Legal Definitions - law as literature

Law as literature refers to the study of how law and legal institutions are depicted in literature. This can include examining law-related fiction as evidence of how a culture views law at a given time. It can also refer to the application of literary theory to legal texts, focusing on lawyers' rhetoric, logic, and style, as well as legal syntax and semantics.

For example, a scholar might analyze a novel that features a courtroom scene to understand how the author portrays the legal system and the role of lawyers. They might also examine legal documents, such as contracts or court opinions, to understand how language is used to convey meaning and persuade others.

The field of law as literature encompasses the work produced by scholars who study these topics. It is a way to understand how law and literature intersect and influence each other.