652Z Spring 2026 There Ought to be a Law—Or Not: Law and Society

652Z  There Ought to be a Law—Or Not: Law and Society
Four sessions
Instructor: James McCarthy
Mondays, 11:50—1:15, Mar. 23—Apr. 13
Class limit: 40 
This course examines the dynamic functions of law and equity upon society in general with emphasis on the U.S. experience in governance. Relating the U.S. Constitution, statutes, rules, regulations, and the mores that define the civil character of its population, the subject matter seeks to describe the forces of interplay among competing and complementary views. Crucial contemporary issues are employed as examples of the evolution of the relationship between law and society including judicial reconciliation and impact upon the legislative process.
James McCarthy graduated from Fordham University in 1963 with a BA in Political Science and minors in Philosophy and German. He also graduated with a JD from Brooklyn Law School (1980). Jim is a retired law partner from a NYC firm he founded with a variety of teaching experiences.