Penn Carey Law professor Shaun Ossei-Owusu’s new book, ‘Law on Trial,’ examines how legal institutions and practices shape—and at times reinforce—social inequality.
“One thing that I want readers to take away from this book is that the training of lawyers is not some kind of idiosyncratic professional school issue—it’s something that impacts all of us,” says Ossei-Owusu. “When you think about many of the pressing issues of the day, lawyers are often in the background. Part of what I want to emphasize is that their role in shaping inequality is not inevitable.”
The book examines a central tension at the heart of the American legal system: while it aspires to fairness and equality, its structures and day-to-day practices often produce unequal outcomes. Ossei-Owusu draws on more than a decade of research, teaching, and lived experience as a Bronx native.
Through his lens, he explores how routine legal practices and decision-making—whether intentional or not—can reinforce existing disparities. He also identifies points of intervention for those seeking to influence and improve the system.
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