UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 6, Page 9
October 10, 1991
New minor; Field of law closely linked to other disciplines

     Law is an all-encompassing field that has a direct impact in
many areas of everyday life. It is the foundation of all levels of
government and international relations.
     Because law is so inclusive and complex with many
interpretations and ramifications, it is a field that lends itself
to study from many different perspectives, such as women's studies,
anthropology, political science, economics, sociology and
psychology.
     That multidimensional aspect is the basis of a new minor
recently established at the University as part of the Legal Studies
Program.
     Director of the interdisciplinary program is Jack Carter, also
an instructor in the College of Business and Economics.
     A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a master's
degree in economics from Boston College and additional graduate
studies at Northwestern University, Carter received his law degree
from the University of Maryland and has passed the Maryland bar.
     "The study of economics and law is an established academic
field in itself and is an example of how law and other disciplines
are linked," Carter pointed out. "For example, economic analysis
can be applied to current federal regulations governing superfund
clean-ups to see what incentives are created by these rules.
Conversely, alternative regulations can be evaluated to see if they
are better able to achieve the government's objectives."
     Although the legal studies minor is an excellent choice for
those who plan to study law, it is not a pre-law or paralegal
program, he said.
     The Legal Studies Program and minor are designed for students
whose interests lie in a variety of disciplines, and for students
planning to continue graduate studies in law-related professions.
     Students wishing to minor in legal studies must take three
mandatory courses in legal studies: "Introduction to Law,"
"Introduction to Legal Studies" and a "Legal Studies Senior
Seminar." Three electives may be taken from selected courses in
accounting, communications, criminal justice, economics, history,
philosophy, political science/international relations, psychology,
sociology and women's studies.
     The Legal Studies Program also sponsors panel discussions and
programs of topical interest associated with the law. Most
recently, it hosted a panel discussion on the Senate Judiciary
Committee hearings on Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas.
     Another on bi-lingualism in the courts is being planned,
co-sponsored with the Department of Linguistics.
     Valerie Hans, professor of criminal justice and psychology,
will be teaching "Introduction to Legal Studies," next fall.
     "The course will integrate many disciplines," she said,
"looking at the law from the perspective of economics, psychology
and anthropology, for example.
     "One of the areas which will be explored is how individuals
experience the law. Studies have been done on plaintiffs in small
claims courts and how they perceive the law, with many of them
feeling violated by the system.
     "In my research, I have interviewed a large number of jurors
to determine how they have made decisions about interpreting laws.
     "Another approach to law in this course is to understand how
laws have discriminated against women and minorities," Hans said.
     The new minor is an excellent program that crosses colleges
and disciplines and offers a challenging opportunity for
undergraduates, she said.
     For further information about the minor, call Carter at
451-1924.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure