Government Lawyers

For years many citizens have complained that our national government is fettered by legions of inefficient and unaccountable lawyers. These critics might be right about the numbers - there are nearly 40,000 lawyers employed by the federal government in every branch and at every level. But most of these professionals fulfill functions that are essential to or extremely valuable in running the machinery of government.

This volume provides insights into the historical development, present status, future trends, and interrelations among the offices of the attorney general, solicitor general, special prosecutor, White House legal counsel, office of legal counsel, and counsels in regulatory agencies like the EPA and the EEOC. The authors highlight a common theme - the perpetual tensions and conflicts between executive-branch politics and the profession's principled independence.