Evidence from policy analytic studies is often cited as a basis for statutory and procedural reform and regulatory rule-making and in social impact litigation. Lawyers increasingly need to know how to deploy and respond to such studies. This seminar uses a case study approach to introduce the diverse methods used by policy analysts and to examine their application to legal policy questions. The seminar focuses on how policy research questions are framed and on the strengths and weaknesses of different research strategies. The course materials are drawn from recent policy controversies.
This seminar is intended primarily for students without prior training in public policy analysis and does not require prior statistics training.