Frequently Asked Questions

Is this class going to be like Law and Order?

Substantive criminal law is only the starting point for criminal cases. The criminal process is dominated by procedural rules, personalities, evidence, case-specific facts, race, money, and lots of other things. Those of you who decide to practice criminal law (or who really like crime dramas) will want to explore other courses like criminal procedure, evidence, trial practice, clinics, and seminars.

Most of you will not practice criminal law. But there are at least three reasons why this course is important for your education as lawyers. First, it introduces you to statutory law. You’ll need that skill in many upper-level courses, and almost all of you will need it in practice as well. Second, it lays a foundation for understanding the criminal process, and you ought to know something about that as a lawyer. Third, this course raises some of the most fundamental questions about the law (why we punish, what constitutes harm, what constitutes excuse). Those questions will arise in different forms in many other classes, areas of practice, and areas of life.