Law Schedule of Classes

NOTE: Course offerings change. Classes offered this semester may not be offered in future semesters.


282.1 sec. 001 - Domestic Violence Law Seminar (Fall 2023)

Instructor: Mallika Kaur  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
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Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person

Meeting:

Th 3:35 PM - 6:15 PM
Location: Law 134
From August 24, 2023
To November 30, 2023

Course Start: August 24, 2023
Course End: November 30, 2023
Class Number: 31594

Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 16
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 20
As of: 02/07 02:03 PM


This course will examine the legal system's response to domestic violence (also known as family violence or intimate partner violence). Using an interdisciplinary approach, we will cover historical, psychological, empirical materials as well as topics in criminal, family, tort, immigration, welfare, housing, employment, human rights, privacy, and constitutional law. We will explore how domestic violence laws disparately affect different groups, including people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of faith communities, and peoples who fall outside of the current normative family structures in the U.S.. Ethical and policy issues will be explored throughout, as will discussions of the trajectory of the anti-domestic violence movement in light of racial justice movements (new and sustained).

Through a trauma-centered and intersectional approach, students will be positioned to assess and analyze the responses by the legal system (and lateral/alternative systems) to the persistent and prevalent social issue of domestic violence.

We will use a group discussion format. Several guest speakers and videos will be included. This course will provide students an opportunity to develop their skills of listening (to each other; guest speakers; interviews; videos), writing (reflections and comments on bCourses; final exam), and facilitation/presentation. The course has a take-home, open-book final exam.

Each Spring semester Mallika Kaur runs the Domestic Violence Field Placement at Berkeley Law: students work on real cases, supervised by practicing attorneys in a range of practice areas, while enrolled in a classroom component taught by Kaur. Students may choose a placement at one of various legal agencies in the Bay Area. Their work focuses on restraining orders, family law, public benefits, immigration, asylum, employment issues, prosecution, defense of accused and/or incarcerated victims, appellate work, or other issues involving domestic violence. Students also may work on policy matters, including helping draft and advocate for legislation. For more information, go to https://www.law.berkeley.edu/experiential/domestic-violence-law-practicum/.

Requirements Satisfaction:


Units from this class count towards the J.D. Race and Law Requirement.

The Race and Law Requirement applies to the class of 2026 and beyond.


Exam Notes: (TH) Take-home examination
Exam Length: 5 hours
Course Category: Family Law
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Race and Law
Social Justice and Public Interest

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