Who are the lawyers and how did they get to where they are? In this course, students will examine the history and demographics of the legal profession. The class will pay particular attention to the process of legal education and consider various criticisms of lawyers and the legal system.
Issues included in this course include professional ethics, education and stratification within the profession. The work of lawyers has changed considerably over the last hundred years. The legal profession has grown at a rapid pace within the last two decades alone and attorneys work in very different contexts, are increasingly specialized and are facing a much wider range of legal problems then ever before.
Legal education is a shared experience among all lawyers. As students examine lawyers and their roles in the law, it is important to consider the impact of legal education. Law can be used as a tool for change, but does legal education include experiences and training helpful to future change makers? Can students expect the law to change if those who enter the profession instantly accept the status quo?
Course Objectives
- By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the evolution of the legal profession.