Course Description

Course Description

This course serves as an “anchor” to the Law and History minor and certificate programs. It aims to show students how historians think about the law and how lawyers think about history. We will explore these broad questions through a series of paired case studies drawn from historical and contemporary legal debates. These “Past & Present” case studies will analyze the deeper historical roots of some of the most pressing legal dilemmas of our times, from the legalization of marijuana to immigration controls. The course also includes “Law Labs,” in which students will gain experience in interpreting a variety of historical and legal sources, from detective stories to Supreme Court opinions—crucial skills for later work in the minor or certificate program. Students, via a series of guest lectures, will also have the opportunity to interact with other faculty with whom they might take future courses to fulfill requirements in “Law and History.”