Lawyers: A Critical Reader

(Paperback)

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Are lawyers merely hired guns or are they responsible for the clients they represent Who does and does not obtain legal services in the USA How does law school make students more conservative Can law contribute to the creation of a more just society The 40 pieces in this volume address a wide range of questions concerning the legal profession and its increasing impact on American society, which contains more lawyers per capita than any other country. The book offers a broad overview, critically examining the occupation's claim to professsional status, describing dramatic changes both in the United States and elsewhere, and looking at the way in which lawyers govern and monitor themselves. It also examines who is admitted to the bar, focusing on those long excluded (women and racial minorities), and the range of jobs performed by lawyers, especially the two extremes of private practice: solo and small firms, and large ones with thousands of employees in offices around the world.

Author Bio

Richard L. Abel is Connell Professor of Law at UCLA. He is a recipient of the Law and Society Association's Harry Kalven prize for his work on the legal profession.