Admission requirements
None
Description
This course provides an introduction to the field of socio-legal studies. Unlike traditional readings of the law which mostly examine the law from a normative perspective, the socio-legal approach is concerned with what the law actually does in reality (often referred to as ‘law in action’) and how it relates to society and social change. To this end, the socio-legal approach adopts a more interdisciplinary perspective (sociology, anthropology, criminology etc.) to analyzing the law. This course will examine key themes and insights from the field, drawing on different cultures and contexts.
Questions addressed include:
What functions does law have in society? Does law represent society’s consensus, is it helpful to advance the interests of the poor or does it rather serve the interests of the rich and powerful?
How is the law socially constructed and how does it impact social realities?
How do law and social change relate to each other – can law be used to bring about social change or vice versa?
Why do people obey the law?
What is legal pluralism? How, when and why can it be applied?
Through these and other questions this course explores the ways in which law and society mutually affect and shape each other, and the roles that social context, structure and power play in this regard.
Course objectives
Knowledge:
Understand important concepts, themes and theories within the field of socio-legal studies;
Identify and explain law’s relationship with different visions of society and how legal processes do or do not lead to social change;
Understand, articulate, and analyze concepts of legal compliance, access to justice, legal pluralism and legal consciousness;
Skills:
Summarize readings in terms of arguments and methodology;
Apply legal concepts to particular social examples and issues;
Analyze how legal concepts are based on different socio-cultural contexts;
Develop and present sophisticated and coherent arguments both orally and in writing;
Timetable
See MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
The course uses a variety of teaching methods, including (interactive) lecturing, group presentations, in class discussion and debate.
Lectures
- Number of ( 2 hour ) lectures: 5
Classes
- Number of (2 hour ) tutorials: 5
Assessment method
Written examination with a combination of short open questions and an essay component (100%).
Resit
If the number of students needing to do a resit is > 5 the resit will be in written form, otherwise the teacher can decide that the resit will be in the form of an oral examination.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 4.1.8 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations) on the condition that this course is not part of the minor. Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course if they meet certain requirements. For more information; go to the website > ‘Law’ tab > ‘Retake a passed exam’.
Reading list
The required and recommended reading will be listed in the course syllabus and will be made available on Brightspace.
Registration
Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest student) please check here under the Law tab for more information about the registration procedure in your situation.
Contact
For information: VVI-secretariaat@law.leidenuniv.nl
Institution/division
Institute: Metajuridica
Department: Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance, and Society
Room number secretariat: KOG, room B1.14
Opening hours: Monday – Friday 9.00 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 16.00 h.
Telephone number secretariat: +31 (0) 71 527 7260