Harry Potter, Ruby Slippers and Merlin: Telling the Client’s Story Using the Characters and Paradigm of the Archetypal Hero’s Journey

Sep 15, 2026

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The article analyzes how Harry Potter, Ruby Slippers, and Merlin can guide legal storytellers in representing clients through the archetypal hero’s journey. It argues that judges and courtroom audiences respond to recurring narrative patterns and character archetypes, making mythology and folklore useful frameworks for case theory. By drawing parallels between familiar protagonists and legal roles, the work reframes favorable rulings as talismans and emphasizes systematic, deliberate characterizations in lawyering decisions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages38

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

I. Introduction

Using hero-journey patterns to represent clients

Mythology and folklore in case theory

Please do not remove this page Harry Potter, Ruby Slippers, and Merlin: telling the client's story using the characters and paradigm of the archetypal hero's journey Robbins, Ruth Anne [https://scholarship.libraries.rutgers.edu/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Harry-Potter-Ruby-Slippers-and-Merlin/991031550247604646/fi](https://scholarship.libraries.rutgers.edu/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/Harry-Potter-Ruby-Slippers-and-Merlin/991031550247604646/fi)lesAndLinks?index=0 Robbins, R. A. (2006) . Harry Potter, Ruby Slippers, and Merlin: telling the client’s story using the characters and paradigm of the archetypal hero’s journey. Seattle University Law Review, 29(4), 767–803. [https://doi.org/10.7282/T3668GG4](https://doi.org/10.7282/T3668GG4) This work is protected by copyright. You are free to use this resource, with proper attribution, for research and educational purposes. Other uses, such as reproduction or publication, may require the permission of the copyright holder. Downloaded On 2026/09/15 16:11:59-0400 Report an accessibility issue at: [https://go.rutgers.edu/rul-remediation](https://go.rutgers.edu/rul-remediation) ARTICLES Harry Potter, Ruby Slippers and Merlin: Telling the Client’s Story Using the Characters and Paradigm of the Archetypal Hero’s Journey Ruth Anne Robbins† I. INTRODUCTION What can Harry Potter 1 teach us about how to represent our clients? Potentially, quite a lot. Although it might seem odd to imagine the bright † Clinical Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers School of Law–Camden. One of the benefits of being a clinical professor at Rutgers is the ability to work with a draft for longer periods of time and with the input of many kind people. Thus, I have many thanks to impart. In addition to thanking the participants and organizers of the Legal Writing Institute’s first Writers Workshop in Port Ludlow, Washington, July 2004, my Rutgers colleagues who gave me feedback in two different faculty colloquium settings, and my students who constantly provide me with fresh energy about the topic, I would also like to express individualized gratitude to Professors Teresa Godwin Phelps, Michael R. Smith, Steve Johansen, Andrew Solomon, Suzanne Rowe, Carol Wallinger, Victoria Chase, Richard Hyland, Jason Cohen, Brian Foley and my husband, Steve Robbins, all for reviewing this Article at various stages ofthe drafts. Thanks also to my talented research assistant, Jerry Levine, for his wonderful work and thoughtful insights. 1. For those people who have resisted the cultural phenomenon, Harry Potter is a young orphan boy being raised, reluctantly, by his aunt and uncle. J.K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, 53 (Scholastic 1997) (originally published as HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER ’S STONE (Bloomsbury 1997) [hereinafter HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER ’S STONE]; J.K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX 836 (Scholastic 2003)[hereinafter HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX] . One day Harry receives a letter telling him that he has been accepted into the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE, 51 (Scholastic 1997) . He learns that he was scarred at an early age by the most evil wizard of the day, who disappeared after killing Harry’s parents and after unsuccessfully trying to [kill Harry.](kill Harry. Id. at)[ Id.](kill Harry. Id. at)[ at](kill Harry. Id. at) 53–56. The rest of the books explore Harry’s adventures learning to be a wizard and his quest to help improve and find his place in the wizarding world. See HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER ’S STONE; J.K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, (Scholastic 1999) [hereinafter HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS]; J.K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Scholastic 1999) [hereinafter HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN]; J.K. ROWLING, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Scholastic 2000) [hereinafter HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF

FAQs

How does the article connect Harry Potter to representing clients?

It contends that Harry Potter can inform lawyers’ characterizations of clients and clarify the function of the lawsuit within a client’s story.

Why does the article focus on audiences of judges rather than juries?

It concentrates on decisions driven by judges’ responses to narrative patterns and character archetypes, which shape how case theory should be framed.

What role does mythology or folklore play in the proposed lawyering approach?

The article treats mythology and folklore heroes as practical models for everyday lawyering decisions, linking recognizable story structures to courtroom communication.

Sep 15, 2026

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