Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
208.8 sec. 001 - Foundation Seminar in the Sociology of Law (Spring 2025)
Instructor: Catherine R Albiston (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
Tu 2:10 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 2240 Piedmont 102
From January 14, 2025
To April 22, 2025
Course End: April 22, 2025
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 8
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 24
As of: 01/21 02:15 AM
This course is a general introduction to the sociology of law intended for graduate students in all disciplines. The field of sociology of law examines how law relates to social structure, social inequality, and broad changes in society. Scholars in this field study how law constitutes the major categories of social life and structures social behavior. Research in this area focuses on law as it is embedded within social context as a social institution rather than as an authoritative text. This foundation seminar will cover classic and contemporary works that address law, rights and social change; law, inequality and power; the social construction of disputes and dispute resolution; organizations and law; the legal profession; and social movements and law. Doctoral students in the JSP program who plan to take the sociology of law field exam should take this course in preparation.
Students interested in the course should email Professor Albiston – calbiston@berkeley.edu – a short paragraph of no more than 200 words explaining your interest in the seminar by November 1, 2024. After this date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis as space permits.
In addition, not counted in your 200 words, please also include your year and degree program (e.g. 2L, LLM, 2d year Ph.D. student in Sociology etc.). No prior knowledge is required or necessary for the class, and all graduate students are welcome and encouraged to enroll. Please make the subject line of your email “Application to Sociology of Law”. Students will be informed whether they have permission to enroll on a rolling basis, but no later than November 8th.
Attendance at the first class is mandatory for all currently enrolled and waitlisted students; any currently enrolled or waitlisted students who are not present on the first day of class (without prior permission of the instructor) will be dropped. The instructor will continue to take attendance throughout the add/drop period and anyone who moves off the waitlist into the class must continue to attend or have prior permission of the instructor in order not to be dropped.
Submit teaching evaluations for this course between 14-APR-25 and 29-APR-25
Exam Notes: (None) Class requires a series of papers, assignments, or presentations throughout the semester
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP)
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:
Instructor has indicated that no books will be assigned.