ABSTRACT
In striking contrast, the orginal codes of the major engineering societies, including the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers were silent on the topic of making engineers' services available to any particular group needy or otherwise. In comparison with professionals such as physicians and lawyers, relatively few engineers are in private practice. Fewer than 10% are in positions that could be classified as "self-employed." More than 70% of engineers are employees of corporations and the remainder is employed by educational or governmental organizations. Engineering differs from law and medicine in at least one way that is of possible relevance to the issue of access, namely, that even engineers in private practice have few individuals as clients. Most engineers in private practice work under contract to larger organizations corporations, government agencies and non-profit groups.
