Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This reading group will explore decisions made by attorneys general as they grapple with the sweeping changes occurring within the federal government. The class will cover state attorney general jurisdiction in the areas of taxation, climate change, criminal law, consumer protection, civil rights and guns.

The reading group will initially focus on the basic operations of offices of state attorneys general. It will outline the core jurisdiction, litigation capacity and professional responsibilities of state attorneys general and how they interact with each other and with the rest of state government.

Prof. Tierney will spend substantial one-on-one time with students and the actual classes will be highly interactive. Each class will be visited in person or virtually by invited guests from the Harvard Law School faculty and the attorney general community drawing from both political parties. All viewpoints on issues will be fully represented.

The substance of the offering will reflect our current reality. The issues discussed will generate wildly disparate views within the class and all views will be respected as we learn from each other.

The classes will be spread across the entire semester. This reading group will meet on the following dates: TBD. A key part of this reading group will be students sharing with each other their perspective on those issues about which they are most passionate. Throughout the semester, students will be encouraged to suggest readings and discussion topics to Professor Tierney (jtierney@law.harvard.edu).