In Corey Shdaimah’s piece, “Intersection Identities: Cause Lawyers as Legal Professionals and Social Movements Actors,” the perspective of the lawyer is amplified. Shdaimah is interested in the understanding that lawyers have regarding their role in social movements. The author interviews several lawyers from various social movements to investigate how they place themselves within the causes they fight for. The piece begins by outlining methods of how lawyers chose law as a means for social change, and it concludes by showcasing perspectives from lawyers on how they see themselves within their respective social movements. The author argues that contrary to popular belief, many cause lawyers truly care about their issues, and are not only in
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Many of the interviews describe the lawyer’s experience with law as challenging, especially regarding the slow pace at which the legal system works. However, the majority of the responses continued to articulate an appreciation for and belief in the law as a tool for social change and cause lawyering. Additionally, the lawyers seemed to understand that the legal system is inherently hierarchical, therefore, “Lawyers and clients who challenge the premises of the legal system are radical by definition, even if they choose to play by its rules when they perceive that as the best (or only) available strategy” (Shdaimah, 230). The interviews show that although the law can be an especially difficult tool for change, that does not diminish its …show more content…
The author is especially interested in how cause lawyers understand their role in being lawyers and professionals for social change. Therefore, in order to understand that, it is imperative that one must also understand how hard legal mobilization can be due to the slow nature of the legal system. The research conducted through the interviews showed varying levels of legal consciousness by the lawyers. As a result, each lawyer had a different perspective regarding what the law was all about and how useful it was to their movement. The author argues, therefore, that the understanding of the law and the legal system is imperative to becoming a successful and relatively happy cause lawyer. Additionally, the author understands that every lawyer is different, as well as every social movement emphasizing the need for cause lawyers to understand how they view the law and how that can help or hurt their
Many of the interviews describe the lawyer’s experience with law as challenging, especially regarding the slow pace at which the legal system works. However, the majority of the responses continued to articulate an appreciation for and belief in the law as a tool for social change and cause lawyering. Additionally, the lawyers seemed to understand that the legal system is inherently hierarchical, therefore, “Lawyers and clients who challenge the premises of the legal system are radical by definition, even if they choose to play by its rules when they perceive that as the best (or only) available strategy” (Shdaimah, 230). The interviews show that although the law can be an especially difficult tool for change, that does not diminish its …show more content…
The author is especially interested in how cause lawyers understand their role in being lawyers and professionals for social change. Therefore, in order to understand that, it is imperative that one must also understand how hard legal mobilization can be due to the slow nature of the legal system. The research conducted through the interviews showed varying levels of legal consciousness by the lawyers. As a result, each lawyer had a different perspective regarding what the law was all about and how useful it was to their movement. The author argues, therefore, that the understanding of the law and the legal system is imperative to becoming a successful and relatively happy cause lawyer. Additionally, the author understands that every lawyer is different, as well as every social movement emphasizing the need for cause lawyers to understand how they view the law and how that can help or hurt their