Once Upon a Trial: Legal Studies Through Fairy Tales

Through hypothetical  questions and fun, interactive discussions, students will learn common legal concepts and vocabulary like contract, liability, mens rea, prima facie, cause of action, etc., that will spark the beginnings of legal training of the brain. Everyone should learn these skills! I never thought about situations the same way after the first year of law school and this exposure to concepts of law will encourage a dissection of events in everyday life.

Class Outline

Week 1:  Civil Law

Students will review the synopsis of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Students will then identify conflicts and legal issues that might cause the characters to wind up in court. For instance,  should Goldilocks be held responsible for that broken chair? A discussion of legal vocabulary and concepts will explore the role of plaintiff and defense lawyers, judge, jury, cause of actions, damages, and other legal terms as they arise from the discussion. At the end of the lesson will be a moot court where each student will act as a lawyer choosing to defend or prosecute a character of their choice on one of the legal issues identified. There will be no single winner of the moot court, but rather a student reflection on the different perspectives of a case. 

Week 2: Criminal Law

Students will explore legal issues presented in the synopsis of The Three Little Pigs. Legal concepts such as mens rea, cross-examination, indictment, evidence, trial. Students will formulate and conduct direct and cross-examinations. 

Week 3: Constitutional Law

Students will look at First Amendment issues presented by one of two scenerios, their choice. They will select either the Evil Queen from Snow White scenerio as she attempts to stop the Magic Mirror Daily newspaper from reporting that she is not the most beautiful person in the land or will they select the Darth Vader scenerio as he sues the hologram
network for publishing that he is an empty suit. An introduction to the First Amendment, a U.S. Supreme Court case, and concepts such as due process will be discussed.