LGLS courses may be limited in enrollment, with preference given to juniors and seniors in the Legal Studies Program. Many, except LGLS 10a, require an access code to enroll. Contact nfeldman@brandeis.edu during enrollment periods.
LGLS 10a Introduction to Law
Surveys the nature, process, and institutions of law: the reasoning of lawyers and judges, the interplay of cases and policies, the impact of history and culture, and the ideals of justice and responsibility. Usually offered every spring.
Mr. Gaskins
LGLS 89a Law and Society Internship and Seminar
Prerequisites: LGLS 10a and one other LGLS course or permission of the instructor. To obtain an internship, students must discuss their placements with the LGLS program administrator by March 15 for fall-term internships or by October 15 for spring-term internships. This course may not be repeated for credit. LGLS 89a requires 2 full days (9-5)/week at internship plus class Wednesdays 6:30-8:00pm.
Biweekly class and a supervised law-related internship in a public agency or nonprofit organization. Examples of internship activities include investigating discrimination cases, negotiating between consumers and small business, and helping asylum seekers. Internships must be arranged through the program administrator. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Stimell
LGLS 114a American Health Care: Law and Policy
Not recommended for freshmen.
Highlights issues of access, quality, and cost. Introduces laws and regulations that affect every aspect of American health care from planning and finance to patient treatment. Traces development of Medicare and Medicaid. Discusses malpractice, "birth of the Blues," expansion of HMOs, and influence of employer-purchased insurance on cost and delivery of health care. Portrays the important role courts, Congress, and administrative agencies play in organization and delivery of health services. Usually offered every year.
staff
LGLS 120a Sex Discrimination and the Law
Traces the evolution of women's rights in the family, in employment, and in the reproductive process, as well as constitutional doctrines. Examines gender inequalities and assesses if and how the law should address them. Legal cases studied emphasize how law reflects society.
Ms. Kramer
LGLS 121b Law and Social Welfare: Citizen Rights and Government Responsibilities
The U.S. welfare system has changed dramatically. Examines the legal implications of recent debates and changes in social welfare policy at federal and state levels. Concentrating on welfare reform, child welfare, and disability welfare, the class explores the lives of welfare recipients, looks at history, examines statutes and legal cases to challenge assumptions of our social welfare policy and tries to create better solutions.
Ms. Stimell
LGLS 124b International Law and Development
Surveys public and private forms of international law with special application to developing countries, and to political and social development in the global economy. Examines basic legal concepts of property, contract, and rule-of-law in the context of national and cultural transformations.
Staff
LGLS 125b International Law and Organizations
Introduction to international law, its nature, sources, and application, e.g., its role in the management of international conflicts. Topics may include international agreements, international organizations including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, states and recognition, nationality and alien rights, territorial and maritime jurisdiction, international claims, the laws of war and human rights.
Staff
LGLS 126b Marriage, Divorce, and Parenthood
Examines recent developments in family law concerning cohabitation, open adoption, no-fault divorce, joint custody, and same-sex marriage. Explores social and political developments that bring about changes in law and impact of new law
Staff
LGLS 128b Comparative Law
Compares constitutional practices in the
Staff
LGLS 129b Law, Technology, and Innovation
Study of interaction of the law and technology, including how law encourages and restrains the processes of technological innovation and change and how technological innovation and change affect the law. Topics include such issues as intellectual property rights and new information technologies, biotechnology engineering, and reproductive technologies. Shows how law balances personal, social, and economic interests.
staff
LGLS 130a Conflict Analysis and Intervention
Examines alternatives to litigation, including negotiation and mediation. Through simulations and court observations, students assess their own attitudes about and skills in conflict resolution. Analyzes underlying theories in criminal justice system, divorce, adoption, and international arena.
Ms. Stimell
LGLS 131b Autonomy and Self-Determination in Critical Health Care Decisions
Examines how decisions are made to treat critically ill patients. Ethical and philosophical aspects of the physician-patient relationship, the doctrine of informed consent, "medical futility," "physician-assisted suicide," and "right-to-die" cases will be explored.
staff
LGLS 132b Environmental Law and Policy
Examines public health and environmental problems, including regulation of harmful substances in our environment, wilderness preservation, and protection of wetlands and endangered species. Explores use of risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis; also considers the impact of political ideologies on legislation and adjudication. Evaluates law's efforts and limitations in protecting public health and the environment.
Ms. Goldin
LGLS 133b Criminal Law
Topics may vary from year to year. Students may repeat the course for credit, with permission of the program administrator, if the focus is different each time. For fall 2007, the emphasis will be on international perspectives.
In alternate years, the course focuses on American criminal law: the criminal justice process and changing roles of prosecution, defense, judges, and juries. Reviews statutory poweres and constitutional restraints on officials; analyzes discretion in arrest, prosecution, and punishment. Explores the mutual impact of crime and community structure.
Mr. Leahy
LGLS 137a Libel and Defamation, Privacy and Publicity
Consideration of the historical, cultural, and constitutional roots--and judicial application--of laws defining libel and defamation. Part of the course will be devoted to "privacy rights" as they apply to issues of artistic freedom and integrity.
Staff
LGLS 138b Science on Trial
Surveys the procedures and analytic methods by which scientific data enter into litigation and regulation/policy making. Introduces basic tools of risk analysis and legal rules of evidence. Case studies of breast implant litigation and regulation, use of DNA and fingerprint evidence in litigation, court-ordered caesarian sections, polygraph testing, alternative medicine, and genetically modified foods.
staff
LGLS 150a Law and Society in Cyberspace
Examines how legal practices expand and restrain the digital revolution, how legal authority itself is challenged by the Internet, forcing new strategies of response, and how social/political forces shape legal policy on copyright, privacy, harassment, libel, and free speech.
Staff
Cross-Listed Courses
AMST 187a
The Legal Boundaries of Public and Private Life
AMST 188b
Justice Brandeis and Progressive Jurisprudence
AMST 189a
Legal Foundations of American Capitalism
PHIL 13b
The Idea of the Market: Economic Philosophies
PHIL 74b
Foundations of American Pragmatism