English Legal History

3 Credit Hours

English common and constitutional law form the basis of U.S. law and government. To understand ourselves as American lawyers, therefore, we should understand something about where our law comes from. This class will study the development of the English common law and constitution with a particular focus on the formative period of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The grade will be based on an in-person essay exam, 5-minute homework quizzes on the readings, class participation, and a 2-3 page paper analyzing a case from the period that can be done with a partner. Computers are not permitted in class. The readings will be available in pdf or print-on-demand.