Disproportional Representation and the Myth of the Shyster
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It is often claimed that Jews have occupied a unique place in the American legal profession because they have comprised a disproportionately high percentage of its practitioners. But a closer look reveals that this claim had its origins in nineteenth-century anti-Jewish depictions of a stereotypical Jewish lawyer as ubiquitous. The idea of Jewish lawyers’ disproportional representation in the U.S. legal profession was deployed by some as a response to major institutional and demographic changes.
About the “Jewish Law and the Constitution” Series
The familiar talmudic statement dina de-malkhuta dina (the law of the kingdom is the law) doesn’t even begin to cover the complex relationship between Judaism and state law. This series will draw out some signal characteristics of that relationship as it has evolved and unfolded in the orbit of American constitutional law. Each talk highlights one arena in which the legal system has been drawn into conversation with Jewish life and vice versa. Case by case, they tell stories of religion and politics, democracy and minorities, theory and practice: law entangled with law.
Continuing Law Education Credit
This program has been approved for 1.0 E&I/Ethics CLE credits for Pennsylvania lawyers. CLE credit may be available in other jurisdictions as well. Attendees seeking CLE credit should make a payment via the online registration link in the amount of $40.00 ($20.00 public interest/non-profit attorneys). In order to receive the appropriate amount of credit, passwords provided throughout the program must be noted in your evaluation form.
Penn Carey Law Alumni receive CLE credits free through The W.P. Carey Foundation’s generous commitment to Lifelong Learning.
About the image above: Catalogue, Belcher Mosaic Glass Company (New York, 1886), Winterthur Museum Library, via publicdomainreview.org.
Featuring
Britt Tevis
Britt Tevis is a historian with special interests in law and Jewish studies. Her current research challenges the myth of American Jewish exceptionalism by examining the ways in which local, state, and federal authorities condoned and/or incited anti-Jewish discrimination, resulting in the curtailment of Jews’ civil rights.
Tevis received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was previously a lecturer of law at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.
Cosponsors
This event is cosponsored with the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Klatt Family and the Harry Stern Family Foundation.
