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.

The Sociology of Law offers a distinctive view of contemporary law in Western societies and provides a clear analytical framework for the study of the diverse literature relating to its field. This new edition has been enlarged and re-written to take account of recent theoretical literature, changes of emphasis in interpretation and new research on legal practice, dispute processing and law enforcement since the last edition appeared in 1984.