LAW 581

Workshop in Sociology of Law

Law School

Recommended for route(s):

[ Regulatory & Policy ] Employment Law: General

General course Description:

(Same as SOC 338.)
This workshop is intended to introduce joint JD/PhD students to the empirical, sociological study of law and legal institution. In contrast to social science approaches that treat law as superstructure, or traditional legal approaches that treat it as a formal system of rules that is autonomous from society, this course treats law as a social institution. We will cover topics such as the relation of law to inequality and stratification, social movements, organizations and institutions, political sociology and state development, and the social construction of disputes and dispute resolution processes. The course will primarily feature presentations by students and guest faculty speakers, and will include discussion of substantive, theoretical, and methodological questions. A schedule of this term's guest speakers, along with their papers, is available at: lawandsociety.stanford.edu We will also address career development issues, covering such topics as: where to publish interdisciplinary work; the relative benefits of teaching in law schools, interdisciplinary departments, and disciplinary departments; and how to "plug in" to the law and society professional network. Special Instructions: Enrollment: Required for admitted JD/PhD students in sociology in the first three years of program, and open to PhD students in sociology and related disciplines interested in the sociology of law. Credits and grading basis: Workshop may be taken for 1-5 quarter units and may be repeated for credit. Any student taking the class for at least two units of credit may write paper for either W or R credit.

Course Style: A Substantive/ Perspective course looks at law from an external or non-traditional standpoint.

Find in Courserank