Latest from Elaine McArdle

At Harvard Law School, some new answers to the question, What do future lawyers need to know?

With a cluster of research programs, HLS is a collection of think tanks rolled into one

Jim Greiner, an HLS assistant professor of law, created a unique course as a joint endeavor between HLS and the Harvard statistics department, where Greiner, who holds a Ph.D. in statistics, is an affiliate. The 13 law students will be taking and defending two depositions each, one involving a political redistricting hypothetical and the other involving an employment discrimination case.

In rural Liberia, locals have a method for determining if someone is guilty of witchcraft. They administer poison to the suspect. If he survives, he’s innocent. That’s the sort of anachronism that vexes Deborah Isser ’96, a senior program officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Nationwide, only 24 percent of all judgeships are held by women. In federal courts, women make up barely 20 percent of the bench. Massachusetts Appeals Court Judge Fernande “Nan” Duffly ’78 wants to see these numbers rise and is passionate about making it happen.

The past five years have brought remarkable growth and change to Harvard Law School. Here, the Bulletin takes a time-out for a brief recap and puts five questions to Dean Elena Kagan ’86.

Most judges, faced with the task of interpreting unclear statutes, want to do the right thing, says Harvard Law School Professor Einer Elhauge ’86. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy.

Finally, the Supreme Court may have to decide what the Second Amendment means. But how much will really change?

An HLS professor is "the Elvis Presley of shareholder activism." And one of his fans is a key player in China.

A nationwide, longitudinal survey of today’s young J.D.s yields its first results Lawyers are happier in their careers than is generally believed—in the first few…

A first-of-its-kind research center readies lawyers for a changing profession

“Stay in role!” exhorts Professor Carol Steiker ’86, as some 90 students in her upper-level course Capital Punishment in America split into groups for an exercise in which they’ll argue whether a death sentence should be reversed due to ineffective assistance of counsel. “Don’t say, ‘If I were the lawyer, I would … ’”

A passion for teaching Professor David Westfall ’50, as beloved by generations of students for his warmth and humor as he was respected for his…

A comparative scholar beyond compare Professor Arthur T. von Mehren ’45, a world-renowned scholar in international and comparative law whose work influenced generations of lawyers…

At the top of his game, Melvin Kraft ’53 switched to a new one A  few years ago, HLS Professor Richard D. Parker ’70 sat…

Compared with that of a lawyer in private practice, a judge's schedule may be more flexible. But not when compared with the life of an academic, says Professor Charles Fried.

So, what, exactly, is an "activist judge"? Most judges say they don't have time to think about it.

Dean Elena Kagan '86 believes public service should be part of every lawyer's life. At Harvard Law School, there are now more opportunities than ever to get involved.

Children, according to Professor Charles Fried, are natural lawyers.

HLS professors propose different ways to address the proliferation of music downloading.

In 1985, David Hoffman '84 took a mundane case that would change his life. A roof collapsed during the final year of warranty, and replacing it would cost $300,000. Hoffman's client, the owner of the building, was willing to put up $100,000, and the roof manufacturer offered the same amount.