Integrating Domestic Violence Issues into the Law School Torts Curriculum

Abstract

When one considers law school courses whose subject matters relate to domestic violence issues, many come to mind, including domestic relations/family law, criminal law, women's issues and the law, etc. Upon reflection, however, it becomes apparent that one of the most mundane of courses, torts, is fraught with topics that can be taught through exploring domestic violence situations. Indeed, a considerable number of tort issues could be taught almost exclusively by using domestic violence cases as a starting point. Many treatises and law review articles have been written about various aspects of the interaction of torts and domestic violence both in the United States and abroad. This paper will attempt to explore how domestic violence issues can relate to the ordinary first year torts course, and in the process point out some of the many torts topics which can be connected to this overwhelming social problem.

Keywords: domestic violence, law school, torts curriculum, teaching, family violence