On June 5, the MCC Center for Constitutional Politics hosted a research seminar with Prof. Scott Cummings (UCLA School of Law), who presented insights from his recent book Lawyers and Movements: Legal Mobilization in Transformative Times, published by Oxford University Press.
In his talk, Prof. Cummings explored the evolving role of lawyers in social movements, emphasizing how legal professionals are not merely passive agents of the law but active participants in shaping political change. He discussed the shift from traditional impact litigation toward more integrated forms of “movement lawyering,” in which legal work is embedded in broader strategies of grassroots mobilization and public engagement. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion with students and faculty, touching on the differences between American and European models of legal mobilization, including varying emphases on constitutional litigation, EU-level advocacy, and the role of transnational legal networks. Participants also debated the implications of legal mobilization for the rule of law, considering whether such strategies ultimately reinforce democratic values or risk being co-opted by political or ideological forces. The seminar offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the promises and challenges of using law as a tool for social transformation – and to ask whether legal mobilization strengthens the rule of law or merely reinforces rule by law.
