This document discusses the relevance of sociology to law students. It argues that sociology can help law students and lawyers in several ways: 1) By understanding that legal systems are part of larger social systems and influenced by societies, and that societies are also influenced by legal systems. 2) By providing insights into social tensions, conflicts, changes, and order that are primary concerns for lawyers. 3) By training lawyers to be social engineers who can facilitate change while minimizing friction and maximizing happiness. Sociological knowledge and methods can help lawyers understand behavior and its control.

1. Relevance of Sociology
to Law Students

2. • Sociology- concerned with the study of structure, organisation,
relationships, processes and change within it
• Legal system is a subsystem of a larger social system- law as a
behavioural science
• Societies are governed by rule of law
• Society affects legal system and vice versa
• Sociologists provide answers social tensions, conflicts, change and
order
• Primary concerns of lawyers
• Lawyer as a social engineer- trained in ordering and facilitating
change in a manner that creates the minimum friction and
maximum happiness for the maximum number of people

3. • To perform the social mission of law as designed by the
constitutions and international declarations
• Sociological method and knowledge as tools for
understanding behaviour and its control; Eg. Criminology
• Sociological imagination (linking social/individual problems
to larger social structures)- resolution of social conflicts and
the promotion of social progress
• Sociological school of jurisprudence- looks beyond
deductive style of reasoning
• More outward looking, humanistic application of legal
skills and more socially sensitised in discharging
professional skills

4. • To illumine legal knowledge both in thought and action to
the advantage of society
• Relationship of law with social factors- law as a product of
social change, law as a source or medium of social change
and dynamics of law in development!
• Appreciation of the possibilities, difficulties and limitations
of law in social ordering and social change
• Law and development- futility of legal scholarship isolated
from social realities
• Law as an instrument of repression to thwart efforts of the
poor in organising self reliant development

5. Activity
• What is the role of lawyers in social development?

6. Reference
• Sociology, T.K Oommen, C.N Venugopal- Introduction
part