Teaching

I design my courses for students to develop frameworks to think critically about society’s most pressing problems.

Criminal Law

This class is about the conduct that our society punishes, criminal law, focusing on the substantive statutory basis and common law. In a nutshell, the statutory criminal law is about the elements or component parts of crimes and defenses as defined within statutes and the common law.

These are the following types kinds of questions we answer throughout this semester: What is voluntary manslaughter, and how is it different from involuntary manslaughter?  When can you act in self-defense?  What is an attempt? How is legally adequate provocation a gendered concept? What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?

Criminal Procedure: Investigation

This class addresses constitutional issues arising under the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth
Amendments. If criminal law was the “what” of criminal law, investigative criminal procedure
(and its companion class, adjudicative criminal procedure) is the “how.”

Most of this course addresses substantive and remedial Fourth Amendment issues concerning searches and seizures and substantive and remedial Fifth Amendment issues concerning law enforcement’s interrogation of suspects. We also cover certain right-to-counsel issues under the Sixth Amendment, including the admissibility of uncounseled confessions and uncounseled pretrial line-ups, as well as the right to effective assistance of counsel

Law, Society, & American Policing

This seminar draws on research in sociology, criminology, public policy, organizations, psychology, and the law to explore the role and function of American policing. Students consider the historical evolution of American policing alongside how policing has (and hasn’t) changed over time. Students explore the challenges associated with balancing civil liberties alongside the goals of controlling crime. Students examine topics like police abolition and grapple with police use of force.  In sum, students contemplate emerging research at the intersection of law and society to better understand the theoretical and empirical perspectives that conceptualize police as both products and producers of social control, law, culture, and inequality.

This course meets once a week to discuss the assigned readings. Students are expected to participate in class discussion, lead discussion one week, experience and reflect upon a police ride along, and complete a writing project.

My modalities are structured around the philosophy that our abilities as both budding professionals and as global citizens improve when we are informed and able to consider good-faith arguments with which we may not agree and respectfully articulate reasons, logic, or facts guiding in a different direction.

My mission as an educator is to foster an inclusive classroom environment that allows students to learn, share, and develop critical thinking and writing skills in order to effectively articulate their developing positions on these topics.

Developing a foundation of knowledge and refining professional communication skills in classroom settings will help students in their future work life, and help effective communication strategies with friends, family, and the larger global community.

Speaking about my research in 2021

Student testimonials

  • “Hands down one of the best classes I have taken at UT. Professor Friedman is knowledgeable and disseminates information clearly and in an appealing way. This may be my favorite class taken at UT."

    Student in Punishment & Society

  • "I think Professor Friedman is probably the best professor I've ever had in terms of just really knowing her stuff. She is super informed about everything we talk about and that helps in terms of being confident that I'm learning the important parts of criminal law."

    Student in Criminal Law

  • "Professor Friedman is extremely good at breaking complicated topics down into digestible pieces of information. Things just make sense when I am in class with Professor Friedman."

    Student in Criminal Law

  • “Professor Friedman was and is an astounding teacher. She did a really amazing job of explaining topics that we often dense, complex, and difficult to understand. I have learned so much from her. If I had the opportunity to take her class again, I would. Once again, overall amazing Professor!!”

    Student in Punishment & Society

  • "I appreciated her comments on my assignments as they were clear and concise and helped me understand why I got the grade I received. She was helpful to me when I had questions regarding upcoming grades, and I could tell she had a high interest in the course's material."

    Student in Visual Sociology

  • "Professor Friedman is one of the most engaging professors I have ever had in my whole academic career. She is obviously passionate about teaching which makes the material easier to comprehend and makes me excited to read the cases and try to get in her mind of what she may ask us about them."

    Student in Criminal Law

  • "I really appreciate how passionate you are about the material, the extra information and perspective that you brought as a lawyer, and how kind and sensitive you were about tough subjects. You were easy to reach and willing to help and talk about anything."

    Student in Social Psychology and the Law

  • "I cannot say enough positive things about Professor Friedman. Criminal procedure is daunting and scary in terms of real– world consequences. Dr. Friedman helps us navigate our challenging feelings about this area of law with clear discussion and some humor. I have so enjoyed her class, and it has even made me reconsider my career path."

    Student in Criminal Procedure

  • "Ilana, thank you for being so engaged in our class every day. I always appreciated your feedback and expertise on the issues and the clear answers you always gave. Additionally, I appreciate the kind, charismatic, and upbeat spirit you brought to the class and office hours.

    Student in Social Psychology and the Law

  • "Prof. Friedman is a fantastic teacher. She encouraged students to think through "both sides" of arguments and was always willing to elaborate when content wasn't clear. "

    Student in Criminal Procedure

  • "Dr. Friedman was very knowledgeable about the subject matter. She also has experience being out in the field with police officers as well. I think the fact that she has a background in sociology as well made her a much better teacher. She has been my favorite teacher I have had in law school."

    Student in Law, Society, & American Policing

  • "Dr. Friedman had many strong points that made this a successful course. First, it is evident that she truly cares for the students and this is shown through her attention to detail with grading, her timely responses to in–class reflections, and her interest in the student projects."

    Student in Law, Society, & American Policing

Teaching Experience

Assistant Professor of Law, 2023-present

  • Criminal Law

  • Criminal Procedure

  • Law, Society, & American Policing

Assistant Instructor, 2022-2023

  • Punishment & Society

Teaching Assistant, 2018-2023

  • Visual Sociology     

  • Sociology of Criminal Justice

  • Introduction to Social Research

  • Punishment & Society

  • Social Psychology & the Law

  • Criminology

Teaching Assistant, McCombs School of Business, 2020

  • Organizational Behavior

Content, strategy, and writing tutor, University of Texas Athletic Department, 2019-2023

Texas Prison Education Initiative, 2019-2020

  • Volunteer Co-instructor

Graduate student mentor, 2019-2023

  • Undergraduate mentor to senior capstone projects, Department of Sociology

Graduate Student Thesis Tutor, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, Saint Louis University, 2016

 

Sharing research in 2021

Inclusion in the Classroom

I use many engagement and inclusion strategies, like short videos and podcast episodes, to incorporate diverse learning styles and visual and audio learners.

These various modalities expand who students hear from by offering varied perspectives from local community members, those outside of Kentucky, and from people around the world.

I take my responsibility of teaching to different learning styles and a diverse student body seriously.