Leaders, Followers, and Free Riders: The Community Lawyer's Dilemma When Representing Non-Democratic Client Organizations

This article explores various aspects of the dissonance between the democratic ideal and the reality of groups in disenfranchised and disempowered communities. The authors discuss the intersection of democracy and community action by examining the sociology of groups and the social psychology of leaders and followers. They also examine the role of, and choices presented to, an attorney working in a community and for a local community group.