How have gender, race, and international law changed law-school courses?

Since the 1960s, the content of legal education has evolved significantly in response to global social movements and the increasing diversity of the student body. These shifts have led law schools to incorporate new theoretical and doctrinal courses that address complex issues related to gender, race, and the internationalization of law.1

Impact on Curriculum

• Gender and Race: Law schools have introduced curricula focusing on theoretical and doctrinal issues surrounding gender and race. This includes the development of critical race theory (CRT), which examines the role of race and power in the legal system. CRT has influenced scholarship and course offerings by addressing topics such as affirmative action, voting rights, and intersectionality, which explores how individuals experience overlapping forms of identity and oppression.123
• International Law: The profound internationalization of law has prompted law schools to embrace foreign legal studies. In the United States, this has led to an unprecedented focus on international perspectives, while schools globally have increasingly adopted transactionally focused training. This shift reflects the growing complexity of global business and the need for legal systems to navigate diverse national jurisdictions.1