The law plays an important role in Harry Potter. There’s crime. There’s prison. There’s bureaucracy. Those things could not exist without law. Most of the law in Harry Potter remains in the background, not explicitly mentioned. But sometimes the law comes up: Some curses are “unforgivable” or illegal. Witches and wizards must hide their magic from muggles. Sometimes the law is confusing and contradictory. Can underage children perform magic at home or not? I’m still unclear.
If you ever wondered if there is a book on the law and Harry Potter, today is your day. There is a book, and we have a copy in the Law Library. The book is called The Law and Harry Potter. Its chapters are written by legal scholars from the U.S. and beyond and include:
- The Persecution of Tom Riddle: A Case Study in Human Rights Law
- Gringotts: The Role of Banks in Harry Potter’s Wizarding World
- Harry Potter Goes to Law School
- Bots and Gemots : Anglo-Saxon Legal References in Harry Potter
Check it out, literally! Click here to locate the book in the library.
Happy Halloween!