Law practice shapes public policy even outside public office

Evidence

Law is considered a “public profession” because the practice of law affects the public life of the nation. This is true not only when lawyers serve as judges, as did Marshall and Powell, but also when lawyers pursue careers in politics or in public service. But even without holding public office, lawyers affect law and public policy. They may, like Marshall, deliberately design their legal practices to advance political ends. Or they may influence public affairs less directly, as did Powell, through their involvement in national organizations such as the American Bar Association, or through their representation of large economic enterprises. Whatever the avenue, lawyers affect the public life of the nation through their expertise and the use to which they put it. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 610

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Legal practice is a public profession affecting national policy — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 899; Bar restrictions on unauthorized practice serve lawyers’ interests more than the public’s — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 738; Everyday disciplinary micro-practices form the political underbelly of legal norms — Michel Foucault, Discipline & Punish- The Birth of the…, 347 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Legal practice is a public profession affecting national policy #corroborates (0.93) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 899
• Public-interest litigation changed constitutional law through test cases #exemplifies (0.82) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 604
• The shift from benefit-giving to conduct-regulating statutes fed litigation and judicial policymaking. #exemplifies (0.78) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2831
• The American legal system is common law yet distinctive for judicial policymaking #expands (0.76) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 213
• Everyday disciplinary micro-practices form the political underbelly of legal norms #exemplifies (0.75) — Michel Foucault, Discipline & Punish- The Birth of the…, 347
• Bar restrictions on unauthorized practice serve lawyers’ interests more than the public’s #complicates (0.74) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 738