Looking at the book phenomenon from another angle, Law Made Fun Through Harry Potter's Adventures explores the popular series through the lens of law and order. From Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall leaving Harry Potter on the Dursley's doorstep to the legal obligations Hogwarts has to keeping its students safe, author Karen Morris and Bradley S. Carroll breakdown the real connections between the wizarding world and our own muggle laws.
Accessible to read for bookworms of all ages, the book offers a unique perspective of understanding just how intricate Rowling's world-building was and the implications characters could've found themselves in with our court system. Law Made Fun reviews 99 reviews of pivotal moments of Harry's journey to examine how it applies to Muggle Law and affects the surrounding story as well as characters. It's a perfect book for Harry Potter fans who love to learn a whole new side of the fictional story we love and dive deep into how it works.
I had the opportunity to interview the author Karen Morris about her background and how she came to adapting the series. Check out our interview below and her thoughts on death eaters, the Triwizard Tournament, and why a basic understanding of the law is a beneficial lesson to learn for everyone.
Can you share with Potter Talk’s readers a little bit about yourself – your background as a town judge and the inspiration to teach law through Harry Potter as well as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Downton Abbey. ( Be sure to check out the books on the official website.)
I am firmly committed to the view that law is a contemporary discipline. While some would call it technical and pedantic, I take the exact opposition position. Law is current, fun, and easily grasped if taught well. As a college professor, I am always on the lookout for new ways to engage students. I have found that law is readily learned using storylines from movies, TV shows, books, and news stories. When a person is familiar with characters from a popular series, offering learning based on their comings and goings is the equivalent of the sugar that Mary Poppins advocates helps the medicine go down. Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are all popular series that make the learning effortless and enjoyable.
I have been a town judge for 25 years. I was just re-elected for another four year term which is grand. Here’s a fun fact – Inspired by Harry and his magic-filled universe, I have become a magician. I perform at no cost exclusively for kids’ events sponsored by not-for-profit agencies. Magic is indeed wonderfully enchanting.
In addition to the Law Made Fun books, I write textbooks on various legal topics, a magazine column titled “Legally Speaking,” and a blog for a publisher on legal underpinnings of news stores of interest to college age Business Law students.
Why is a general understanding of the law beneficial to everyone?
Law impacts our lives on a daily basis. If we are not compliant, we could find ourselves in unpleasant situations – court appearances, meetings with attorneys, fines, probation, jail, electronic monitoring of our comings and goings, ignition interlock on our vehicles (a device that detects alcohol use before a car can be started), and/or a criminal record that could foreclose career opportunities. Additionally, law provides the underpinning for many entertainment genres. By understanding the law, our appreciation and enjoyment of the world around us is significantly enhanced.
