Re:For every 1% increase in the number of lawyers, economic ...
by AnimalMuppet on Monday October 05, 2020 @06:50PM
(#24692925)
> Conversely to the paper’s implication, too many lawyers can also be seen as evidence of a society based on the rule of the law, with strong legal institutions, processes, separation of powers and other patterns of integrity, and lack of rule by decree in any form
Well, it means strong legal institutions. But...
Take criminal law, for example. Lots of lawyers mean that each criminal gets their day in court. That's good. But a law-abiding society would be better.
Or take contract law. Lots of lawyers mean that, if the other party violates the contract, you can sue them. But wouldn't it be better to have a society where more people just did what the contract said, instead of trying to find ways to weasel out of it?
Even with respect to the government, yes, when they overstep their bounds, we can take them to court, and we can even win and make them stop doing whatever they're not supposed to. But really, it would be better if they just stayed within the constitutional parameters of what they're allowed to do.
In all these cases, it's good (really!) that we can have our day in court, in a system that is at least relatively fair. The lawyers are the sign of a healthy legal system. But they're also the sign of an unhealthy society, that is restrained by court cases rather than by doing the right thing.
Well, it means strong legal institutions. But...
Take criminal law, for example. Lots of lawyers mean that each criminal gets their day in court. That's good. But a law-abiding society would be better.
Or take contract law. Lots of lawyers mean that, if the other party violates the contract, you can sue them. But wouldn't it be better to have a society where more people just did what the contract said, instead of trying to find ways to weasel out of it?
Even with respect to the government, yes, when they overstep their bounds, we can take them to court, and we can even win and make them stop doing whatever they're not supposed to. But really, it would be better if they just stayed within the constitutional parameters of what they're allowed to do.
In all these cases, it's good (really!) that we can have our day in court, in a system that is at least relatively fair. The lawyers are the sign of a healthy legal system. But they're also the sign of an unhealthy society, that is restrained by court cases rather than by doing the right thing.