Research Areas

Faculty affiliated with the Legal Studies Program pursue a wide range of interdisciplinary research in the four main areas listed below. Learn more about our approach to research and see our latest publications and research news on our Research Overview page.

Law and society

This area of our research examines how law, legal processes, and legal institutions shape the facets of daily life—including culture, health, economics, the environment, and criminalization—and how civic engagement and social movements in turn shape the law. Our faculty members explore these topics in historical contexts, including by examining inequities of race, gender, ethnicity, and other forms of identity.

Mijin Cha

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • mcha63@ucsc.edu

Jaimie Morse

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • jmorse1@ucsc.edu

Anjuli Verma

• Title
  • Assistant Professor of Politics
• Campus Email
  • acverma@ucsc.edu

Kira Tait

• Title
  • PhD
• Campus Email
  • kitait@ucsc.edu

Elizabeth Beaumont

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • kebeaumo@ucsc.edu

Mark Fathi Massoud

• Title
  • Professor and Chair of Politics
• Campus Email
  • mmassoud@ucsc.edu

Eva C Bertram

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • ebertram@ucsc.edu

Ruth Langridge

• Title
  • Researcher, Continuing Lecturer
• Campus Email
  • rlangrid@ucsc.edu

Theory of law

Our faculty study how different approaches to law and legal systems are conceptualized, from both a philosophical and historical perspective. Our research explores ideas about law from cultures around the world, with an emphasis on how aspects of identity influence viewpoints and engagement. Our work crosses over political and legal theory, including postcolonial, postmodern, comparative, and feminist theory.

Yasmeen Daifallah

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • ydaifall@ucsc.edu

Dean P Mathiowetz

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • dpmath@ucsc.edu

Vanita Seth

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • vseth@ucsc.edu

Megan C Thomas

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • mcthomas@ucsc.edu

Mark Fathi Massoud

• Title
  • Professor and Chair of Politics
• Campus Email
  • mmassoud@ucsc.edu

American political development

Faculty in this area focus on studying American political development, public policy, and the workings of key political institutions at the federal, state, and local levels. From constitutional law to elections to congressional procedures, we study the foundations of American democracy and examine strengths and weaknesses in our nation’s approach to law-making. 

Elizabeth Beaumont

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • kebeaumo@ucsc.edu

Eva C Bertram

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • ebertram@ucsc.edu

Daniel J Wirls

• Title
  • Professor
• Campus Email
  • wirls@ucsc.edu

Melanie J Springer

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • mjs@ucsc.edu

Comparative, global, and international law

Our faculty study the laws and legal systems of many countries outside the United States. This also includes comparative research and the study of international law. We have particular regional expertise in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, and across the Global South. Much of our work centers on law’s role in promoting human rights.

Mark Fathi Massoud

• Title
  • Professor and Chair of Politics
• Campus Email
  • mmassoud@ucsc.edu

Thomas R Serres

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • tserres@ucsc.edu

Megan C Thomas

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Campus Email
  • mcthomas@ucsc.edu

Kira Tait

• Title
  • PhD
• Campus Email
  • kitait@ucsc.edu

Yasmeen Daifallah

• Title
  • Assistant Professor
• Campus Email
  • ydaifall@ucsc.edu