Critical Traditions in Law and Society Research
Susan S. Silbey;Austin Sarat
In this journal article the idea that "we have not done very well at promoting a sociology of the sociology of law" stood out the most for me. Since my father is a lawyer, I have seen first hand the ideas and morals that connect closely to law and how a lawyer must behave. The lawyers who have to defend druglords and rapists and murderers have to seperate themselves from their work. If the ideas from law and society were available to these lawyers during the time when they learn about law, they might second guess their work.
I also agree with this article in the sense that something has to be done. I mentioned to dad about this class Law and Society and he had no idea what that was. He explained to me how he never had that option in high school, college or law school when he was pursuing a degree in environmental law. All the classes were formal and designed around strict law and the "is what it is" mentality. I spoke to my dad about how this class was going to examine law from a completely different aspect. This article made me realize just that.
The lawyers of the old generation like my father need to be re taught how to look at law. The new generation and new thinking behind law should come up in more than just sociology standpoints. I find it imperative that the law and society movement needs to become more than critics, as Bloch suggested is where sociologists began.
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I didn't read the Sibley and Sarat article but I agree with what you are saying about teaching law today. I think it would be important for students studying law to also study law in a sociological way. I feel like looking at the way law shapes society and the other way around is extremely important for anyone involved in law. Hopefully promoting sociology and law is something that will catch on in the future.
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