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Laura Beth Nielsen

Laura Beth Nielsen headshot

Research Professor

Joint appointment

Associate Professor of Sociology and Law, Northwestern University

Education

Ph.D., Jurisprudence & Social Policy, University of California, Berkeley; J.D., University of California, Berkeley

Curriculum vitae

Bio

Follow @ProfLBNielsen // Laura Beth Nielsen is a Research Professor at the American Bar Foundation, Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Legal Studies at Northwestern University. She…

Full bio »


Research focus

The sociology of law, with particular interests in legal consciousness and the relationship between law and inequalities of race, gender, and class.

Projects

Contested Constructions of Discrimination
Latest finding: Dec 12, 2012, with Jill D. Weinberg , Jeremy Freese
Contested Constructions uses experimental research to investigate how judges and laypeople define employment discrimination and perceptions of the legal system as the appropriate forum to adjudicate…
Employment Discrimination Litigation
Latest finding: Dec 12, 2012, with Robert L. Nelson, Ryon Lancaster, John Donohue III, Peter Siegelman
At the center of current debates about the role of anti-discrimination law in American society is the system of discrimination litigation. Despite the sheer magnitude of changes in employment…
Accessing Justice in Contemporary America: The Community Needs and Services Study
Latest finding: Apr 3, 2012, with Rebecca Sandefur, Pascoe Pleasence
This community-sited, multi-method study investigates the American public’s experiences with problems that fall within the purview of the civil justice system.

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Publications

Race and Representation: Racial Disparities in Legal Representation for Employment Civil Rights Plaintiffs
New York University Journal of Legislation and Public Policy
"Situated Justice: A Contextual Analysis of Fairness and Inequality in Employment Discrimination Litigation"
Law & Society Review
"Examining Empathy: Discrimination, Experience, and Judicial Decisionmaking"
University of Southern California Law Review

All publications »


Commentary

Terrorism and Miranda

Apr 22, 2013

Listen here as ABF Research Professor Laura Beth Nielsen comments on the legal definition of terrorism and Miranda rights. This interview aired on the "America Weekend" Podcast on Saturday, April 20,…

What is terrorism?

Apr 17, 2013

In an AlJazeera opinion piece, ABF Research Professor Laura Beth Nielsen talks about the definition of terrorism in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. Read the full piece here.

Discrimination suit filed against Panera Bread

Mar 15, 2013

Laura Beth Nielsen quoted here about a federal class-action lawsuit against Panera Bread, Inc., and what factors tend to make a discrumination suit successful.

All commentary »


Presentations

Employment Discrimination Litigation and the Reinscription of Hierarchy
Jun 2012
Law in Motion: The Multiple Futures of Law & Society Research
Nov 2011
Conceptualizing and Measuring Justice
Oct 2011

All presentations »


Professional Service & Recognition

  • Advisory Panel, National Public Radio, The Life of the Law
  • Secretary, Law and Society Association
  • Editor, Law & Social Inquiry
  • Director, Northwestern University, Center for Legal Studies
  • External Grant Committee Chair, Law & Society Association
  • Elected Member, Sociology of Law Council, American Sociological Association