We briefly summarize Kerr effect studies of dilute polymer solutions, taken from our own work, for the purpose of emphasizing their unique ability to characterize polymer microstructures. In cases where. at least one of their monomer repeat units is polar or at least reasonably and anisotropically polarizable, the molar Kerr constants, K-m, of polymers obtained from the electrical birefringence measured for their dilute Solutions are demonstrated to be exquisitely sensitive to their microstructures, including the tacticities of homo- and copolymers and the comonomer sequences of copolymers. In addition, because the (m)Ks expected for polymers with given or known microstructures can be calculated if their conformational characteristics have been established, comparison of observed and calculated (m)Ks can also be used to confirm or derive their conformational characteristics, such as those embodied in their rotational isomeric states (RIS) models. From such comparisons of observed and calculated (m)Ks, we were able to conclude that, among all characterization techniques, Kerr effect studies of dilute polymer solutions are clearly the most sensitive to both their microstructures and their conformations. This is largely a consequence of the fact that the (m)Ks of small molecules range over more than 4 orders of magnitude and, in addition, may be either positive or negative in sign. Several additional potential applications of the Kerr effect are suggested for polymers that interact/complex with each other or with certain small molecules in solution and also for polymers at interfaces, e.g., polymer brushes bathed/swollen in solvents. Finally a call (a plea really) is made for polymer samples containing polar or anisotropically polarizable repeat units for further evaluating the Kerr effect as a sensitive means to characterize both their microstructures and conformations. This request is made because of our soon to be achieved and unique capability to measure (m)Ks of polymers in solution on a state-of the-art Kerr effect instrument nearing completion in our laboratory.