This course explores the basic principles of Anglo-American criminal law, including the constituent elements of criminal offenses, the necessary predicates for criminal liability, the major concepts of justification and excuse, and the conditions under which offenders can be liable for attempt. Major emphasis is placed on the structure and interpretation of modern penal codes.

This class will cover the basics of statistical analysis as relevant to lawyers.

In each meeting, a leading scholar will present a current legal research paper using the methodology of law and economics.

This class will explore key issues in criminal justice reform with the goal of understanding problems and evaluating potential solutions. Students will learn how to read social science literature to provide empirical foundation for the discussion.