LAW 567LEC - Lawyers as Change Agents: Pathways to the Public Good

This class examines the role of lawyers in achieving systemic change in a local community, using case studies from Buffalo with a focus on issues of equality and environmental justice. How are public policy changes won? How do lawyers make a systemic impact while working in a wide variety of settings, including private firms, non-profits, governments, and non-legal careers? What aspects of legal training and experience help or hinder lawyers as they aim to make a difference? What are successful tools for public policy advocacy? We’ll meet with a diverse range of lawyers who are successful change agents. Students will learn research and advocacy skills such as writing policy briefs and working with media and elected officials, and they will do action research on local issues. We will invite the public to our final class, in which we’ll present findings and recommendations. The class will meet in downtown Buffalo at 617 Main St., Suite 300.

Credits: 3