Law Schedule of Classes

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


264.53 sec. 001 - Comparative Equality 1 (Fall 2024)

Instructor: David B Oppenheimer  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only

Units: 2
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person

Meeting:

Tu 3:35 PM - 5:25 PM
Location: Law 141
From August 20, 2024
To November 19, 2024

Course Start: August 20, 2024
Course End: November 19, 2024
Class Number: 32584

Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 8
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 24
As of: 05/03 11:39 PM


Comparative Equality Law: A multi-university course plus a Berkeley seminar

Comparative Equality Law uses a problem-based approach to examine how various legal systems address problems of discrimination and inequality. The overarching themes are (1) equality in theory, (2) equality in law, and (3) equality in society. The course will comparatively examine the United States, the European Union and Council of Europe (and some of their member states), India, Colombia, South Africa, Canada, and Brazil. Topics will include employment discrimination, gender harassment/violence, marriage equality, affirmative action, reproductive rights, and the intersection of race, religion, and gender in the regulation of Muslim women’s clothing.

The course is taught as two courses which must be taken together. The first course is taught on Zoom and includes law students and faculty from 15 universities, with representation from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. The second course is a Berkeley Law seminar.

The multi-university course meets weekly for two hours. Each class session includes two faculty lectures (approximately 15 minutes each), two small group discussions in break-out rooms (typically 4-6 students from 3-6 countries plus a discussion leader, again for 15 minutes each), and two plenary session discussions.

The Berkeley seminar meets weekly once a week for two hours for discussions of the reading,
discussion of the multi-university lectures and discussions, and presentations and discussion of
student papers. Students will write and present a 8-10-page paper, which will be due on
November 1, and will present the paper using presentation software (PowerPoint or an
alternative) to the seminar participants in November.

Each university supplies discussion leaders for the breakout sessions in the weekly multi-
university Zoom meetings. Berkeley students enrolled in the course will each lead 5 breakout
sessions over the course of the semester. Each student will turn in a brief (2-3 page) reflection
after leading their discussion groups (thus, 5 reflections total). Preparation to lead a breakout
session requires the student to attend or watch a recording of a thirty-minute faculty meeting
at which the breakout question is discussed.

Grades for the seminar will be based on the papers and presentations, and in the case of a tie may be raised based on class participation. Grades for the multi-university course will be based on the reflection essays, and in the case of a tie may be raised based on class participation.

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: (None) Class requires a series of papers, assignments, or presentations throughout the semester
Course Category: International and Comparative Law
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Race and Law
Social Justice and Public Interest

If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment to this page.

Readers:
No reader.

Books:
Required Books are in blue

  • Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law, Third Edition
    David B. Oppenheimer, Sheila R. Foster, Sora Y. Han, Richard T. Ford
    Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
    ISBN: 9781788979214
    e-Book Available: unknown
    Price: To Be Determined
  • The Global #MeToo Movement
    Ann M. Noel, David B. Oppenheimer
    Publisher: Full Court Press
    ISBN: 9781949884395
    e-Book Available: unknown
    Copyright Date: To Be Determined
    Price: To Be Determined

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