The Sociology of Law

The Sociology of Law highlights the major concerns of legal sociologists and provides the reader with an overview of the diversity of the field and the theoretical approaches within it. As such, it provides a useful introduction for students to the sociology of law.

The first part of the book explores the theoretical paradigms in the sociology of law: the application and development of the ideas of the 'classical' theorists, and discussion of behaviourist theories as well as Marxian and critical legal studies. The second and third parts of the book examine two areas which have provided the core of the sociological study of law: the legal profession and the courts. The fourth part examines the study of policing, social control and the sociology of criminal law. It seeks to evaluate the nature of various sociological theories which have been developed in the context of policing and criminal law research.

Finally, law-making and social change are examined, in particular the framing of law, the implementation of law, regulation, knowledge and opinion about law, and legal change.