Spring 2013
    Law No.: LAW9178
    Sched. No.: 113218953

American Legal Realism*
Section 1
X
Barzun, Charles L.



Administrative Information:
During SIS enrollment, check on SIS for real-time enrollment numbers
Days, Times (Room):W, 1600-1800 (WB129)
Credits:3Type:Seminar
Capacity:16 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**
Current Enrollment:14 **This information is current as of 05/24/2013 06:18:32 AM**

Course Description:

This seminar will explore the historical and philosophical significance of the school of American legal thought known as “Legal Realism.” As an historical movement within legal theory and education, Realism reached its peak in the 1930s, but as a general set of attitudes about law and adjudication, it remains a popular, even dominant, view within the legal academy. To summarize somewhat crudely, this view holds that the outcomes of legal decisions are often determined by “non-legal” factors, such as a judge’s class, party, race, gender, or psychological disposition.

In this seminar, we will read primary and secondary sources on Legal Realism in order to consider such questions as: To what extent does the view, or family of views, just described offer a persuasive interpretation of legal practice? What are its implications for legal thought and education? And finally, does it accurately characterize the views of the original Legal Realists?

NOTE: Laptops are not allowed during class sessions.

COURSE REQUIREMENT: Three 6-7 page essays and one 6-7 minute oral presentation