[Hamp-law] New Spring 18 course: Social Justice Lawyering, at UMass

[Flavio Risech]

    ST- Social Justice Lawyering

Semester:
Spring
Year:
2018
Subject Name:
History
Course Number:
397JL

Institution:
UMass Amherst

 From fighting Jim Crow segregation to challenging the recent Muslim 
travel ban, judicial review has historically been used as a strategy to 
reign-in executive and legislative over-reach and protect Constitutional 
rights. This course will examine how lawyers, social movements, and 
everyday people have used litigation to advocate for social justice in 
the United States. Through reading in-depth studies of important civil 
and criminal cases, we will explore such questions as: What is the 
history of social justice lawyering in the United States and how, why 
and when have social movements turned to litigation to advance their 
causes? What are the pros and cons of using litigation to achieve social 
justice, versus other tools like direct action, lobbying for political 
change, and community organizing? How effective is litigation in 
achieving the goals originally envisioned by lawyers, activists, and 
litigants? How have lawyers constrained or expanded the vision of social 
justice movements? What dilemmas do lawyers?who are ethically bound to 
zealously advocate for the interests of individual clients?face when 
they are additionally interested in advancing "a cause"? Cases explored 
may include issues such as civil rights, women's rights, free speech, 
LGBT/Queer rights, disability rights, environmental justice, criminal 
justice, poverty and people's lawyering, immigration rights, and the 
rise of conservative social movement lawyering. Prior law-related 
coursework helpful, but not required.

Comments:
Open to Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores only.
Instructor Permission:
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop 
period only.

ST- Social Justice Lawyering *Sect #* 	Credits 	Instructor(s) 
Instructor Email 	Meeting Times 	Location
01 	3.0 	Jennifer Nye 	
	TH 2:30PM 5:00PM 	

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