Something to Believe In

"This superb new book . . . is a rich synthesis of several decades of research on cause lawyers and cause lawyering. . . . [It] is a must-read for all scholars and students interested in cause lawyers and the intersection between law and politics in the U.S."-The Law and Politics Book Review "Scheingold and Sarat have produced an excellent synthesis of the existing research on cause lawyers and lawyering. They have done us all a great service in writing this new book."-Law and Politics Book Review "Something To Believe In is a thoughtful and intellectual study of an approach to practicing law that elevates principle over pragmatic self-interest."-TRIAL "Two political scientists provide a brief and fascinating overview of 'cause lawyering,' or the use of legal skills to pursue ideological goals that transcend traditional client service."-California Lawyer

Stuart A. Scheingold is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Washington. Austin Sarat is the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science at Amherst College.

Contents Acknowledgments 1. Cause Lawyering and Conventional Lawyering: Professional and Political Perspectives 2. Cause Lawyering, Civic Professionalism, and the Organized Legal Profession: A Brief History 3. Beating the Odds: Cause Lawyering and Legal Education 4. Careers in Cause Lawyering: Risks and Rewards 5. Cause Lawyers and Liberal Democracy: On the Possibilities of Democratic Advocacy 6. Conclusion: Cause Lawyering in Compoarative and Global Perspective Notes References Index Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Public interest law United States, Practice of law Political aspects United States, Practice of law United States Moral and ethical aspects