LS: Pre-Law: Course Syllabus

POS/PLA 440

Special Topics in Law

Lawyers & Film

 

LAWYERS and FILM @ K-300
SUMMER TERM, M-F 8:00-9:20
 
Instructor:     Judge Richard Poland, Associate Professor of Law.
 
Office Hours: 7:30-8:00 A.M. MTTF, or by appointment in K-309.
 
Telephone:     Office extension #338; e-mail polandrc@flagler.edu.
 
Text: MOVIES on TRIAL, Anthony Chase; The New Press; 2002.
Additional resources at: www.flagler.edu/academics/prelaw/index.html
On Reserve at the Proctor Library: Legal Reelism, When Law Goes Pop, and The Soul of The Law.
 
Course Objective: The objective of this course is to teach students the influence and the impact of film on lawyers and the legal system in the United States.
 
Course Requirements: Students must master the course materials.  Students will demonstrate efficiency by writing and presenting one 8-10 page paper on lawyers and film. Integrate the text with the film. Use 12-point font; have one-inch margins; and double-space. Cite several outside sources in your biblio graphy. The papers must be college-level writing and be presented after the viewing of the film. A final exam will be given at the end of the term.
 
Course Outline:

I.         Trials Hollywood Style
II.        Lawyers As Litigators
III.       Lawyers And Gender Issues
IV.       Lawyers As Leaders
V.        Lawyers As Judges
VI.       Lawyers As Heroes
VII.      Jurors As Heroes
 
Grading:        

A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = Below 60.
The paper/presentation is 50% of the grade and the final exam is 50% of the grade. Incisive comments may help your final grade.
 
Outcomes:    

The student will understand the impact and the influence of film on lawyers and the legal system in the United States.
 
Attendance:  

Class attendance is required.  More than 4 absences will result in the assignment of a WP or a WF, whichever is appropriate.
 
Cheating:

Cheating is not tolerated.  Anyone caught cheating will receive an F for the course. Do not plagiarize. (See Catalog)

Methods of Instruction:

The professor will assist the students in understanding the material by using the Socratic method and by using film as legal text. Class discussion is an integral part of the course and incisive comments will be rewarded.
 
Disabilities Statement:

Special services and reasonable accommodations are available for those students who are registered with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities and who request assistance.
 
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE:
 
The following schedule is subject to change if deemed necessary by the professor.
 
Week 1:          Review Class Expectations and Course Syllabus; Read and Review Text Chapter 1 and Text Chapter 2.  Read Chapter 2 in Richard Sherwin Text, When Law Goes Pop: Screening Reality. Film Responsibility is assigned.
 
I. Trials Hollywood Style: View and Discuss:  Inherit The Wind
(Contrast with American Landmark Case: The Scopes “Monkey Trial”) and And Justice For All.    
 
Week 2:           II. Lawyers As Litigators:  Read Text Chapter 3.  Read Chapter 2 in Benjamin Sells Text, How The Law Thinks. View and Discuss:  Presumed Innocent and Witness For The Prosecution.  
 
Week 3:          III. Lawyers and Gender Issues:  Read Chapter 12, One View of Gender And Law in Popular Culture, in Mark Tushnet Text. View and Discuss: Adam’s Rib and Class Action.                 
 
Week 4:           IV. Lawyers As Leaders:  Read Text Chapter 4.  View and Discuss: The Contender and The Firm. Read What Does The Law Want, Chapter 3 in the Benjamin Sells Text.  
 
Week 5:           V. Lawyers As Judges:  Read Text Chapter 5.  View and Discuss: First Monday in October.  Documentary:  Brown v. Board. 
 
Week 6:           VI. Lawyers As Heroes:  Read Text Chapter 6.  View and Discuss: To Kill A Mockingbird.  Read Atticus Finch, Hannibal Lecter Lead List of Cinema Angels and Devils by Jay Boyar.  View Documentary: A Time for Justice.   
 
Week 7:           VII. Jurors As Heroes:  Read Text Chapter 7.  View and Discuss: Twelve Angry Men. (Contrast new version starring Tony Danza with the older version starring Henry Fonda).   
 
“There is a long history of law in film, one worthy of serious study.” –Rennard Strickland
 
Selected excerpts from some of these films will be shown throughout the semester to supplement the reading materials. As writing assignments are made, students are encouraged to rent the films so that they can effectively integrate the film into the research paper.  The presentation is scheduled for the next class following the showing of the film excerpt and the paper is due two class periods following the discussion.
 
A Few Questions to Ponder for Papers/Presentations in Lawyers and Film:
 
1. What legal point(s) is the film making and does it make that point(s) well?  How does the film emphasize its point(s) about lawyers and the legal system?
 
2. How are the lawyers in the film portrayed? (litigators, counselors, heroes, villains, etc.)  Are the portrayals authentic or unrealistic?
 
3. How does the films portrayal of the certain events compare and contrast with actual historical events?  For example, does Inherit The Wind accurately portray the Scopes “Monkey Trial” as demonstrated in the historical documentary?
 
4. What are the examples of justice being served or not being served? 
 
5. Is there tension between what the law demands and what justice requires?
 
6. Was the judicial/legal process just or unjust? 
 
7. How do we interpret the social, political, and cultural messages encoded in the film?
 
8. As a result of watching the film, what have you learned about lawyers and the legal process?
 
9. What recommendation(s) would you make to improve the judicial system/lawyers?
 
-         Discuss these questions in your paper, as you integrate the film, the text, the articles, and the legal cases.
-         Use 12 font. All papers are due at class time two periods from the assignment, except for the last paper which is due Thursday of the final week.  Late papers will be discounted 10 points each day late.
-         "A" papers will be analytical, integrate the course materials, and have a Bibliography. "B" papers will discuss the issues analytically.  "C" papers will be merely competent. "D" papers will not be competent. "F" papers will be short, uninspiring, and a waste of my time.
-         Poor grammar, spelling, and punctuation will result in a lowered grade. College-level writing is required

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