Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Gupta

J.D. Course 366 | 2 credit hours

Where did the public-interest law movement come from and where is it headed? Who decides what’s in the “public interest”? Can litigation really produce social change? How can public-interest lawyers accomplish their goals outside the courts—through legislatures, administrative agencies, the media, and communities? What are the different models and strategies for public-interest advocacy, how well do they work, and how do we measure their success? How do public-interest lawyers get money to do their work?

This seminar will critically examine these questions based on historical, doctrinal, and social-science accounts, and from the perspective of those who practice public interest law on the left and on the right. Grades will be based on the extent and quality of class participation and written assignments.

Priority for enrollment is given to students enrolled in the Public Interest Law Scholars program ("PILS").