Law and society scholars challenge the

common belief that law is simply a neutral tool by which society sets standards

and resolves disputes. Decades of research shows how much the nature of

communities, organizations, and the people inhabiting them affect how law

works. Just as much, law shapes beliefs, behaviors, and wider social

structures, but the connections are much more nuanced—and surprising—than many

expect.

Law and Society

Reader II

provides readers an accessible overview to the breadth of recent developments

in this research tradition, bringing to life the developments in this dynamic

field. Following up a first Law and

Society Reader published in 1995, editors Erik W. Larson and Patrick D.

Schmidt have compiled excerpts of 43 illuminating articles published since 1993

in The Law & Society Review, the

flagship journal of the Law and Society Association.

By its organization

and approach, this volume enables readers to join in discussing the key ideas

of law and society research. The selections highlight the core insights and

developments in this research tradition, making these works indispensable for

those exploring the field and ideal for classroom use. Across six

concisely-introduced sections, this volume analyzes inequality, lawyering, the

relation between law and organizations, and the place of law in relation to

other social institutions.