S. Legal Conflict and Change During the Civil War and Reconstruction

This seminar explores a variety of legal issues, conflicts, and changes emerging during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the aftermath of those events, via a mix of primary and secondary sources. In tracking legal development during a critical period of American history, it provides an opportunity to obtain a deeper understanding of the context generating and explaining the Reconstruction Amendments. This seminar's 3-credit designation reflects the significant amount of assigned reading indispensable to an appropriately immersive experience.

To participate in the seminar, students must apply for admission by sending an email to Professor Murray's assistant, Evita ([email protected]), with the following information: (1) a law school transcript; (2) a CV; (3) a short (no more than 1-2 paragraphs) statement of why you are interested in taking the seminar and what you hope to get out of it; and (4) whether you intend to pursue the Major Writing Credit and, if so, whether you have a general idea of what you might be interested in writing about. You may find a quick glance at a prior syllabus helpful to see the seminar's goals; if so, please contact Evita for a copy. Students will be admitted off the waitlist consistent with this application process.

Note: The transcript and CV aim not at imposing a grade or journal cutoff, but at helping generate a class of students with varied substantive interests and past classes. For example, many of the developments in the Reconstruction period touch on election law; students who have taken Law of the Political Process may have particular insights to add to the conversation. Or, to take another example, many of the deep conceptual questions are about the nature of the nation before and after the war; students who have taken some of our international law courses may have insights from those courses. Ideally, these varied backgrounds produce richer conversations.

This seminar meets for two hours per week but carries three points of credit. The additional credit reflects the instructor's certification that course assignments require student engagement and responsibilities beyond those expected in a standard two-hour lecture course. LLMs: please note that only two of the three course credits will count toward the 24 credit minimum for the NY Bar.