Like any other human faculty, the law is subject to change. Traditionally, a lawyer was expected to expeditiously handle any case that was brought to him or her by a client. However, demographic changes occurring over the past few decades have altered the traditional general manner in which attorneys dispensed legal services. These changes include increased demand for legal services from the ever-expanding corporate world and individuals who were previously underrepresented, an increase in the number of female lawyers, and an increase in the number of minorities in the profession. These trends have prompted an increase in the division of labor and specialization among the practitioners of law. The evolution of these trends, the resulting benefits to the attorneys, and their impact on the present criminal justice system can be understood best by highlighting several issues pertinent to these changes.
To begin with, there are several factors that led to the trigger of such specialization trends in the areas of criminal law. The increase in the number of businesses taking on new forms led a correspondingly huge number of lawyers into taking action by inventing new regulations and areas of law to cater for different needs specific to the unique nature of each business entity. The invented fields of law specialty included individual rights and discrimination, internet and the computers, nuclear energy, etc. The proliferation of diverse business activities has led to increased demand for specialized lawyers as opposed to general practitioners. An increase in individuals seeking legal services has also led to the need for more specialized lawyers.
The apparent increase in complexity of law led into a split of lawyers into two broader categories. There were those who dealt with matters touching on commerce while the other group dealt with issues touching on individual clients. Specialist lawyers who are able to maintain autonomy through their unique personalities are assured of reaping huge benefits from their profession. For instance, during the period of 1970 to 2008 estimated value of law-related service activities totaled over $230 billion up from $6.3 billion. Other than this, increased use of technology by lawyers increases business activities through which the government is able to benefit through taxation (Bassiouni, 2009).
The foregoing evolution of law has had a profound impact on the contemporary criminal justice system as opposed to that that was in existence decades ago. Perhaps the most striking occurring for the last couple of decades is the increasing number of women who settled for law as their profession of choice. This brought into the spotlight matters of women that were previously overlooked. Examples of such matters included a judicial take on domestic violence, discrimination and sexual harassment of women in their workplaces, abortion, issues of leave and job security for women who became pregnant while in the line of duty etc. Another area that has experienced tremendous change over the decades is the increase in number of minorities in the profession. This meant that those who were underrepresented would no longer suffer from prejudice (Garland, 2011). Also the manner in which legal services are availed to the public has significantly changed due to increased application of technology. Finally, this has led into evolution of several legal disciplines inclined towards the bottom line i.e. financial matters. These include but not limited to marketing and advertisement of law related services, discipline that directs the business of law called the management of office law etc.
References
Bassiouni, M. (2009). Introduction to International Criminal Law. Ardsley NY: Transnational Publishers.
Garland, N. (2011). Criminal evidence (6th ed.) New York, NY: McGraw Hill.