ACS is hosting Civil Procedure Professor David Freeman Engstrom for our inaugural Beyond the Doctrine event. In this speaker series, professors provide insight into the broader social context surrounding the doctrinal rules we learn in the classroom and answer student questions. In this series, we provide space for students to ask new questions — instead of “what is the holding in this case,” think “why?”

Professor Engstrom will speak about how crowded state court dockets handling evictions, debt collections, home foreclosures, and family matters are reshaping modern civil procedure. Those cases, and those issues, are not part of 1L Civil Procedure but they make up the overwhelming majority of civil dockets in the American legal system and are crucial to understanding the current civil justice system.

This event will take place on October 5 from 1 to 2 PM. First, Professor Engstrom will give a presentation about his brand new research. Then we will open the floor to Q&A from students in attendance. This is a unique opportunity to connect with a 1L doctrinal professor on the practical applications of the first-year curriculum. Light refreshments will be provided for those who RSVP.