What Does Public Serving Mean for Lawyers?: A Comparative Analysis on Local Government Lawyers
Government lawyers, particularly those working for local governments such as cities and countries, remain a surprisingly unexplored area in the study of legal professions, despite their deep engagements in local governance and their expected role of upholding the rule of law within the government.
This presentation explores the pivotal role of government lawyers in shaping public policy and interpreting the law, with a particular focus on local government attorneys. While lawyers have long been recognized as key players in influencing the law, there is a notable gap in the literature examining the contributions of lawyers within government, especially at the local level. By drawing on interviews with city attorneys from Japan and the U.S., this study provides a U.S.Japan comparative analysis of how government lawyers navigate the structural, cultural, and political landscapes of their respective countries. Despite the differences in legal frameworks, this comparison reveals essential aspects of government lawyers’ roles, responsibilities, and challenges in democratic societies. The presentation will highlight the ways in which these attorneys balance their legal duties with organizational demands, ultimately shedding light on their unique influence within public bureaucracies.