Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2019
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Program
Liberal Studies
Advisor
Lucia Trimbur
Subject Categories
American Politics | Civil Rights and Discrimination | Law and Politics | Law and Race | Law and Society | Legal Profession | Legal Theory | Nonprofit Organizations Law | Other Legal Studies | Politics and Social Change
Keywords
social justice, lawyers, law, interviews, social change, law and society
Abstract
Lawyers in the U.S. who attempt to advocate for social justice issues, often on behalf of those communities most targeted by government institutions and oppressive legal systems, have unique perspectives into the challenges of using the law to create transformative change. This thesis examines the voices of over a dozen attorneys fighting not only on behalf of their clients, but also wrestling with how to best use a set of legal tools not meant for dismantling systems of power. Listening to how these legal advocates navigate their roles inside a system of laws created to consolidate rather than distribute power can provide greater insights into the potential (or lack of) for using “the law” in support of social justice, as well as important lessons for other lawyers, activists and organizers.
Recommended Citation
Head, Ian, "Shared Deliberations: Learning from the Voices of Social Justice Lawyers on Their Aspirations, Challenges and Roles" (2019). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3009
Included in
American Politics Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Law and Race Commons, Law and Society Commons, Legal Profession Commons, Legal Theory Commons, Nonprofit Organizations Law Commons, Other Legal Studies Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons