Law 375 - Latinos and the Law

This course surveys the experience of Latinas/os (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and others) in the American legal system. The course begins with two foundational units. The introductory unit uses sociological and historical readings to address questions of who Latinas/os are in terms of demography and identity. The next unit situates the experience of Latinas/os within the context of other American racial groups (especially African Americans, but also Asian Americans and Native Americans). The remainder of the course takes up several case studies (based principally around U.S. or state Supreme Court opinions) such as the following: litigation over the right to serve on juries, various rights in the education realm, English-only laws in employment contexts, and various issues in immigration law.

This course may be of special interest to students who expect their client base to include substantial numbers of Latinas/os or to students who have had some college level exposure to Chicana/o studies or ethnic studies courses. The class is taught socratically and students should expect to participate extensively in class discussions. Grades will be determined based on class participation and a choice of submitting a series of response papers throughout the semester or sitting for a final examination. There are no prerequisites for this course.