Artificial intelligence, state constitutions and singlehood will be among the topics discussed in new courses being offered at the University of Virginia School of Law during the fall semester. Here are five new courses that aim to give UVA students unique perspectives on the law.
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy, taught by Professor Bertrall Ross, will explore whether generative artificial intelligence could be used to address systemic electoral disengagement and underrepresentation, as well as the threat that AI poses for democracy. Ross, who co-directs the school’s Karsh Center for Law and Democracy, teaches and writes in the areas of constitutional law, constitutional theory, election law, administrative law and statutory interpretation.
International Settlement of Disputes, a short course led by visiting professor Jasmeet Gulati, will teach students principles of public international law pertaining to the settlement of disputes between states, the procedures available and the institutions that makes up the settlement system. Gulati is a professor of law at Jindal Global Law School of the O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat, India.
New Research in Criminal Justice, co-taught by Professors Rachel Harmon and Megan Stevenson, will expose students to new research to engage in critical discussion about various facets of the criminal legal system, such as eugenics, violence, police accountability and bail. Harmon, who co-directs the school’s Center for Criminal Justice, is one of the nation’s leading scholars on policing and the law, a field of study she helped create. Stevenson is an economist and criminal justice scholar who conducts empirical research in criminal law.
Single People and the Law, co-taught by Professors Naomi Cahn and Barbara Spellman, will examine legal topics from the perspective of single people, including family law, public and private benefits, employment and discrimination. Cahn co-directs the school’s Family Law Center and co-authored the book “Fair Shake: Women and the Fight to Build a Just Economy.” Spellman is a psychologist who teaches evidence and other courses at the intersection of psychology and law.
Students taking State Constitutionalism, taught by Judge Lisa Lorish ’08, will examine why so many state constitutions were interpreted in lockstep with the federal Constitution for decades. They will also study new opportunities and challenges posed by independent state constitutional interpretation. Lorish serves on the Virginia Court of Appeals and is a former assistant federal public defender.
Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.
