French Supreme Court Lawyers from a Sociological Perspective: Three Dimensions
Résumé
Drawing on our ongoing research and navigating between periods, this paper explores three key dimensions of this specialized legal profession through the lens of classic sociological frameworks on legal professionals. Our goal is to show how even a seemingly narrow subject can significantly contribute to the broader literature on the legal profession, and participate to a better understanding of Supreme courts’ activity. To explore this topic and navigate our data, we propose to intertwin three analytical approaches: 1. A mere functionalist perspective examining the alignment between this legal elite and the Supreme Courts; 2. A critical perspective inspired by Andrew Abbott, focusing on the profession’s efforts to maintain control over its jurisdiction; 3. An internal sociological examination of the profession as a stratified occupational field.