Sir Henry Maine died in 1888 and since then his ideas have been used by lawyers, historians, sociologists and many others. This is the first book to concentrate upon what he said about the law itself, and, as such, it explores the pioneering work Maine did in explaining law not by reference to abstract analysis but by placing it firmly in its social and historical context. Instead of concentrating on concepts such as sovereignty he looked at the realities of law as it was practised by professionals and experienced by laymen. The result was a controversial achievement stressing the reforming duties of jurists and citizens at times of social change. This is neither a conventional biography nor an abstract analysis of Maine’s thought, but a demonstration of the contemporary context and significance of his views.

The UK's Society of Legal Scholars originally known as the Society of Public Teachers of Law was created in 1909. The Society was fortunate to survive its first half century since it had few members, lacked financial resources, and was weak in influence. In comparison with other university disciplines, the academic field of law enjoyed a fragile status and was often held in low esteem by barristers and solicitors. At times, the Society was caught up in problems of its own making, such as refusing to admit women until the late 1940s. But there were also moments of excitement and achievement, and years filled with hope and new ideas. The establishment of the Journal of the Society of Public Teachers of Law in the 1920s was an important achievement for legal scholars. During the social revolution of the 1960s, the Society continued to function as a rather sedate gentleman's club, gathering at its annual conference to socialize, rather than to engage in academic debate. The 1970s saw a sustained drive from its Young Members' Group to create a new, more serious organization with better conferences and more effective decision-making processes. The Society evolved slowly, but the process accelerated in the 1990s, with members encouraged to reinforce their intellectual contribution to the discipline and act as a central point for policy debate within the legal academic community. Here, at the start of the 21st century, the Society, now with nearly 3,000 members, has come a long way from its small beginnings. The Society of Legal Scholars celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and, with this book, looks back on the Society's creation and history.

Sir Henry Maine died in 1888 and since then his ideas have been used by lawyers, historians, sociologists and many others. This is the first book to concentrate upon what he said about the law itself, and, as such, it explores the pioneering work Maine did in explaining law not by reference to abstract analysis but by placing it firmly in its social and historical context. Instead of concentrating on concepts such as sovereignty he looked at the realities of law as it was practised by professionals and experienced by laymen. The result was a controversial achievement stressing the reforming duties of jurists and citizens at times of social change. This is neither a conventional biography nor an abstract analysis of Maine's thought, but a demonstration of the contemporary context and significance of his views.