ABSTRACT
Abel’s article thus situates the debate in a particular context and as part of a recurring
discussion about lawyers and their societies.
Facts and reasons
In “Too many lawyers? Or should lawyers be doing other things?”, Carrie Menkel-
Meadow identifies the importance of considering who asks the question about an
oversupply of lawyers in framing the consideration of consequences. She suggests
that the identity of those asking the question whether there are too many
lawyers is linked to the satisfaction of legal needs under the current regime, and
conversely that those whose needs are not being met are not asking the question.
In discussing why those currently under-and un-served are not invested in the
debate about too many lawyers, she explains differences in ways of identifying pro-
blems as implicating law and the need for lawyers. Menkel-Meadow concludes that
lawyers must reconceive their roles and services to satisfy the larger demands of
society.