Daniel Halberstam
Eric Stein Collegiate Professor of Law
Daniel Halberstam is an internationally recognized expert on constitutional law, federalism, and comparative public law, and one of the principal architects of the theory of constitutional pluralism. He directs Michigan Law's European Legal Studies Program and served as Associate Dean for Faculty and Research from 2017 to 2020. He founded the university's EU Center, supported by the European Commission as a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence. He regularly lectures across Europe and held a decade-long position at the College of Europe in Bruges.
Teaching Style
Professor Halberstam brings a comparative and international perspective to constitutional law that distinguishes his teaching from purely domestic approaches. He uses Socratic questioning to push students to see American constitutional principles in a global context, frequently drawing comparisons to European legal systems. His classes are intellectually ambitious and interdisciplinary, and he expects students to engage with political theory alongside legal doctrine.
Cold Call Tips
- 1Be prepared to discuss constitutional concepts comparatively, drawing on both U.S. and European examples
- 2Understand the basic institutional structure of the EU before taking EU Law
- 3Think about federalism as a general theoretical concept, not just an American one
- 4Read assigned materials with attention to how different legal systems handle similar governance challenges
Areas of Expertise
Education
- J.D., Yale Law School
- B.A., Columbia University, summa cum laude
Notable Publications
- Federalism: Theory, Policy, Law (co-authored)
- Constitutional Pluralism in the European Union and Beyond
Research Interests
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Constitutional Law, Constitutional History, Legal Theory
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