Law ,society and change / edited by Stephen Livingstone and John Morison

It is trite to say that we live in changing times. After all, without change there would be no history to speak of. However, it is also true that there is a widespread perception that the pace of social change has never been greater than it is now. On a political level the most visible manifestation of this has of course come from eastern Europe where seemingly impregnable governments and political systems have been swept away within a few short months. In Britain the 1980s also witnessed changes at the political, social and economic level that few would have anticipated as possible at the start of the decade. These changes have not been purely at the political level: there has been economic restructuring and technological advance. Developments in communications and travel, for example, have meant that people found their work and leisure environ ments altering rapidly. There appears little likelihood that the pace of such change will slow markedly. Indeed, in a world whose most recent political certainties are now decidedly in doubt change may accelerate as the 1990s progress.

Law is not generally associated with change. Law and lawyers are more often identified with stability and continuity, with the preservation of established traditions and precedents. In the most favourable construction law, and those who work in it, are seen as maintaining valuable principles against the winds of superficial fashion or impulse. A less generous view sees lawyers as slaves to outmoded technicalities and law as a dead hand on much needed progress. Although there may be change in the law new statutes are passed and fresh issues arise for lawyers to argue over - these changes are perceived as largely parasitic on developments elsewhere in society. Law is usually viewed as a blunt instrument for effecting change, much less effective than, for example, economic power or politcal mobilisation.