Pandemic 101: Law School to Teach Course on Coronavirus Effects

For one law school, the covid-19 pandemic is a teachable moment.

Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, announced on Tuesday that its law school will hold a seven-week seminar to prepare students to “tackle the complex law and policy problems associated with the virus and the response to the pandemic.” The school said the course is the first of its kind in the U.S.

Law Professor Jennifer D. Oliva will instruct students on topics including the legality of quarantine orders, the viability of mandatory testing and vaccinations, and the limits of governmental authority to enact measures to limit the spread of disease.

“The spread of the novel coronavirus has created legal and policy challenges that are largely unprecedented in the United States, many of which will likely play out in American courts and legislatures for years to come,” Oliva said in a statement.

The outbreak has forced courts across the country to close, forcing many to conduct a limited menu of proceedings remotely. Colleges and law schools have done the same, leaving many graduating students with reduced hiring prospects and delays in getting their careers started.

“This new class will prepare our students for what has become a rapidly evolving legal response to a pandemic that has had implications for almost every aspect of our lives,” said Kathleen M. Boozang, the dean of Seton Hall School of Law. “Our students will be prepared to serve their clients well, whether they are working in the private sector, public service or public interest.”

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Steve Stroth

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