Shakespeare and the Law, with Len Niehoff

If you were Hamlet’s lawyer, would you advise he plead not guilty by reason of insanity? Would you consider his accidental slaying of Polonius to be murder or manslaughter? These are the kinds of questions that University of Michigan Law professor Len Niehoff asks his students to consider.

But why is it so important for lawyers to brush up their Shakespeare? According to Niehoff, Shakespeare and lawyers both think about everything.

Some of his plays illustrate the consequences of a lawless society. Others show how people respond to the miscarriage of justice or being excluded from the legal protection of human rights. And some others, like the case of Hamlet, can help students practice thinking like lawyers.

Niehoff’s book, Meeting Shakespeare at the Bar: Reading the Bard Through the Lens of the Law grew out of those classroom discussions. In this episode, Niehoff discusses his book, how his teaching practices have evolved, and what Shakespeare can teach lawyers about looking at problems from every possible angle.

From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published August 25, 2026. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. Technical support was provided by Daniel Wanschura in Michigan and Voice Trax West in Studio City, California. Web production was handled by Megan Fraedrich. Transcripts are edited by Leonor Fernandez. Final mixing services provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc.