Critical Legal Studies (CLS) is a movement in legal theory that emerged in the United States during the late 1970s. It challenges traditional legal doctrines and argues that law is not a neutral set of rules but is influenced by social, political, and economic factors. CLS scholars believe that legal outcomes often reflect the interests of powerful groups rather than justice or fairness. The movement draws on various disciplines, including Marxism, feminism, and postmodernism, to critique the law's role in perpetuating inequality. CLS advocates seek to reveal how legal systems can reinforce societal hierarchies and promote social change through a more equitable understanding of law.