Lawyers in 21st-Century Societies: Vol. 2: Comparisons and Theories

This book presents a collection of essays by eminent scholars from various disciplines on the main issues confronting legal professions worldwide. It builds on the previous collection "Lawyers in Society" and explores the developments since 1988, including socio-economic, cultural, and political changes. The volume covers different regions, including Africa, Latin America, the Islamic world, emerging economies, and former communist regimes, and addresses theoretical questions such as the sociology of lawyers, state production, the rule of law, regional bodies, large law firms, access to justice, technology, casualization, cause lawyering, diversity, corruption, ethics regulation, and legal education.

Format: Hardback
Length: 680 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book is a treasure trove of insightful essays by renowned scholars from diverse disciplines, delving into the pressing challenges facing legal professions worldwide. Through a comparative analysis of data from the companion volume, Lawyers in 21st-Century Societies: Vol. 1: National Reports (Hart 2020), it offers a comprehensive exploration of the landscape. These volumes build upon the groundbreaking collection Lawyers in Society (Abel and Lewis 1988a; 1988b; 1989). Since 1988, the world has witnessed a rapid and profound acceleration of global socio-economic, cultural, and political developments, challenging the traditional frameworks of professional practice. Alongside the seismic shift in the global order brought about by the collapse of the Soviet bloc, neo-liberalism, globalization, the financialization of capitalism, technological innovations, and the evolving demographics of lawyers, these developments underscored the urgent need for a fresh, comparative examination of the legal professional field. This volume expands upon the insights presented in volume 1, covering various regions such as Africa, Latin America, the Islamic world, emerging economies, and former communist regimes. It also delves into theoretical topics, including the sociology of lawyers and other professions (medicine, accountancy), state production, the rule of law, regional bodies, large law firms, access to justice, technology, casualization, cause lawyering, diversity (gender, race, and masculinity), corruption, ethics regulation, and legal education. Together with volume 1, this book serves as a valuable resource for understanding and shaping contemporary legal professions, while also stimulating and fostering further research.

Dimension: 244 x 169 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509931217