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legal profession
Table of Contents
  • Introduction
  • History
    • Classical beginnings
    • Medieval Europe
    • England after the Conquest
    • Worldwide legal profession
  • Characteristics of the profession
    • Social role
    • Private practice
    • Public-directed practice
    • Teaching and scholarship
  • Autonomy and control
    • The bench’s independence
    • The bar’s independence
    • Regulation by statutes and bar associations
    • The situation in developing countries
  • Contemporary trends
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Lee Kuan Yew William Blackstone
Discover
Salem Witch Trials. Photogravure after the painting by Walter McEwen titled - The Witches - circa 1890s.
How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Time zone map with standard time zones and International Date Line
Why Are Some Time Zones 30 Minutes Off Instead of an Hour?
Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)
San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality
How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?
African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.
Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement
Artist interpretation of space asteroids impacting earth and moon. Meteoroids, meteor impact, end of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Doomsday Predictions, comet
Major Mass Extinctions
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Last Updated: May 08, 2025

Photos

Lee Kuan Yew
William Blackstone
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Related Topics and References

Topics
magistrateattorneyjudgelawyernotaryattorney generalassessoradvocaterecorderproctorlegal educationlegal ethicsbar associationprivileged communicationdisbarmentproperty lawprocedural lawinheritanceconstitutional lawinternational law

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