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The media presents the law and images of the legal system to the public every day.  Popular trials, legal dramas and comedies, news reporting of legal issues, court decisions, representations of criminals and lawyers in the media, and many other mediated texts are often the only interactions the general public have with the law.  This class will explore how the public learns about the law and related concepts such as rights and justice through a study of historical and contemporary media portrayals of legal issues.  The study of our legal culture as portrayed through the media will inform the student about a variety of issues our nation has to address including interactions between law, culture, science, education, professionalism, politics, and community.