The New Legal Realism

This is the first of two volumes announcing the emergence of the new legal realism as a field of study. At a time when the legal academy is turning to social science for new approaches these volumes chart a new course for interdisciplinary research by synthesizing law on the ground empirical research and theory. Volume 1 lays the groundwork for this novel and comprehensive approach with an innovative mix of theoretical historical pedagogical and empirical perspectives. Their empirical work covers such wide-ranging topics as the financial crisis intellectual property battles the legal disenfranchisement of African-American landowners and gender and racial prejudice on law school faculties. The methodological blueprint offered here will be essential for anyone interested in the future of law-and-society.