Introduction to humanitarian law. Topics include theory and history of international human rights law, growth and nature of human rights organizations, regional human rights schemes, cross-cultural contexts and meanings for human rights, the politics and law of immigration and refugees, international criminal law and other mechanisms for humanitarian intervention. Prerequisite: course in Legal Studies or international politics. Satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-Legal major.

This course will explore the history, purpose, procedure and practice of specialty or problem-solving courts (e.g. drug treatment courts, mental health courts, veteran's treatment courts) in the American criminal justice system in general and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in particular. Students will be required to read and discuss articles, studies, manuals, reports, etc., related to the topic. Students will also be giving opportunity to observe local specialty court sessions (in person or virtually) and then discuss their observations.

This course involves in-depth study of the topic of human trafficking, often referred to as "modern day slavery." The course will explore the definition of the crime of human trafficking in the US and internationally and study the debates surrounding anti-trafficking laws and policies. We will examine the similarities and differences between slavery and human trafficking in the popular imagination and the law.

The course will focus on civil law and will deal with issues that are unique to each of the respective civil trial courts. Case studies will address the manner in which disputes are resolved by trial or settlement. Some of the issues to be examined are termination of parental rights, sexually dangerous person proceedings and administrative agency appeals. The course will also focus on the equitable jurisdiction of the courts, contract actions and an introduction to real property rights.

This course addresses the historical and contemporary intersection between criminal and im/migration law, often referred to as "crimmigration." We will discuss the use of the criminal justice system, including policing and mass incarceration, as part of the immigration enforcement apparatus. Topics include the interplay between the securitization of borders, detention, deportation and criminal law, as well as the evolution of criminal justice as a form of migration control, and the implications of cooperation between law enforcement and immigration authorities.

This course examines the relationship between law and colonialism both in historical and contemporary perspectives. First, we will learn about how law has been used to justify and facilitate the projects of colonialism, imperialism, and empire. Second, we will look at examples from around the world to understand how law operated in colonial settings as a tool of domination, especially as colonizers often imposed their system of laws on peoples with pre-existing legal traditions.

In this course, we will explore the political, legal, and social implications of Big Data, artificial intelligence, and the increasing reliance on automated, machine learning algorithms across many different decision-making contexts, with a particular focus on the manifestations of bias in computationally or machine-based decisions. The course will address both the promise and perils of data-based, machine decision-making as well as the multiplicity of ways in which it already influences our daily lives.

This course will explore the role of mental healthcare law and procedure in the criminal justice system and will address how mentally ill clients are processed through the criminal justice system. Students will be introduced to the many mental health resources and treatment programs that are currently available to assist individuals. We will also explore contemporary issues in mental health and criminal justice, such as the treatment of mentally ill juveniles and women within the criminal justice system as well as the accessibility of mental healthcare services for at-risk groups.

An introduction to the types of legal reasoning and analysis practiced in the American judicial system. Through readings of case opinions and additional materials, the course will explore how legal reasoning works within the legal system, its application to other types of law-related problems, and critiques of both its theory and practice.

Since 2000, Russia has turned from a country reeling from a transition away from Communism to a strong state with a renewed sense of national identity and purpose. Yet there are important questions still to be asked and answered about where Russia is headed. This class will give students the analytical tools and the historical background to understand and intelligently debate and discuss the past, present and future of Russia.