What is law, and how does it operate in everyday life, not only in courts or statutes, but within social institutions, cultural norms, and systems of power? This course introduces students to Sociology of Law: an intellectually rich and globally relevant field that critically explores law as a complex social phenomenon shaped by and shaping the societies in which it exists.

To address these questions, the course is divided into four sections. We begin by exploring the foundational and contemporary theories that challenge traditional views of law as fixed or purely formal. Next, we examine how law emerges from social processes and functions in everyday life, how legal authority is constructed, and how laws reflect and influence cultural, political, and economic institutions. Through key debates on legal norms, the state, and culture, students will develop analytical tools to understand law as a dynamic and evolving part of social life.

As the course progresses, we investigate the intersection of law, power, and inequality. From disputes and legal pluralism to the legacies of colonialism and the role of social movements, we consider how law functions differently across diverse societies and historical periods, including Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. Finally, we will consider some emerging and transnational issues, such as the spread of technology and digital governance, which are reshaping societies and laws across the globe.

Throughout the course, we ask: What does it mean to think of law not simply as rules, but as living, contested, and constantly negotiated?