Women and Justice for the Poor
A History of Legal Aid, 1863–1945
By Cambridge University Press | Publisher: Cambridge University Press
About the book
This book re-examines fundamental assumptions about the American legal profession and the boundaries between 'professional' lawyers, 'lay' lawyers, and social workers. Putting legal history and women's history in dialogue, it demonstrates that nineteenth-century women's organizations first offered legal aid to the poor and that middle-class women functioning as lay lawyers, provided such assistance. Felice Batlan illustrates that by the early twentieth century, male lawyers founded their own legal aid societies. These new legal aid lawyers created an imagined history of legal aid and a blueprint for its future in which women played no role and their accomplishments were intentionally omitted. In response, women social workers offered harsh criticisms of legal aid leaders and developed a more robust social work model of legal aid. These different models produced conflicting understandings of expertise, professionalism, the rule of law, and ultimately, the meaning of justice for the poor.
Editions of Women and Justice for the Poor
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781107084537
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781107446410
Read an Excerpt
This book re-examines fundamental assumptions about the American legal profession and the boundaries between 'professional' lawyers, 'lay' lawyers, and social workers. Putting legal history and women's history in dialogue, it demonstrates that nineteenth-century women's organizations first offered legal aid to the poor and that middle-class women functioning as lay lawyers, provided such assistance. Felice Batlan illustrates that by the early twentieth century, male lawyers founded their own legal aid societies. These new legal aid lawyers created an imagined history of legal aid and a blueprint for its future in which women played no role and their accomplishments were intentionally omitted. In response, women social workers offered harsh criticisms of legal aid leaders and developed a more robust social work model of legal aid. These different models produced conflicting understandings of expertise, professionalism, the rule of law, and ultimately, the meaning of justice for the poor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Women and Justice for the Poor about?
This book re-examines fundamental assumptions about the American legal profession and the boundaries between 'professional' lawyers, 'lay' lawyers, and social workers. Putting legal history and women's history in dialogue, it demonstrates that nineteenth-century women's organizations first offered legal aid to the poor and that middle-class women functioning as lay lawyers, provided such assistance. Felice Batlan illustrates that by the early twentieth century, male lawyers founded their own legal aid societies. These new legal aid lawyers created an imagined history of legal aid and a blueprint for its future in which women played no role and their accomplishments were intentionally omitted. In response, women social workers offered harsh criticisms of legal aid leaders and developed a more robust social work model of legal aid. These different models produced conflicting understandings of expertise, professionalism, the rule of law, and ultimately, the meaning of justice for the poor.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Women and Justice for the Poor?
Law > Jurisprudence and general issues > Legal history
Where can I read a sample of Women and Justice for the Poor?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781107084537
Is Women and Justice for the Poor part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Studies in Legal History
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Women and Justice for the Poor?
Cambridge University Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Women and Justice for the Poor is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781107084537) and paperback(ISBN 9781107446410)