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Do Lawyers Make a Difference?
Author(s) -
Douglas Roger
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
australian journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1839-4655
pISSN - 0157-6321
DOI - 10.1002/j.1839-4655.1987.tb01213.x
Subject(s) - plea , verdict , representation (politics) , imprisonment , law , project commissioning , outcome (game theory) , political science , publishing , sociology , psychology , economics , mathematical economics , politics
While legal representation might be expected to make a difference to the outcome of criminal proceedings, much of the relevant evidence is either inconclusive or contrary to expectations. ‘This paper examines the relationship between legal representation and outcome in six Melbourne magistrates’ courts, arguing that, even after controlling for legally relevant variables, representation is strongly related to concessionary withdrawals, plea, verdict, and verdict in contested cases. Representation is also related to whether defendants receive adjournments, but is not related to imprisonment nor to fine or length of licence disqualification periods. Reasons for this pattern of relationships are discussed as are their implications.