Center for Legal Studies

Program Highlights

About Legal Studies

The Center for Legal Studies at Northwestern University provides an environment where students and scholars study legal issues using the methodology and perspectives of the social sciences and humanities. We view law as a social institution and seek to understand it through historical, cultural, and empirical approaches. Our students are well trained to become active and thoughtful citizens engaged with local and global questions of power and justice and with the role of law in everyday life.

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Undergraduate Program

Learn more about our coursework and the Legal Studies major and minor:

Legal Studies Faculty

In addition to our Core Faculty the Center for Legal Studies is composed of a strong list of Faculty Affiliates - members of the academic community whose teaching and research contribute to Legal Studies at Northwestern.

Meet our Core Faculty

Graduate Fellows

Legal Studies offers programming for graduate students whose interests include the study of law, legal institutions, and/or legal processes broadly construed. We encourage participation from graduate students in all social science and humanities disciplines. Join our current Graduate Fellows in Legal Studies (GFILS) by applying here.

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Support Legal Studies

Consider a gift to the Center for Legal Studies. Your gift will directly impact our programming to help provide opportunities for undergraduate students.

Donate Here

News and Events

General Info

Legal Studies Office Hours

Office hours are available remotely and in person to meet with a faculty member. Click here to view availability and schedule an appointment. If you have immediate questions, call 847-467-2207 or send an email to: legalstudies@northwestern.edu.

Need to declare the minor or petition to graduate?

Visit our Declaring a Minor page to find information about declaring the minor and schedule a time to meet with Professor Barefoot to answer any questions you may have.

Visit the Petitioning to Graduate page to find detailed information on how to start your petition to graduate.

For First-Year students interested in learning more about the Legal Studies major and minor, you can click on the link to learn more and watch an informational video.