Lawyers, Networks and Progressive Social Change
Lawyers Changing Lives
Published on 26. January 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-5099-5008-9 (ISBN)
Description
Written by a lawyer who works at the intersection between legal education and practice in access to justice and human rights, this book locates, describes and defines a collective identity for social justice lawyering in the UK.
Underpinned by theories of cause lawyering and legal mobilisation, the book argues that it is vital to understand the positions that progressive lawyers collectively take in order to frame the connections they make between their personal and professional lives, the tools they use to achieve social change, as well as ethical tensions presented by their work.
The book takes a reflexive ethnographic approach to capture the stories of 35 lawyers working to positively transform law and policy in the UK over the last 50 years. It also draws on a wealth of primary sources including case reports, historic campaign materials and media analysis alongside wider ethnographic interviews with academics, students and lawyers and participant observation at social justice conferences, workshops and events.
The book explains the way in which lawyers' networks facilitate their collective positioning and influence their strategic decision making, which in turn shapes their interactions with social activists, with other lawyers and with the state itself.
Underpinned by theories of cause lawyering and legal mobilisation, the book argues that it is vital to understand the positions that progressive lawyers collectively take in order to frame the connections they make between their personal and professional lives, the tools they use to achieve social change, as well as ethical tensions presented by their work.
The book takes a reflexive ethnographic approach to capture the stories of 35 lawyers working to positively transform law and policy in the UK over the last 50 years. It also draws on a wealth of primary sources including case reports, historic campaign materials and media analysis alongside wider ethnographic interviews with academics, students and lawyers and participant observation at social justice conferences, workshops and events.
The book explains the way in which lawyers' networks facilitate their collective positioning and influence their strategic decision making, which in turn shapes their interactions with social activists, with other lawyers and with the state itself.
Reviews / Votes
Differences between lawyers identified as radical, cause or progressive can be difficult to discern. It is, however, interesting to explore possible distinctions. This book brings a new perspective to that task. -- Andy Boon * Frontiers of Socio-Legal Studies * Lawyers, Networks and Progressive Social Change is a welcome and long overdue study of progressive legal practice in the UK -- Tara Mulqueen * Modern Law Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5099-5008-9 (9781509950089)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2021
1st Edition
Hart Publishing
€37.49
Available for download
E-Book
06/2021
1st Edition
Hart Publishing
€37.49
Available for download
Person
Jacqueline Kinghan is Senior Lecturer in Law and Social Justice at Newcastle University Law School, UK.
Content
1. Introduction
2. The Context and Controversies of Progressive Lawyering
The Context of Progressive Lawyering
Cause Lawyering and Legal Mobilisation
The Controversies of Progressive Lawyering
Conclusions
3. Identifying Progressive Lawyers
Narrative Methodology
Reflexivity and Elite Interviewing
Identifying Areas of Practice
Ethnography
Fieldwork Interviews: Research Participant Selection
Other Data Sources and Data Analysis
Contested Labelling of Progressive Legal Identity
Conclusions
4. Pathways to Law
The Legal Profession and Social Class
Shared Beginnings
Shared Left Values
Shared Turning Points
Collective Identity: Conclusions
5. Tools for Change
Legal Advice and Representation
Strategic Litigation
Policy Work and Campaigning
Conclusions
6. Educating Progressive Lawyers
An Autoethnographic Perspective on Legal Education
Social Alienation at Law School
Bringing US Experience Home
A Formative UK Experience
Conclusions
7. Professional Legal Ethics and the Progressive Social Self
Resolute Positions
Constrained Positions
Conflict and Contestation
Conclusions
8. Sustaining Progressive Lawyering
Funding and Burnout
Passion and Persistence
Knowledge and Experience
Barristers and Excellence
Social Mobility and Access
Conclusions
9. Lawyers, Networks and the Future of Progressive Lawyering: 'This Work Needs to be Done'
Conceptualising a Progressive Lawyering Movement
A Progressive Lawyering Future
Appendix One: Table of Narrative Interviews
Appendix Two: Narrative Interview Question Guide
2. The Context and Controversies of Progressive Lawyering
The Context of Progressive Lawyering
Cause Lawyering and Legal Mobilisation
The Controversies of Progressive Lawyering
Conclusions
3. Identifying Progressive Lawyers
Narrative Methodology
Reflexivity and Elite Interviewing
Identifying Areas of Practice
Ethnography
Fieldwork Interviews: Research Participant Selection
Other Data Sources and Data Analysis
Contested Labelling of Progressive Legal Identity
Conclusions
4. Pathways to Law
The Legal Profession and Social Class
Shared Beginnings
Shared Left Values
Shared Turning Points
Collective Identity: Conclusions
5. Tools for Change
Legal Advice and Representation
Strategic Litigation
Policy Work and Campaigning
Conclusions
6. Educating Progressive Lawyers
An Autoethnographic Perspective on Legal Education
Social Alienation at Law School
Bringing US Experience Home
A Formative UK Experience
Conclusions
7. Professional Legal Ethics and the Progressive Social Self
Resolute Positions
Constrained Positions
Conflict and Contestation
Conclusions
8. Sustaining Progressive Lawyering
Funding and Burnout
Passion and Persistence
Knowledge and Experience
Barristers and Excellence
Social Mobility and Access
Conclusions
9. Lawyers, Networks and the Future of Progressive Lawyering: 'This Work Needs to be Done'
Conceptualising a Progressive Lawyering Movement
A Progressive Lawyering Future
Appendix One: Table of Narrative Interviews
Appendix Two: Narrative Interview Question Guide