This plenary session will provide an introduction and overview for the entire day-long program. It will explore the positive and normative contribution made by the socio-economic approach to the analysis of law-related economic issues both in the academy and the economy. Specific attention will be given to the subject matter to be explored in greater detail in each of the day’s sessions. These include (1) socio-economic approaches to economic recovery; (2) economic perspectives on academic freedom, academic capitalism, and accountability discourse; (3) corporate fiduciary duties, social responsibility and governance; (4) race, gender, class and economic justice; (5) what property professors need to nnow about title security and the mortgage crisis; (6) role of law in achieving sustainable development; (7) socio-economic perspectives on the financial crisis. The discussion will include commentary from the organizers and participants of each of the day’s concurrent sessions along with other invited participants and members of the audience.