Nineteenth-century American lawyers mostly practiced alone without specialization
Evidence
Major changes have occurred not only in the size and demographics of the legal profession but also in the types of legal practice. During the settlement of the American West, when frontier areas were sparsely populated, judges rode circuit to hold court in various locations, and lawyers often accompanied them, providing representation for those who had awaited the judge’s arrival to settle their disputes. As a commentator of the era described it, “[T]he lawyer would, perhaps, scarcely alight from his horse when he would be surrounded by two or three clients requiring his services.” As the nation’s population spread, so did the lawyers. Wherever a community grew up, a lawyer would also settle and set up his office, handling whatever legal business came his way. Thus, the typical nineteenth century lawyer was a nonspecialized solo practitioner, serving a wide diversity of clients and legal needs. In fact, in 1872 only one American law firm had as many as six lawyers. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 682
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the course theme on how judicial practice has institutionalized over time, and to the frontier circuit-rider contrast with today’s specialization. — connects to: The nineteenth-century lawyer was a nonspecialized solo practitioner. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1035; Solo practice historically absorbed lawyers barred from major firms by background — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1053; Solo practice became the exception rather than the rule among American lawyers. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 683 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- The nineteenth-century lawyer was a nonspecialized solo practitioner.
#corroborates(1.00) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1035 - American legal practice shifted from solo and small-firm work toward large firms.
#responds-to(0.85) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1196 - Solo practice became the exception rather than the rule among American lawyers.
#complicates(0.78) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 683 - Solo practice historically absorbed lawyers barred from major firms by background
#expands(0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1053