Law as Performance
Program Number
Program Date
CLE Credits
Law is not the only domain, the only profession, in which performance is a critical element. Physicians perform surgeries. Priests perform marriages. Actors perform roles in plays. But to my mind legal practice is unique in that what lawyers do instantiates multiple senses of the word performance. Like surgeons, we carry out actions (e.g., we deliver closing arguments). Like priests, we present our cases in court according to social rituals (e.g., our judges wear robes). Like actors, we play roles (e.g., we assume the role of antagonist in cross-examinations). And law is practiced and legal decisions are made within specialized spaces and according to specialized procedures. This means that legal practice can usefully be explored with tools commonly used to explain other disciplines: architecture, theater, literature, anthropology, and more.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the program, participants will have a sense of how decisions made at trial are the result of more than the arguments and examinations of counsel. Information is transmitted by other means, ranging from the courthouse and courtroom, spectators, and many other avenues that are rarely noted.
Available in States
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas Self Study
Program Categories
- Complex Litigation
- Federal Courts
- Litigation & Litigation Skills
- Litigation and Appeals
- Trial Skills
PROGRAM CREDITS
- Skills : 1 Credit
