In this volume, Niklas Luhmann, the leading exponent of systems theory, explores its implications for our understanding of law. The volume provides a rigorous application to law of a theory that offers profound insights into the relationships between law and other aspects of contemporary society, including politics, the economy, the media, education, and religion.

Julia Black's book is the first authoritative study of rulemaking in one of the most important areas of economic life: financial services. She draws on theoretical and empirical studies in jurisprudence, linguistics, economics, politics, and sociology in order to understand and evaluate the formation and uses of rules in financial services regulation.

The concept of compliance is central to government attempts to regulate economic activities. In this volume Hutter investigates the notion of compliance in two areas of vital importance to our everyday lives, namely occupational health and safety, and the environment. Hutter provides a snapshot view of the work of field-level inspectors and in doing so is able to provide insights into the broader factors which influence regulation and its definition at the everyday level, adding to our understanding of an ill-defined area of criminal law and social control.

The small claims procedure is now seen as a convenient way to tackle the current crisis in civil justice, and with a massive increase in the small claims limit from 1,000 to 3,000, small claims is big judicial business. This book is based on the most extensive research on small claims procedures ever conducted in the United Kingdom. The author had privileged access to the district judges who conduct claim hearings, and the book is the first to include lengthy extracts from tape recorded interviews conducted with them. It also includes discussion of interviews with litigants, including many...

This important collection of essays by a leading theorist attempts to re-locate the relationship between the traditional concerns of legal theory and the sociology of law by establishing a consistent approach to the analysis of law in contemporary Western societies. This new book is based upon previously published essays which have been extensively revised and updated, and includes new introductory and concluding chapters. It offers an important contribution to the study of law and social theory.

This book addresses the question: how can law influence the internal self-regulation of organizations in order to make them more responsive to occupational health and safety concerns? It argues for a two track system of regulation under which enterprises are offered a choice between a continuation of traditional forms of regulation and the adoption of a safety management system-based approach on the other.

Just Lawyers proposes a model for the regulation and organization of lawyers, guided by an ideal of access to justice. It is grounded in empirical analysis of why people complain about lawyers, the sociology of existing legal institutions, and how lawyers think about the ethics of their profession.

How might the social sciences best be employed in the study of law, especially in light of today's legal climate of anti-foundationalism? Realistic Socio-Legal Theory addresses this question thoroughly and precisely. Drawing upon philosophical pragmatism to construct an epistemological and methodological foundation, this book formulates a framework for a realistic approach to socio-legal theory.
Brian Z. Tamanaha contrasts the strengths of his realistic approach with those of the major schools of socio-legal theory through application to many key issues in the field. He explores the...

Many government bodies relate to each other through 'contracts'. But these contracts are not, in general, regulated or enforced by the law. Drawing on the results of a case-study of NHS contracts, this book identifies significant problems faced by the parties to internal government contracts, many of which stem from the lack of legal regulation. This study uses a novel public law analysis to suggest ways of making internal contracts work more fairly and effectively.

In almost all legal disputing, formalities are employed as a last resort. This book presents a new theory of decision-making, exploring the conditions under which prosecution is employed to handle occupational health and safety problems. It is a valuable resource for students and scholars of law, regulation, socio-legal studies, criminal justice, sociology, and political science.