Unequal Justice: Lawyers and Social Change in Modern America

by Jerold S. Auerbach

Focuses on the elite nature of the profession, with its emphasis on serving business interests and its attempt to exclude participation by minorities.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, Read For School

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1976

Reviews

[Mal Hardesty · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The stability of the legal order, deprived of external nourishment to give credence to its claim of fairness, dissolved"

In Unequal Justice by Jerold Auerbach attempts to explain the breakdown of the legal system and how it has begun to be perceived a fundamentally unequal institution. Throughout the novel, Auerbach explains how the legal system began to consciously discriminate against minorities in order to create an elitist and closed society for those who had the social influence, the money, and white. Outside of this, the legal system became closed to those who needed its services, leaving the poor without any legal remedy. This book develops its theory excellently, providing historical insight into the development of the legal profession in the United States, explaining how it was built on exclusionary principles and has drifted from the original purpose: serving the common people. While this book is highly intriguing, the writing is more complex than necessary, and the books use of historical examples can become difficult to read over time. Overall this book was okay, however the level of difficulty made it not enjoyable to read, but the theory behind it was still able to shine through. As always, thank you for listening.

[Valeriano Diviacchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great history. But, in the end, same conclusion as most worshipers of the secular religion called law: law is the only answer to injustice in life. Not. Great history, but for new ideas, look elsewhere.

[Wes Pue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A significant breakthrough book.