刘思达：中国法律服务市场上的寄生现象

中国法律服务市场上的寄生现象

节录：

研究中国的法律服务市场就像是走进了一片广袤的热带雨林，在这里栖息着各种各样的野生动物，它们之间有时相安无事，有时互相残杀，有时共同掠夺，有时则会形成微妙的寄生关系。在这个五光十色的生态系统里呆的时间久了，也就发现了许多有趣的生态现象，对这些现象人们虽然都心知肚明，却谁也不愿捅破那层窗户纸，仿佛一说出来就会彻底破坏这个地方的生态平衡，使野生动物纷纷灭绝，让雨林里尸横遍野。可我偏偏是个固执的人，又改不了研究者的本性，看到一个有趣的现象就一定要把它说清楚，所以就有了这样一篇文章，专门讨论这片雨林里随处可见的寄生现象。

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于是，纵观中国法律服务市场的各个角落，都遍布着寄生在各种陆生动物身上的水生动物，可以说，几乎没有一个物种能够特立独行地摆脱寄生关系的约束。在这片热带雨林里，大鱼吃小鱼、小鱼吃虾米的市场规则固然重要，但真正决定江湖秩序和物种兴亡的却是这水陆之间的寄生定律，因为说到底，陆生动物们都需要水，水生动物们也都需要粮食。这一看似“铁律”的寄生规则并不是什么市场失序或者司法腐败，而是我国市场经济体制改革以来国家与市场之间的高速分离所引发的一种必然现象。以律师为例，从1992年第一家合伙律师事务所成立到2001年前后自上而下的强制性脱钩改制，中国律师在短短的十年里被迅速地从体制内踢到了体制外，他们的经济收入上升了，社会资源丰富了，职业素养提高了，但其日常工作中所面对的行政体制和司法环境却并没有什么实质性的改变。在失去了行政级别和“国家法律工作者”的保护伞之后，律师们就不得不动用各种手段来重新敲开这个体制的大门，因为他们所处的法律服务市场表面上虽然已经和国家分离了，但体制内的各个行政、司法部门依然牢牢掌控着几乎可以决定市场主体命运的一切。寄生关系的形成，意味着国家与市场之间以一种潜在的方式重新建立起了联系，国家依旧无比强大，市场依旧处于萌芽，这样的现实谁都无法超越，包括那些笃信制度建设的法学家和经济学家。

在这样一个若即若离的时代里，水生动物们除了依偎在陆生动物的羽翼之下感叹自己被“逼良为娼”之外，对于现状所能做的改变实在相当有限。水至清则无鱼，但倘若陆地上的生态活动也变得和水里一样混浊肮脏，倘若本该相忘于江湖的水生动物们都纷纷进化成了与陆生动物相濡以沫的水陆两栖动物，这片雨林里的生态环境就一定是令人堪忧的。治理环境是一项系统工程，对个体动物行为隔三岔五的清理和整顿只不过是治标不治本的做法，如何更好地认识和界定各种水生动物和陆生动物在这片雨林里的活动区域和生态功能，正视寄生现象的存在，通过各项宏观调控措施使整个生态系统形成一种良性循环，而不是像现在这样，每种动物都怀着忿忿不平的心态疯狂地掠夺资源，才是决策者应当认真考虑的事情。否则，当那些羽翼未丰的小动物们从象牙塔进入这片雨林的时候，我们或许就只能有些幸灾乐祸地给它们唱一首“枪炮与玫瑰”乐队的歌：

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（本文原载于《视角：中国与世界》杂志2007年秋季刊，收于《失落的城邦：当代中国法律职业变迁》，北京大学出版社，2008年1月版）

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Readings

The Mexican Evolution (NYT 3-23)

After Attacks, Supporters Rally Around Choice for Top Administration Legal Job (NYT 4-1)

With Finance Disgraced, Which Career Will Be King? (NYT 4-11)

Plan to Change Student Lending Sets Up a Fight (NYT 4-12)

$80,000 for a Year Off? She’ll Take It! (NYT 4-12)

The American Way (NYT 4-13)

After an Off Year, Wall Street Pay Is Bouncing Back (NYT 4-25)

[香港电影百年]合拍片横行期：地道港片难再来 (网易娱乐 4-17)

美剧进入中国二十年大回顾

Who's the man on the left?

Source: An unsure China steps onto the global stage

Sunday (3-29) readings from NYT

Obama Will Face a Defiant World on Foreign Visit

Reinventing America’s Cities: The Time Is Now

Coke and Huiyuan

Beijing Thwarts Coke's Takeover Bid (WSJ 3-19)

Coke and China (WSJ 3-18)

[奇文共赏]左克：不处理贺卫方就是北大党委叛党 (2006.5.29)

左克：不处理贺卫方就是北大党委叛党

Doctoral Candidates Anticipate Hard Times (NYT 3-6 Fri)

Doctoral Candidates Anticipate Hard Times

The Pennsylvania juvenile court corruption scandal

The Economist recently published an article "The lowest of the low," exposing a corruption scandal in the Pennsylvania juvenile court. My friend TL blogged about it. Here is my comment:

This case shocks the conscience. I think this level of judicial corruption is extremely rare in this country.

The juvenile court is obviously governed by a separate body of law that I know little about, so can't say much.

I'd recommend reading the AP news release "Pa. judges accused of jailing kids for cash," just for a plain account of what happened.

The Economist article seems to highlight the fact that the judges were elected ("Another blow against elected judges," "Both judges were elected, not appointed"). Are judges normally appointed or elected in this country? In the federal judiciary, judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. But when it comes to the states, it's complicated and I don't have a good answer.

Currently in New York, the seven judges of the state's highest court (called the "Court of Appeals") are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. So it parallels the federal judiciary. Most recently, in January Gov. David A. Paterson nominated Justice Jonathan Lippman to be the chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals. However, up until 1974 (wiki) some judges in the NY Court of Appeals were elected.

Pennsylvania is different: "The Pennsylvania Supreme court consists of seven justices each elected to ten year terms. Supreme court judicial candidates may run on party tickets. The justice with the longest continuous service on the supreme court automatically becomes Chief Justice." (wiki).

Each state has its own Constitution, which among other things creates the state's judicial system. Without further research, all I can say is--it is complicated.

礼 · 诗

“十年前有一位外国的神父来和我研究中国宗教思想问题，他说中国人没有宗教信仰。我说中国绝对有宗教信仰。第一个是礼，第二个是诗。不像西方人将宗教错解成为“信我得救，不信我不得救”的狭义观念。我说这一点的误解，使我绝对不能信服，因为他非常自私嘛！对他好才救，对他不好便不救。成吗？一个教主，应该是信我的要救，不信我的更要救；这才是宗教的精神，也就是中国文化的精神。其次，谈到中国“诗的精神”，所谓诗的文学境界，就是宗教的境界。所以懂了诗的人，纵使有一肚子的难过，有时候哼呀哈呀的念一首诗，或者作一首诗，便可自我安慰，心灵得到平安，那真是像给上帝来个见证。……”

──南怀瑾《论语别裁》，老古文化 · 一九七六年