The
Scale of Justice: Observations on the Transformation
of Urban Law Practice
John P. Heinz, Robert L.
Nelson, and Edward O. Laumann
Abstract
This
paper surveys the changes that took place in large corporate law
firms during the last quarter of the 20th century. It argues that
the most consequential change was the sheer increase in the size
of the firms, and it explores several possible explanations for
that growth. The paper also notes changes in demand for particular
types of legal work and argues that service industries are likely
to create more work for lawyers than in an economy based on agriculture
or heavy industry. The changing nature of the relationships between
corporate lawyers and their clients is explored, with emphasis on
the growth in the power and prestige of corporate inside counsel,
the greater competition among firms, and the broader geographic
markets served by the firms. Changes in firm management associated
with the increase in scale are described and analyzed. The paper
concludes with observations and speculation concerning "multidisciplinary
practice" (i.e., the move into the market for legal services, internationally,
of large accounting firms, financial services firms, and consulting
firms).
John P. Heinz, School
of Law, Northwestern University
Robert L. Nelson, Department of Sociology, Northwestern
University; and American Bar Foundation
Edward O. Laumann, Department of Sociology, University
of Chicago
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