266.5 sec. 001 - Poverty Law and Policy (Fall 2025)
Instructor: Abbye J Atkinson (view instructor's profile)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 2
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
Th 3:35 PM - 5:25 PM
Location: Law 140
From August 21, 2025
To November 20, 2025
Course End: November 20, 2025
Class Number: 33121
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 0
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 68
As of: 04/04 07:13 AM
This course provides an introduction to the relationship between law and poverty, including the relevance of doctrine, policy, and practice to the significant inequality in income, assets, and basic social goods impacting tens of millions of people in the United States.
We will consider historical and contemporary trends in domestic poverty, policy perspectives on social relief, the legal framework under which poverty-related claims have been adjudicated, and the role of lawyers in combating poverty. Grounded in data, theory, and doctrine, we will explore modern government anti-poverty programs and issues such as welfare, work, housing, health, education, criminalization, and access to justice. We will also consider non-traditional approaches to combating poverty, including market-based solutions and human rights, with an emphasis on what role law, lawyers, and legal institutions can play in such efforts.
Exam Notes: (TH) Take-home Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 4 hours
Course Category: Social Justice and Public Interest
If you are the instructor or their FSU, you may add a file like a syllabus or a first assignment to this page.
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Instructor has not yet confirmed their textbook order, please check back later.