Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the BarOver the past several decades, the number of lawyers in large cities has doubled, women have entered the bar at an unprecedented rate, and the scale of firms has greatly expanded. This immense growth has transformed the nature and social structure of the legal profession. In the most comprehensive analysis of the urban bar to date, Urban Lawyers presents a compelling portrait of how these changes continue to shape the field of law today. Drawing on extensive interviews with Chicago lawyers, the authors demonstrate how developments in the profession have affected virtually every aspect of the work and careers of urban lawyers-their relationships with clients, job tenure and satisfaction, income, social and political values, networks of professional connections, and patterns of participation in the broader community. Yet despite the dramatic changes, much remains the same. Stratification of income and power based on gender, race, and religious background, for instance, still maintains inequality within the bar. The authors of Urban Lawyers conclude that organizational priorities will likely determine the future direction of the legal profession. And with this landmark study as their guide, readers will be able to make their own informed predictions. |
Contents
Chapter | 3 |
with Ethan Michelson | 29 |
2 | 62 |
1 | 70 |
1 | 72 |
Prestige | 77 |
29 | 84 |
3 | 86 |
Income and Income Inequality | 159 |
1 | 160 |
2 | 166 |
Divided Opinions | 179 |
Connections within the Bar | 225 |
A Satisfying Profession? | 256 |
The Processes of Change | 277 |
Notes | 321 |
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activity affirmative action African American American Bar American Bar Association American Bar Foundation analysis antitrust autonomy average Bar Association careers chap chapter characteristics Chicago bar Chicago lawyers Chicago survey Cook County corporate clients corporate firms corporate law criminal defense declined differences divorce Edward Laumann ethical ethnoreligious Galanter gender government lawyers graduates groups Heinz and Laumann Hispanics hybrid firms included income increased inside counsel internal counsel Jewish job satisfaction large firms large law firms law school leadership legal profession legal services less males median minorities Northwestern University notables number of lawyers offices organizational organizations overall partnership percent in 1995 percentage personal client political positions practice settings practicing lawyers prestige pro bono professional quartile real estate relationships respondents roles sample scores sector significant significantly social Social Capital solo practice solo practitioners specialization substantial traditional firms trial lawyers University variables voluntary associations