Man Yee Karen Lee. “Beyond the ‘Professional Project’: The Political Positioning of Hong Kong Lawyers.” International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 50 (2017): 1-11.
This article explores the political positioning of lawyers in Hong Kong, challenging conventional theories in the sociology of professions that focus on status and market control. It argues that these frameworks are insufficient to explain lawyers’ behavior in the context of Hong Kong’s unique state-society dynamics. Following the 1997 handover from Britain to China, the ideological divide between barristers and solicitors has become more pronounced. Drawing on the concept of cause lawyering, the article examines how political ideology, legal education, and the lawyer-client relationship influence legal professionals’ political orientations. It provides insight into how Hong Kong’s legal profession navigates the pressures of operating under a regime with limited commitment to the rule of law.