S. Breakthrough in Abolition Through Transformative Learning Exchange

Course Information

Course Number
L9032
Curriculum Level
Upperclass
Areas of Study
Constitutional Law, Human Rights, Lawyering, Leadership, Legal History and Law and Philosophy, Racial, Economic, and Social Justice
Type
Seminar
Additional Attributes
Experiential Credit

Section 001 Information

Instructor

Susan Sturm Susan P. Sturm George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility

Section Description

This course is designed for Columbia Law students seeking to understand and enact strategies for advancing racial and social justice with and for communities affected by mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex. Students will work collaboratively with justice-involved individuals to (1) identify the historical, legal, economic, and political dimensions of the prison industrial complex and its abolition, (2) explore the impact of the civil rights amendments as interpreted by courts and legislatures on political, economic, and social participation by communities of color (3) identify disconnects between the current law school curriculum and the lived experiences and insights of those directly impacted by the criminal legal system, (4) identify and pursue forms of law, policy, legal education, and activism that advance economic and political empowerment of communities affected by mass incarceration, and (5) build partnerships that embrace a trauma-informed approach and offer civic engagement education and organizing efforts led by justice-involved advocates in response to the impact of structural racism, mass incarceration and intergenerational disenfranchisement of communities of color. This course was designed and piloted through a unique and innovative long-term collaboration between the Black Law Students Association, justice-involved leaders, and the course instructors.

The breakthrough in institutional and social change occurs through a learning exchange. Students will work in partnership with justice-involved leaders to interrogate the history and present of the prison industrial complex and abolition, reimagine the future of justice, and advance concrete research and activism projects documenting and enacting transformative strategies. They will build community and partnerships through a mutual exchange of personal experiences rooted in historical, systemic, and theoretical inquiry, co-facilitated discussions, and project development. Students will also be challenged to reimagine the various structures that form the prison industrial complex today, and to work towards long term, sustainable solutions through projects related to the themes of the course. Students and justice-involved leaders will have the opportunity to join existing projects or develop new ones. Students interested in continuing their project work may enroll in Breakthrough in Abolition Through Transformative Learning Exchange (BATTLE): Advanced Fieldwork/Practicum (Spring Semester).

Admission is by application and instructor approval. The application is available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zQrkwo1WYF50vAvrSNg-ML4qcNeFgplkzLSKxYl-I-4/edit email Susan Sturm, [email protected] or Alejo Rodriguez, [email protected], for further information.

Method of Evaluation: Class participation (40%) and paper/policy reports (60%). Major writing credit offered.

School Year & Semester
Fall 2023
Dates
September 5 - September 13
Location
WJWH 105
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
September 19 - September 20
Location
JGA Greene Annex Lounge
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
September 26 - September 27
Location
WJWH 105
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
October 3 - October 11
Location
JGA Greene Annex Lounge
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
October 17 - October 18
Location
WJWH 105
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
October 24 - November 22
Location
JGA Greene Annex Lounge
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Dates
November 28 - December 6
Location
WJWH 105
Schedule
Class meets on
  • Wednesday
6:20 pm - 8:10 pm
Points
2
Method of Evaluation
Other
J.D Writing Credit?
Minor (upon consultation)

Learning Outcomes

Primary
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in a specific body of law, including major policy concerns
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in statutory and regulatory analysis, including close reading of statutes and regulations, and application to facts
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in ethical and professional issues
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in judicial, legislative and/or administrative processes
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in values-based considerations in law-making
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in jurisprudential considerations in legal analysis
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in the historical development of law and legal institutions
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in use of other disciplines in the analysis of legal problems and institutions, e.g., philosophy; economics,other social sciences; and cultural studies
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in the influences of political institutions in law
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in finding, understanding, using and critiquing secondary legal literature
  • At the end of the course, students will have acquired understanding of and/or facility in various lawyering skills, for example, oral advocacy, legal writing and drafting, legal research, negotiation, and client communication
  • Learn how to collaborate effectively with justice impacted communities

Course Limitations

Instructor Pre-requisites
None
Instructor Co-Requisites
None
Requires Permission
Yes
Recommended Courses
None
Other Limitations
Admission is by application and instructor approval. The application is available at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1zQrkwo1WYF50vAvrSNg-ML4qcNeFgplkzLSKxYl-I-4/edit email Susan Sturm, [email protected] or Alejo Rodriguez, [email protected].

Other Sections of S. Breakthrough in Abolition Through Transformative Learning Exchange

Section 002

School Year & Semester

Fall 2023

Instructors

Susan Sturm

Susan P. Sturm

George M. Jaffin Professor of Law and Social Responsibility

Points

1
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