ABF Research on Display at LSA

In my previous post, I provided a broad overview of what the ABF is, namely, a research institute dedicated to the empirical and interdisciplinary study of law, legal institutions, and legal processes. In this post, I was planning to describe some of the ABF’s hallmark research and current projects. But, for those who are attending the Law & Society Association’s annual conference in NOLA, an even better way to learn about ABF research is to attend one of the many panels and events that include ABF scholars. Let me mention a few.

Since its founding in 1952, ABF scholars have been studying nearly all aspects of the legal profession. Among the most well-known early studies, the work on Chicago lawyers led by Jack Heniz has become a canonical part of the socio-legal literature on the legal profession. The ABF dedicated an issue of our 2012 newsletter “Researching Law” to Jack’s scholarship.

In recent years, we’ve followed this research tradition with one of our best known projects: “After the JD” (AJD). This bold and ambitious project has been following the career trajectories of a cohort of roughly 5,000 lawyers from the class of 2000. This longitudinal study has gathered a tremendous amount of quantitative and qualitative data on legal careers, with some fascinating findings about career satisfaction and the stubborn persistence of inequalities within the profession. For those who are attending the LSA conference, you can learn more about the AJD study at a panel on Sat. morning (8:15 in Marriot Salon H-G, 3^rd Floor) on “Longitudinal Studies of Lawyers’ Careers.”

Throughout its existence the ABF has had strong ties to the LSA and the broader socio-legal community. That connection is also on display at this year’s conference, as we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the LSA’s flagship journal, Law & Society Review. There are two panels on the journal, one with past editors which includes Shari Diamond (Northwestern Law/ABF) held on Friday afternoon (2:45 in Marriott 41^st Floor, St. Charles Room), and a second panel immediately afterwards on the shifting field that the journal represents with ABF Research Professor Terry Halliday, and ABF Faculty Fellow Sida Liu.

Last but not least, the Life of the Law podcast will be hosting what is sure to be an entertaining and riveting session on “LIVE LAW New Orleans - Living My Scholarship” (ticketed event on Friday night) that is chocked full of speakers with ABF connections.

Next week, I’ll circle back to other ABF research that isn’t on in display at LSA but that should be of great interest to PrawfsBlawg readers.