The Promise and Perils of Law: Lawyers in Canadian History

The papers that make up this volume were produced on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of the opening of Osgoode Hall, one of Toronto's landmark buildings. This event presented a unique opportunity for reflection on the legal profession and its role in Canadian history. The "legal profession" is simultaneously a trade organization, a corporate ideology, an important cultural actor, and an aggregation of individuals known both for their zealous pursuit of their clients' interests and for their assertive individualism. This book offers essays that seek to add to the understanding of Canada's legal profession and to provide a background to inform conversation concerning its past, present, and future.