The Law and Lawyers in Modern Literature, University of Miami

Taught by a practicing trial lawyer and bestselling author of 28 novels, the course uses multiple forms of “literature” in an interdisciplinary inquiry into what the law, lawyers, and the legal system can and cannot tell us about “truth” in our changing world of fake news and alternative facts. Only materials from the 20th and 21st century are included, but “literature” is broadly defined to include fiction and nonfiction books, plays, screenplays, movies, television and songs that are about the law, that raises important moral and legal questions, or that have triggered interesting legal disputes. Students will explore (i) the impact of law-related literature on the legal profession, the law, and society, (ii) law-related literature as public entertainment, moral exploration, and a reflection of lawyers and the law; and (iii) legal and ethical issues that arise from the creation or exploitation of law-related literature. Weekly format is chiefly lecture and discussion. Students will also participate though an oral presentation at midterm and three class sessions devoted to “Classics Clinics,” a skills-based exercise involving mock examination/interview of characters from “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Handmaid’s Tale” or other assigned materials. A final paper is required. This information has been collected for the Post-Discipline Online Syllabus Database. The database explores the use of literature by schools of professional education in North America. It forms part of a larger project titled Post-Discipline: Literature, Professionalism, and the Crisis of the Humanities, led by Dr Merve Emre with the assistance of Dr Hayley G. Toth. You can find more information about the project at https://postdiscipline.english.ox.ac.uk/. Data was collected and accurate in 2021/22.