• Description
• Teaching Philosophy  
• Required Readings

• Assignments and Assessment
• Academic Honesty

• Texts
• Class Schedule

To understand the complexities of the relationship between law and society, it is essential that law is examined both theoretically and practically. In this class, we will not examine law as a system of rules. Instead, as we examine law both as a way of thinking and as a set of practices, we are going to look through a different lens- through the lens of narrative. The readings will offer diverse insights into the idea of law as a "storytelling" process. The goal of our inquiry is to broaden our understanding of the centrality of law in modern American society.

We will be examining a diverse array of law’s "stories." One of our themes will be to examine and evaluate the modern trial as an arena where stories are told, heard, contested and suppressed.  Another theme will be on the question of identity.  We will consider how notions of identity (gender, racial and other group-based identities) are experienced individually and how these notions get expressed and challenged in court cases and institutional practices.  In this context, in the first few weeks of class, we will turn our attention to the complex questions of affirmative action, particularly in educational settings.  The last theme of the course will be on the question of privacy, a right which is cherished as fundamental right, but is not specifically guaranteed by the Constitution.  We will explore how the right to privacy, as an "imagined" right gets expressed and challenged in various court cases and social practices.

Throughout the class, you will be asked to stretch yourself-to see whether or not you can imagine yourself as a different person from who you are. This is the same task that confronts judges as they are required to render decisions affecting others. This is also the task that lawyers have in constructing stories about clients which offer a persuasive enough picture that decision makers, i.e. judges and juries, will see reality from their point of view. The reading for the course consists of diverse materials, including several books of fiction, several books of non-fiction as well as relevant articles, films and appellate cases. The reading for this class is substantial. You will be expected to turn in a short written assignment every week. There will be a midterm exam and a take-home final paper/project. Since class meets only once a week, attendance is required. I will post notices about the course and assignments on the Website for this course. There are two ways to get to it, you can use the full address [mantle.sbs.umass.edu/alee/legal/rifkin/342syll.htm] or go to the main site for Legal Studies (www.umass.edu/legal/) and click on my name.   There's a pointer to the class syllabus on my home page.  It would be a good idea to check this site regularly, so bookmark it for the semester!

Class attendance- 5%
Class participation-10%
Weekly Response Sheets-25%
Mid-term- 30%
Final Project-30%
    

WEEK

DATE

TOPICS

READINGS

ACTIVITIES

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

** updated syllabus will be handed out

Lifeline presentations

Please note, the syllabus was  updated 3-22-00, from here foreword

9

10

10

11

NOTE: class begins at 3:00 p.m. today

12

13

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