Law & Social Science Seminar

Professors L. Epstein and D. Klerman
LAW 797
Fall 2026

Evaluation

Attendance and Participation (25%). We expect you to attend seminar meetings (including all workshops) and come prepared to discuss the assigned materials. Except for the first session (August 24), laptops are prohibited during seminar meetings.
Reaction Essays (75%) (15% per paper). For five of the six workshop papers (you can choose which one to skip), please submit a short reaction essay. Your essay should be no more than three double-spaced typed pages with 1-inch margins, using a 12-point serif font (e.g., Times New Roman).
- Your essay should (1) very briefly summarize the workshop paper, (2) analyze its strengths and weaknesses, (3) suggest ways the author could improve the paper to address any weaknesses, and (4) propose 1-3 questions you would like to ask the author of the paper.
- You may use generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT) to help you write or revise your essay, but if you do you must attach a transcript of your communication, including your prompts/questions and the AI responses.
- Except for Canes-Wrone (the first paper), essays are due by 5 pm the day before discussion, not the day of the workshop. Specifically: Canes-Wrone (due September 13), Huey (September 20), Rachlinksi (October 4), Hausman (October 18), Gulati (November 1), and Aggarwal (November 15).
- We plan to share your essays with the speaker unless you type at the top of your essay: “Please do not share.”
- Finally, on the day we meet with the speaker please print out your question(s).

Learning Outcomes

Read, evaluate, and critique a social science paper
Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various research methodologies
Appreciate different social science approaches to law, including political science, psychology, and economics
Interpret data tables and figures