The impact of the People’s Republic of Poland and events at the end of the 20th century on professional activity of contemporary jurists

Abstract

The second half of the 20th century in Poland was full of momentous events. The consequences of many of them had their repercussions on the ground of application of law. The aftermath of World War II, the Stalinist period, the events of March 1968, people fleeing abroad, new socialist laws and systemic education, the functioning of the socialist economy, or the systemic changes of the 1990s are only the most significant events, the legal consequences of which are still felt today. Most of these events are still discussed in the media and political space at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century. Current lawyers are also sometimes involved in resolving these long-standing issues both with their clients and in the public space.The study demonstrates that due to the passage of time, legal and cultural changes, the events of the past are less and less frequent among Polish jurists. Media and political reports are created artificially without support in the actual work of the Polish judiciary and lawyers. Polish legal professionals emphasise that old cases from the 20th century are increasingly rare in their professional practice, while media reports are exaggerated.The research was based on interviews with representatives of Polish bar associations of advocates and legal advisers across the country. It was conducted using semi-structured interviews and content analysis. The research belongs to the paradigm of sociology of law and oral history.