Lawyers’ Empire: Legal Professions and Cultural Authority, 1780-1950

Approaching the legal profession through the lens of cultural history, Wes Pue explores the social roles lawyers imagined for themselves in England and its expanding empire from the late eighteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Each chapter focuses on a critical moment when lawyers – whether leaders or rebels – sought to reshape their profession. In the process, they often fancied they were also shaping the culture and politics of both nation and empire as they struggled to develop or adapt professional structures, represent clients, or engage in advocacy.

As an exploration of the relationship between legal professionals and liberalism at home or in the Empire, this work draws attention to recurrent disagreements as to how lawyers have best assured their own economic well-being while simultaneously advancing the causes of liberty, cultural authority, stability, and continuity.

This work will be of interest to scholars interested in the history of empire and law’s role in governance at home and overseas. As such it will be of interest to lawyers and legal scholars. It is suitable for advanced seminars in history, law, sociology, and political science.