Fall 2024
The History of Law in Europe
Tamar Herzog PhD, Monroe Gutman Professor of Latin American History, Harvard University and Affiliated Faculty Member, Harvard Law School
This course examines the history of law in Europe (including both England and the continent, as well as Europe's overseas domains) from the fall of the Roman Empire (fifth century) to the present day. Organized chronologically, it engages with the sources of law, the organization of legal systems, and the relations between law and society. We discuss primary historical sources that highlight the particularities of distinct moments in that long trajectory, as well as cover some of the main dilemmas facing European law today.
Fall 2024
Introduction to American Law
Havva Guney-Ruebenacker SJD, Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School
This course provides a general introduction to the law and legal system of the United States, including its history and institutions. Topics include historical background and development of US law, sources of law, the interaction of state and federal law, the structure of the US court system, basic principles and doctrines of common law, the adversary process, and trial by jury. The course also surveys substantive law in a range of selected subject areas and issues, such as Constitutional law, contracts, torts, criminal law, family law, separation of powers, freedom of speech, due process, equal protection, and law and religion. Students are also introduced to some of the most important cases in US legal history.
Fall 2024
Start-Ups from the Perspective of Business and IP Law
Tiffany Nichols PhD, JD, Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of History, Princeton University
This course covers the intersection between start-ups, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property (IP) law. Students gain skills with navigation of major tenets of intellectual property law including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets as these concepts relate to start-ups and entrepreneurship. Students also gain experience in presenting shark tank and more formal pitches that incorporate references to the IP holdings of start-ups or small businesses. Further, students receive an introduction to the basics of contract instruments which allow for sharing of IP with entities outside of a start-up while protecting the IP of the start-up. Lastly, students are exposed to the IP litigation landscape that start-ups face using actual litigation matters. For example, students are provided with an overview of discovery and gain deposition skills through a hands-on approach. Upon completing the course, students are able to perform basic legal research, understand basic case law, and interpret basic legal documents, such as patent applications and simple confidentiality agreements, which are relevant to start-ups during their funding and growth periods.
Spring 2025
Comparative Law
Havva Guney-Ruebenacker SJD, Lecturer on Law, Harvard Law School
This course is a general introduction to the theory and practice of comparative law, with a broad overview of the major legal systems in the world. Based on a comparative study of different legal institutions and traditions in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the course explores topics such as debates around similarities and differences between civil law and common law, between continental Europe and Anglo-American legal systems, different comparative legal methodologies, and the points of convergence and divergence of different legal systems. Our comparative analysis also includes several examples of global case studies of comparative law in practice, such as legal reception and globalization of law and legal thought, and legal reforms in the areas of law and development, economic reforms, constitutional reforms, democratization, rule of law, human rights, equality, family law reforms, and church-state relationship.