Law and Transformative Social Change

What potential does the law hold to bring about transformative social change in today’s society? Relatedly, what strategies and approaches have social movement activists utilized to engage lawyers and the broader legal system? We will answer these questions through an examination of models of activist and public interest lawyering from the Civil Rights, Environment Justice, Immigrant Rights and same sex marriage movements. Readings will draw from sociological, anthropological, legal and historical texts and legal cases with a focus on exploring multiple aspects of a legal decision.