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Robert L. Nelson, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University who has done extensive research on the changing legal profession and award-winning work on discrimination and the law, has been named the director of the American Bar Foundation (ABF), effective Sept. 1, 2004.

Nelson, a senior research fellow and the Robert and Connie MacCrate Chair in the Legal Profession at the American Bar Foundation, will succeed Bryant G. Garth, who has served as ABF director for 14 years. Garth will remain at the ABF as a senior research fellow.

The recipient of a J.D. and a Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern, Nelson also has a courtesy appointment at Northwestern University School of Law. He is a former chair of the University’s sociology department and the founding director of the Center for Legal Studies, a joint enterprise of the AFB and Northwestern.

“Bob will be missed at the Center for Legal Studies -- where he has greatly influenced both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs,” said David Van Zandt, dean of the School of Law. “But we are thrilled that he has taken the job.”

“The American Bar Foundation is the premier institution doing empirical research on law in the United States, and Northwestern has a number of faculty members who have ABF appointments. The relationship between the ABF and Northwestern, which also is known for its empirical research on law and legal institutions, is bound to grow even stronger.“

During his directorship Nelson will retain his appointment at Northwestern, work with students and teach up to a course a year as his schedule allows.

“Bob is a fantastic choice by the ABF,” said Daniel I. Linzer, dean, Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. “He has a compelling vision for how law and social sciences, research and education all combine.”

In 2000, Nelson’s book “Legalizing Gender Inequality: U.S. Courts, Markets and Unequal pay for Women” (with William Bridges) received the Distinguished Publication Award from the American Sociological Association for best book in sociology; and his latest book, which will be published soon, is titled “Urban Lawyers: The New Social Structure of the Bar”(with John P. Heinz, professor, Northwestern University School of Law, Rebecca Sandefur and Edward O. Laumann).

Nelson’s book on gender inequality offers a careful examination of data on wage-setting practices from four landmark pay discrimination cases. The book demonstrates that employing organizations tend to pay lower wages to workers in predominately female jobs because they have less power in organizational politics and because employment practices tend to reflect male cultural advantages.

His forthcoming book tracks changes in the social structure of the legal profession, including the large entry of women and minorities, the effects of the increasingly competitive legal environment, and the increasing political polarization within the bar.

Nelson’s numerous books and articles also include “Partners with Power: The Social Transformation of the Large Law Firm.”

The American Bar Foundation is a nonprofit, independent national research institute whose program of sociolegal research is conducted by an interdisciplinary staff of 22 research fellows trained in such diverse fields as law, sociology, psychology, political science, economics, history and anthropology.

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