摘要
Lawyers＇ participation in political life marks the maturity of a country＇s rule of law. Lawyers are well equipped to be engaged in public affairs, and should play a significant role in dispute resolution that goes beyond their role in dealing with individual cases. The legal profession functions in a variety of ways： participating in legislation and promoting legal progress; assuming responsibilities in government departments; influencing the formulation and implementation of just policies; acting as a bridge between the government and the public; responding to the claims of different interest groups; etc. At the same time, the legal profession has some negative impacts on the rule of law, as evidenced in the infiltration of commercialism into the profession, giving absolute priority to clients＇ interests, and excessive litigation. To keep these downsides under control, we need a legal culture and institutional basis that are a good fit with the rule of law. It is also necessary to update traditional mindsets, adopt rights-based standards, uphold the supremacy of the law, and promote the formation of a legal community.
律师对国家政治生活的参与程度乃是一国法治实现程度的标尺。律师具有参与公共事务的良好条件,对于化解纠纷应当发挥超越个案角色的重要作用。律师阶层作用的实现方式主要包括:参与立法,促进法律进步;进入国家政权机关任职;影响公正政策的制定和执行;联系公众与政府;及时反映社会利益诉求等。律师业对法治的负面影响主要表现在商业主义对律师职业的渗透、当事人利益绝对化和过度诉讼等方面,而要真正防范这些负面因素的失控,必须具有符合法治社会要求的法律文化和制度基础,转变传统观念,确立权利本位,确立法律至上观念以及促进法律共同体的形成。
