About the book
As protest movements took to the streets during the 1960s and 1970s, a group of lawyers joined forces with America’s most confrontational activists. In pursuit of radical change themselves, these militant attorneys went beyond providing mere representation. They identified with their clients, defied the habits of a conservative profession, and formulated a corrosive critique of the legal system, questioning the neutrality and transformative power of law. While exploiting the courtrooms as political forums, they developed aggressive litigation strategies and became involved with the organization of protest. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews, historian Luca Falciola reconstructs this largely unmapped phenomenon and challenges the reader to think anew about the pivotal role of lawyers in social movements.
At the heart of this book is the story of the National Lawyers Guild. Founded in 1937, the Guild represented the first integrated and progressive bar association of America. The Guild returned to prominence in the early 1960s, at the vanguard providing legal aid to civil rights workers in the South. Since then, leftist students, disobedient soldiers, rebellious inmates, radical minorities, and revolutionary groups such as the Black Panther Party and the Weather Underground have relied on this cadre of sympathetic lawyers to defend and empower them.
Editions of Up Against the Law
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781469670287
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469670294
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469670317
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890860750
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469670300
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890860743
Read an Excerpt
As protest movements took to the streets during the 1960s and 1970s, a group of lawyers joined forces with America’s most confrontational activists. In pursuit of radical change themselves, these militant attorneys went beyond providing mere representation. They identified with their clients, defied the habits of a conservative profession, and formulated a corrosive critique of the legal system, questioning the neutrality and transformative power of law. While exploiting the courtrooms as political forums, they developed aggressive litigation strategies and became involved with the organization of protest. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews, historian Luca Falciola reconstructs this largely unmapped phenomenon and challenges the reader to think anew about the pivotal role of lawyers in social movements.
At the heart of this book is the story of the National Lawyers Guild. Founded in 1937, the Guild represented the first integrated and progressive bar association of America. The Guild returned to prominence in the early 1960s, at the vanguard providing legal aid to civil rights workers in the South. Since then, leftist students, disobedient soldiers, rebellious inmates, radical minorities, and revolutionary groups such as the Black Panther Party and the Weather Underground have relied on this cadre of sympathetic lawyers to defend and empower them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Up Against the Law about?
As protest movements took to the streets during the 1960s and 1970s, a group of lawyers joined forces with America’s most confrontational activists. In pursuit of radical change themselves, these militant attorneys went beyond providing mere representation. They identified with their clients, defied the habits of a conservative profession, and formulated a corrosive critique of the legal system, questioning the neutrality and transformative power of law. While exploiting the courtrooms as political forums, they developed aggressive litigation strategies and became involved with the organization of protest. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews, historian Luca Falciola reconstructs this largely unmapped phenomenon and challenges the reader to think anew about the pivotal role of lawyers in social movements.
At the heart of this book is the story of the National Lawyers Guild. Founded in 1937, the Guild represented the first integrated and progressive bar association of America. The Guild returned to prominence in the early 1960s, at the vanguard providing legal aid to civil rights workers in the South. Since then, leftist students, disobedient soldiers, rebellious inmates, radical minorities, and revolutionary groups such as the Black Panther Party and the Weather Underground have relied on this cadre of sympathetic lawyers to defend and empower them.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Up Against the Law?
Law > Jurisprudence and general issues > Legal history
Where can I read a sample of Up Against the Law?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469670287
How long is Up Against the Law and how many pages does it have?
Up Against the Law has 412 page(s)
Is Up Against the Law part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Up Against the Law?
Luca Falciola
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Up Against the Law is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469670287) and paperback(ISBN 9781469670294) and ebook(ISBN 9781469670317) and ebook(ISBN 9798890860750) and ebook(ISBN 9781469670300) and pdf(ISBN 9798890860743)
Where can I buy Up Against the Law online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Up Against the Law from below
Where can I buy Up Against the Law?