The Changing Character of Lawyers' Work: Chicago in 1975 and 1995

Abstract

This article compares findings from two surveys of Chicago lawyers, the first conducted in 1975 and the second in 1995. The earlier study indicated that the Chicago bar was then divided into two broad sectors or “hemispheres,” one serving large corporations and similar organizations and the other serving individuals and small businesses. Analyses of the structure of co-practice of the fields of law indicate that the hemispheres are now less distinct. The fields are less tightly connected and less clearly organized—they became more highly specialized during the intervening 20 years and are now organized in smaller clusters. Clear indications of continuing separation of work by client type remain, however. Estimates of the amount of lawyers' time devoted to each field in 1975 and 1995 indicate that corporate practice fields now consume a larger share of Chicago lawyers' attention, while fields such as probate receive a declining percentage. Growth is most pronounced in the litigation fields, especially in business litigation. The organizational contexts within which law is practiced both reflect and contribute to these changes. The scale of those organizations has increased greatly, and the allocation of work within them has been divided along substantive, doctrinal lines. As a result, there is a greater disaggregation of work and workgroups within the profession today.

Legally Charged: Embeddedness and Profit in Large Law Firm Legal Billings

“…From 1967 to 1997, corporate legal expenditures rose by 309 percent and law firms' gross receipts rose 239 percent, from 25 billion to 85 billion in 1987 dollars, which equates to a 480 percent rise in revenues. During this period, employment for lawyers grew at a rate of 141 percent, swamping the 46 percent growth rate of other white-collar professions (including consulting) and the 34 percent growth rate for the overall U.S. workforce (Galanter 1999;Heinz et al 1998). 1 …”

The professionalism of practising law: A comparison across work contexts

“…Collegial relations also take place across specializations. For example, Heinz et al (1998) suggest that the increasing specialization of legal practice fosters common ground for professional relationships because the kinds of work lawyers do and where they do it varies dramatically based on the area of law practiced (see also Kritzer, 1999;Sommerlad, 1995 ). While specialized areas of law bond lawyers as collectives, the profession also endeavors to limit potentially divisive competition between specialties (Freidson, 1984) encouraging wider collegiality.…”

Settling for Less? Organizational Determinants of Discrimination-Charge Outcomes

“…Establishments familiar with the charge resolution process can strategically manage how they disclose such evidence to EEOC investigators. Indeed, in recent years organizations have increasingly established internal legal or human resource units whose primary responsibilities include dealing with employee disputes (see Edelman & Suchman 1999;Heinz et al 1998;Westin & Feliu 1988). The presence of such specialized legal units and actors allows organizations to draw on pre-established routines to manage the uncertainty associated with accusations of discrimination and ensures calculated responses to claims.…”