Roger Cotterrell
Encyclopedia
Roger Cotterrell is the Anniversary Professor of Legal Theory at Queen Mary, University of London
and was made a Fellow of the British Academy
in 2005. Previously he was the Acting Head of the Department of Law (1989–90), Head of the Department of Law (1990-1), Professor of Legal Theory (1990–2005) and the Dean of the Faculty of Laws (1993-6) at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. He studied law at University College London
as an undergraduate and postgraduate and began his teaching career at the University of Leicester
as a lecturer in law in 1969. After returning to London in 1973, he studied sociology
and politics
at Birkbeck College
while teaching law full-time at Queen Mary College. Thereafter he was one of the small group of law and sociology academics in Britain who first specialised in the new field of sociology of law
from the 1970s. His leading book on the subject has been translated into several languages. From the late 1990s he developed a 'law and community' approach to socio-legal theory, attempting to replace sociology of law's traditional 'law
and society
' approach, and stressing links with comparative law and the study of law's embeddedness in culture.
He has also broadcast and published on jazz
. He wrote profiles of musicians and reviewed music for many magazines from the late 1960s until the 1990s, and has edited and contributed to books on jazz. From 1975 to 1992 he wrote regularly for the Warsaw-based magazine Jazz Forum,published internationally in English, German and Polish editions. His son is the artist David Cotterrell.
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and was made a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 2005. Previously he was the Acting Head of the Department of Law (1989–90), Head of the Department of Law (1990-1), Professor of Legal Theory (1990–2005) and the Dean of the Faculty of Laws (1993-6) at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. He studied law at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
as an undergraduate and postgraduate and began his teaching career at the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
as a lecturer in law in 1969. After returning to London in 1973, he studied sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
at Birkbeck College
Birkbeck, University of London
Birkbeck, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It offers many Master's and Bachelor's degree programmes that can be studied either part-time or full-time, though nearly all teaching is...
while teaching law full-time at Queen Mary College. Thereafter he was one of the small group of law and sociology academics in Britain who first specialised in the new field of sociology of law
Sociology of law
The sociology of law is often described as a sub-discipline of sociology or an interdisciplinary approach within legal studies...
from the 1970s. His leading book on the subject has been translated into several languages. From the late 1990s he developed a 'law and community' approach to socio-legal theory, attempting to replace sociology of law's traditional 'law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
' approach, and stressing links with comparative law and the study of law's embeddedness in culture.
He has also broadcast and published on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. He wrote profiles of musicians and reviewed music for many magazines from the late 1960s until the 1990s, and has edited and contributed to books on jazz. From 1975 to 1992 he wrote regularly for the Warsaw-based magazine Jazz Forum,published internationally in English, German and Polish editions. His son is the artist David Cotterrell.
Main publications
Books:- The Sociology of Law: An Introduction. London: Butterworths / Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
(2nd edn, 1992) - Law, Democracy and Social Justice. (jointly edited with Brian Bercusson) Oxford: BlackwellBlackwell PublishingWiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons. It was formed by the merger of John Wiley's Global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing, after Wiley took over Blackwell Publishing in...
(1988) - The Politics of Jurisprudence: A Critical Introduction to Legal Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
(2nd edn, 2003) - Law and Society. (edited) Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
(1994) - Law's Community: Legal Ideas in Sociological Perspective. Oxford: Clarendon Press (1995)
- Emile Durkheim: Law in a Moral Domain. Stanford: Stanford University PressStanford University PressThe Stanford University Press is the publishing house of Stanford University. In 1892, an independent publishing company was established at the university. The first use of the name "Stanford University Press" in a book's imprinting occurred in 1895...
/ Edinburgh: Edinburgh University PressEdinburgh University PressEdinburgh University Press is a scholarly publisher of academic books and journals, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.-History:Edinburgh University Press was founded over 50 years ago and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Edinburgh in 1992...
(1999) - Sociological Perspectives on Law. (edited) Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
2 vols (2001) - Bass Lines - A Life in Jazz. (with Coleridge GoodeColeridge GoodeColeridge George Emerson Goode is a former British Jamaican-born jazz bassist most noteworthy for his long collaboration with alto saxophonist Joe Harriott. Goode was a key figure in Harriott's innovatory jazz quintet throughout its eight year existence as a regular unit...
) London: NorthwayNorthway-Places:Canada* Camp Northway, the oldest summer camp for girls in CanadaUnited Kingdom* Northway, Devon, England* Northway, Gloucestershire, England* Northway, Oxford, England* Northway, Somerset, England* Northway, Swansea, WalesUnited States...
(2002) - Law in Social Theory. (edited) Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
(2006) - Law, Culture and Society: Legal Ideas in the Mirror of Social Theory. Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
(2006) - Living Law: Studies in Legal and Social Theory. Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
(2008) - Emile Durkheim: Justice, Morality and Politics. (edited) Aldershot: AshgateAshgateAshgate is an area in northeast Derbyshire, England, west of the town of Chesterfield. It is close to the town centre and local amenities.A leading place of interest in the area is the Inkerman playing fields, formerly a Victorian swimming baths and a former area of pottery, most notably...
(2010)