Institutional Professionalism for Lawyers: Realizing the Virtues of Civic Professionalism

Abstract

William M. Sullivan's book, "Work and Integrity: The Crisis and Promise of Professionalism in America" (Jossey-Bass [San Francisco], 2d ed. 2005), laments the continuing decline in civic participation on the part of both American professionals and the public at large, resulting from the combined forces of technological change, globalization, and rampant materialism. Sullivan contends that professionals can point the way toward a renewed era of civic engagement by embracing a vision of professionalism that places a commitment to civic participation at its core. Though Sullivan's focus is on the professions generally, rather than the legal profession in particular, lawyers and legal academics have much to gain from considering Sullivan's views in conjunction with their work.

This review essay represents an initial effort to compare Sullivan's views with existing scholarship regarding the appropriate professional roles and responsibilities of lawyers.

Keywords: professionalism, legal professionalism, civic professionalism, legal profession, legal ethics

JEL Classification: K40, K49