syllabus course writing

personal statement

selection of course films

nine reasons to study lawyer films

thirteen quotes to get started

reading lawyer films

obstacles to reading lawyer films

the misguided reality critique

fall|2017 assignment archive

course resources

narrative & storytelling in film

telling film stories: screenwriting

character arc

hero archetype

film genres

supplemental readings

introductory videos

course films

Adam's Rib Anatomy of a Murder

The Verdict Class Action Nuts

Music Box The Sweet Hereafter

True Believer Michael Clayton

The Castle The Last Wave

To Kill a Mockingbird

viewed in previous years

And Justice for All Decoration Day

Devil's Advocate Paris Trout

Philadelphia

misc. resources

theory academic disciplines

women lawyers and film

previews of lawyer/legal films

jurisprudence and film

film journals links videos

2017 assignments archive

assignments archive

2013 assignments archive

assignments archive

instructor's film writings

Reading/Teaching Lawyer Films, 28 Vt. L. Rev. 814 (2004) [on-line text]
[For a condensed version of the essay, see Reading Lawyer Films,
25 (1) Les Cahiers de APLIUT (2006)] [on-line text]

For a critique of legal film criticism, see James R. Elkins, Popular Culture,
Legal Films, and Legal Film Critics, 40 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 745 (2007) [on-line text]

[Note: The Vermont Law Review and Loyola-Los Angeles Law Review essay have
been revised and incorporated into the course website.]

Professor James R. Elkins
college of law || west virginia university