Kill All the Lawyers? Shakespeare's Legal Appeal

Ironically, at a time when more people than ever hire lawyers, few want to defend them. Daniel Kornstein, a practising attorney, finds in Shakespeare's drama the way toward a new respect for the profession and its place in contemporary society. Two-thirds of Shakespeare's plays have trial scenes; many deal specifically with points of law and lawyers. Inspired by numerous performances of Shakespeare, Kornstein considers how legal themes relate to contemporary issues. By discussing the plays in light of contemporary legal cases, Kornstein provokes thought about how law and civil justice are woven into modern society, just as they are on Shakespeare's stage. In Shakespeare, as in no other playwright, law, civil society and humanity unite with dramatic and rhetorical brilliance. Kornstein shows how a reacquaintance with the master playwright may kindle enthusiasm for contemporary law.