*Law-Lit Syllabus

We explore law’s meaning and value through stories. What is justice? How should we judge? What is law’s foundation? Why obey law? What kind of lawyer should I aspire to become? What values are most imp ortant to a flourishing life in law practice ? Literature helps us answer these vital questions. It likewise teaches us to become better legal writers. Learning story techniques, such as narrative structure, character development, and theme building, among other tools of the writer’s trade, enhances our repertoire of persuasion skills. Those skills share center stage with our professional values as we confront the many moral – legal dilemmas in a thoughtful lawyer’ s life. To those ends, we read the classics, such as Antigone; A Jury of Her Peers; and Noon Wine , as well as many contemporary works, such as The Lifeboat; Just Mercy; A Civil Action; and Home Fire. We also dissect the movie Michael Clayton for its many Law-Lit themes. For further insights, we look to excerpts from poetry, essays, and actual legal cases.