Jackie Chiles Law Society

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[edit] Purpose

The Jackie Chiles Law Society seeks to analyze America’s view of the Law based on how popular culture portrays it. To accomplish this goal, the organization engages legal students, scholars and professionals in meaningful discussion about music, television, movies, and other forms of popular culture that touch on American legal issues.

The Constitution of the Jackie Chiles Law Society

Representative scholarship regarding the Simpsons

[edit] History

In naming a society that seeks to analyze popular culture’s conception of the law, Tyler Buswell, the Society’s Founder, was looking for a name that embodied pop culture’s stereotypes about the law and lawyers. Particularly, he wanted to misappropriate an attorney character from popular culture. “The Denny Crane Law Society,” “The Ally McBeal Law Society” and “The Lionel Hutz Law Society” were seriously considered possibilities. However, in the end, Tyler chose “The Jackie Chiles Law Society,” with the official name as “The Jackie Chiles Law Society: Popular Culture’s Conception of the Law.”

Just in case you don’t know, Jackie Chiles is the fast-talking lawyer character on Seinfeld. He represented Kramer when he sued the “tobacco companies,” Java World, and the bra-wearing Sue-Ellen Mishkie. He also defended the unruly Seinfeld four-some when they were on trial for breaking the “good Samaritan” statute in the Seinfeld finale. Jackie Chiles exudes America’s stereotypes about attorneys. Thus, Jackie Chiles became namesake for the law and popular culture movement.

The Jackie Chiles Law Society in the news:

“Legal Society Uses Media to Examine Law” by Stephanie Glaittli, The Daily Chronicle, October 2, 2006.

“Seinfeld Inspires New Club” by Brady Stuart, S.J. Quinney College of Law Student Bar Association, October 2006 Newsletter.