Law & Empirical Methods

In today's legal landscape, empirical data and the associated tools and concepts play an ever-expanding role in various aspects of the legal profession. Lawyers are relying on these tools when advising clients or advocating on their behalf in various legal domains such as contract law, criminal law, administrative law, corporate law, and tax law. This course is designed to equip students with a fundamental understanding of statistical principles and their practical applications within the legal field. Participants will develop the skills necessary to discern the appropriate use of empirical methods and critically assess the strengths and limitations of different empirical analyses. No prior experience with empirical methods or statistics is presumed or required, making this course accessible to all who seek to enhance their knowledge of the intersection of law and data. In addition to discussions about the reading and lectures on empirical methods, we will be doing a variety of in-class exercises, using Excel.