Property Law Serves Human Society: A First-Year Course Agenda

Abstract:     
This essay explains how a first year property law course offers an opportunity to explore the human dimension of property while learning the language and rules of property law. Placing an emphasis on the relational aspect of property law helps students understand the connection between individual rights and community responsibilities while dispelling any trepidation they may have had upon entering the course. The author gives examples of ways to insert concrete examples drawn from contemporary public issues that highlight relationships into the traditional property law course. The article also suggests ways to provoke lively discussion on topics such as the role of discovery in the acquisition of property, transferability of property through common law estates in land, the law of gifts and commercial real estate transactions, sharing of property as common owners, landlord and tenant or members of planned unit developments, and controlling the use and development of land through public and private land use regulation.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 11

Accepted Paper Series