The Law and Society Reader II [Hardcover]

Law and society scholars challenge thecommon belief that law is simply a neutral tool by which society sets standardsand resolves disputes. Decades of research shows how much the nature ofcommunities, organizations, and the people inhabiting them affect how lawworks. Just as much, law shapes beliefs, behaviors, and wider socialstructures, but the connections are much more nuanced—and surprising—than manyexpect.

Law and SocietyReader IIprovides readers an accessible overview to the breadth of recent developmentsin this research tradition, bringing to life the developments in this dynamicfield. Following up a firstLaw andSociety Readerpublished in 1995, editors Erik W. Larson and Patrick D.Schmidt have compiled excerpts of 43 illuminating articles published since 1993inThe Law & Society Review, theflagship journal of the Law and Society Association.

By its organizationand approach, this volume enables readers to join in discussing the key ideasof law and society research. The selections highlight the core insights anddevelopments in this research tradition, making these works indispensable forthose exploring the field and ideal for classroom use. Across sixconcisely-introduced sections, this volume analyzes inequality, lawyering, therelation between law and organizations, and the place of law in relation toother social institutions.

The Law & Society Reader IIoffers academics, students, and the general public a diverse, comprehensive window on some of the most innovative interdisciplinary scholarship on law produced in recent decades. It highlights how the field has become globalized and increasingly aware of the ways in which consciousness infuses legality. TheReaderprovides an accessible introduction to those new to the field and an indispensable overview for others already familiar with particular facets. -Richard Abel,editor ofThe Law & Society Reader, 1995 The  Lawlc2