Legal History: Research Seminar in Legal Biography

The aim of this seminar is to produce a number of student-written studies of the lives of lawyers. In the first half of the seminar, we will read some exemplary biographies of lawyers. In the second half, students in the seminar will report on their own research into the life of a lawyer, preferably a lawyer who undertook public engagements as an official, elected officeholder, law writer or reformer, or judge as well as private practice. Students who wish to enroll in the course should, at the time of enrollment, submit a short proposal with (1) the name of the lawyer or lawyers they plan to write about; (2) the materials, including in substantial part primary sources, they plan to use in writing the biography; and (3) a summary of other sources, such as secondary biographical or contextual materials that they plan to consult. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Class Participation, Final Paper. CONSENT APPLICATION: To apply for this course, students must complete and submit a Consent Application Form available on the SLS website (Click Courses at the bottom of the homepage and then click Consent of Instructor Forms). See Consent Application Form for instructions and submission deadline.