Advocatus Politicus

Political consultants, spin doctors, active co-designers? What roles do lawyers play in the political process? Located at the point where law and politics converge, lawyers are involved in preparing legal norms and offer legal expertise to governmental and parliamentary players. However, lawyers do not only provide impetus and ideas; they also act as spin doctors who help associations and corporations to address their demands and interests to political decision makers. Based on expert interviews and by using concrete case studies, this study identifies the characteristics of politically focused consulting and lobbyist consulting by lawyers. It discusses the opportunities offered, and the risks and challenges posed by these practices. Among them, its author includes a clear allocation of political responsibility, the efficacy of legal influences in this respect, except on legislative drafts, and their energising effects on the framework of the separation of powers.