University of Wisconsin–Madison

People Type: Law and Society

This interdisciplinary specialization brings together scholars from sociology, law, political science, economics, and history, who share common interests in sociolegal theory and empirical research. As one of the birth places of law and society research in the U.S., Wisconsin has maintained a strong and vibrant community of scholars and students in this interdisciplinary area for decades. The core course in this specialty area is Sociology 641 (Sociology of Law); however, both the Sociology Department and the Law School provide additional seminars on advanced socio-legal topics, such as Sociology 930 (Socio-Legal Studies). The Institute for Legal Studies in the Law School also offers regular seminars and colloquia on related topics. Interested students may pursue a dual J.D.-Ph.D. degree, upon being admitted to both the Sociology Department and the Law School.

Conti, Joseph

More Information Curriculum Vitae Biography Departmental Areas of Interest: Economic Change and Development, Economic Sociology, Law and Society, Political Sociology Classes: Soc 125 American Society: How It Really Works (Fall 2020)Soc 125 American Society: How It Really Works (Honors)Soc 210 Survey of SociologySoc 496 Globalization and Social ChangeSoc 641 Sociology of Law (Fall 2019)Soc 925 Sociology of Economic Change …

Eiermann, Martin

More Information Curriculum Vitae Additional Online Resource Website Biography Research Interest Statement: I study the politics of personal data and the consequences of becoming visible to—and being managed by—contemporary state institutions of care and social control. My work combines qualitative archival research with computational methods, including text analysis, network analysis, and statistical modeling. Recently published …

Frank, Sarah (Frankie)

Biography Education: Ph.D., UW-Madison, 2024 Interest Areas Sexuality, Gender, Bodies, Embodiment, Social Psychology, Religion, Teaching Sociology, Digital Ethnography, Online Research, Content Analysis

Light, Michael

More Information Curriculum Vitae Additional Online Resource Alternate Webpage Biography Research Interest Statement: Light’s work focuses on criminological consequences of immigration, the links between immigration and punishment, and the relationship between racial/ethnic stratification and crime. Current projects examine the collateral consequences of deportation and the relationship between colorism and punishment. Education: Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State …

Massoglia, Michael

Biography Research Interest Statement: Mike’s work focuses on the social consequences of the expansion of the penal system, the relationship between the use of legal controls and demographic change in the United States, and patterns and consequences of criminal behavior over the life course. Mike’s work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National …

Pedriana, Nicholas

Biography Education: Ph.D., University of Iowa 2000 Departmental Areas of Interest: Law and Society; Political Sociology; Social Movements and Collective Action; Qualitative Methods Classes: Soc 134 The Sociology of Race and EthnicitySoc 210 Survey of SociologySoc 211 The Sociological EnterpriseSoc 475  Classical Sociological Theory Selected Publications: Pedriana, Nicholas. 2017.  “Max Weber’s Sociology of Law and …

Rogers, Joel

More Information Curriculum Vitae Additional Online Resource Alternative Webpage Biography Research Interest Statement: Joel Rogers is the Noam Chomsky Professor of Law, Public Affairs, and Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also directs Havens Wright Center for Social Justice and High Road Strategy Center, a national resource and strategy center on high-road development …

Santos, Maria-Fátima

More Information Curriculum Vitae Biography Research Interest Statement: Broadly, I am interested in different dimensions of legal and penal state power–their relationship to how societies are organized, the forms of social exclusion that compose them, and the people and mechanisms that influence their transformations. My current research examines public defenders who counsel poor people in Brazil’s …