Acknowledgements

This book is a result of the conference “The History of Legal Aid in the Premodern and Modern World” which was held at the University of Turku, Finland, in March 2019. We would like to thank the Faculty of Law at the University of Turku, the Finnish Lawyers’ Association, as well as the research project “Legal Literacy in Finland ca.

We are also grateful to Hazel Salminen, who helped us with the lan­guage revision of some of the chapters, and to Anita Geritz for her invalu­able assistance in editing this book.

Felice Batlan Marianne Vasara-Aaltonen

Praise for Histories of Legal Aid

“This path breaking book describes how religious, labour, women, partisan, pro­fessional, and other civil society groups, as well as local and national public author­ities, have brought justice to the economically subordinated. But the intentions of these “legal aid” groups have been complex within and across national histories. Sometimes these groups were created by the economically subordinated them­selves and faithfully represented their interests. At other times, legal aid tried to court and co-opt the economically subordinated. Some acted altruistically. But in other occasions, legal aid was decoupled from its access to justice goals and was used to manage and control the legal profession. In this fashion, this is an essential book for those trying to understand not only the history of legal aid and access to justice, but also how legal aid fashions an arena of struggle for the economically subordinated, and how it can serve as a disciplining force over the legal profession, civil society, the legal system, and perhaps liberal society itself.”

—Cesar F. Rosado Marzan, Professor of Law and Ferguson-Carlson

Fellow in Law, University of Iowa College ofLaw

“This ground breaking book provides an insightful and sophisticated starting point to understanding the history of the development of free legal assistance across the globe.

—Janet C. Hoeffel, Catherine D. Pierson Professor ofLaw,

Tulane University Law School

“I enjoyed reading this excellent collection of essays on one of the basic aspects of the rule of law - the ability of the poor to receive legal assistance and aid. Both impli­cate the fundamental right of access to justice, as well as economic, social and cul­tural rights. Nine thorough studies on eight countries shine a light on the historical evolution of such concepts, opening possibilities for comparisons including how “modernisation” and “juridification” function. This is a fascinating book for those studying the legal professions or judicial law, but it will also be enriching for those interested in political movements, including feminism, industrialisation and profes- sionalisation, and the sociology of the administration of justice. This collection fills a gap in the legal historiography of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.”

—Georges Martyn, Professor ofLegal History, Ghent University