American lawyers /

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Bibliographic Details
Author / Creator:Abel, Richard L.
Imprint:New York : Oxford University Press, 1989.
Description:1 online resource (xv, 406 pages)
Language:English
Subject:Practice of law -- United States.
Lawyers -- United States.
Droit -- Pratique -- États-Unis.
Avocats -- États-Unis.
LAW -- Legal Profession.
Lawyers.
Practice of law.
Advocaten.
Juristen.
Rechtsanwalt
Jurist
Avocats -- Etats-Unis.
United States.
USA.
Electronic books.
Electronic book.
Format: E-Resource Book
URL for this record:http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/11152391
Hidden Bibliographic Details
ISBN:0195072634
9780195072631
0195051408
9780195051407
1423736613
9781423736615
128044133X
9781280441332
Digital file characteristics:data file
Notes:Includes bibliographical references (pages 355-388) and index.
Restrictions unspecified
Electronic reproduction. [S.l.] : HathiTrust Digital Library, 2010.
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212
digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve
Print version record.
Summary:Based on an extensive survey of historical, sociological, and legal sources, American Lawyers traces the development of the legal profession during the past century. The most comprehensive work on the subject in over thirty years, this seminal study offers a disturbing portrait of the character, evolution, and future of law and lawyers in the United States. Since their emergence in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, Abel argues, bar associations have consciously shaped and controlled the development of the profession. American Lawyers have deliberately erected entry barriers designed to restrict the number and raise the social status of lawyers, and have intentionally dampened competition. Abel demonstrates how lawyers sought to increase access to justice while simultaneously stimulating demand for legal services, and how they implemented self-regulation to forestall external control. Charting the dramatic transformation of the profession over the last two decades, Abel documents the growing number and importance of lawyers employed outside private practice in business and government.
Other form:Print version: Abel, Richard L. American lawyers. New York : Oxford University Press, 1989
Review by Choice Review

In this outstanding book, Abel provides a wide-ranging and provocative treatment of the American legal profession. He masterfully synthesizes a large volume of literature on lawyers and professions and brings a wealth of data to bear on a variety of important topics concerning the profession's development. Among other things, Abel focuses on the bar's control of entry into the profession, demographic characteristics of lawyers, ethical rules and practices, legal aid for the poor, law school socialization, and professional stratification. Topics are placed in historical context and important changes are discussed and explained. Data drawn from a variety of sources are skillfully placed in the context of Weberian, Marxist, and structural-functionalist theories of professions. Although many fine studies of the American legal profession have appeared in the past 20 years, none are so systematic and comprehensive. Highly recommended for undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. -M. Kessler, Bates College

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review