about the law’s authority and legitimacy. Readings and discussions focus on the United States but briefly address comparative and global perspectives as well. This course serves as the foundation of the Legal Studies concentration.