The governance of law: the structure and work of corporate lawyers

Abstract

This chapter examines the changing structure and increasing commercialization of corporate legal practice. Lawyers compete with accountants; they face competition from American and continental lawyers. Some scholars have argued that what is taking place is the Americanization of professional practice and of lawyering in particular. The American law firm is composed essentially of two elements, namely, partners and associates. Perhaps the most sophisticated methodology yet developed for analyzing the successful law firms is that used by the American Lawyer. English law firms are smaller than their American counterparts. The work of corporate lawyers is based on the demands of their clients. Law is different from other occupations, e.g. medicine, where practitioners select a specialty for its intrinsic interest. In law the field is picked because the biggest and most powerful clients want those services. It is the client not the speciality per se that gives status to lawyers.