Contemporary governance is increasingly defined by hybridization and the diffusion of public functions beyond the formal state. While street-level bureaucracy traditionally focuses on public agencies, less attention has been given to professional organizations operating at the intersection of public and market structures. This paper argues that contemporary law firms exemplify hybrid actors implementing a constitutionally grounded public function – the right to defense – within complex governance environments. The paper conceptualizes the legal profession’s transformation from individual practice to organized, associative forms, marking a structural shift. While services remain personal, they are now delivered within law firms that mediate, coordinate, and structure provision. The center of gravity moves from the individual lawyer to the firm as a locus of service production, with internal rules, coordination mechanisms and governance structures. Building on this, the paper claims that ESG parameters act as an emergent accountability regime shaping how legal services are organized and delivered. ESG is framed not merely as a corporate model but as a paradigm capturing how professional organizations respond to societal expectations, manage internal processes and structure client and stakeholder relationships. It thus offers insight into organizational modernization while preserving professional autonomy and public trust. The central research question is: how do ESG regimes reshape organizational structures and service delivery in hybrid legal settings? To address this question, the paper develops a conceptual framework structured around three interrelated dimensions. 1. Environmental and digital dimension: Examines the digitalization of justice systems, including electronic civil and administrative procedures, which dematerialize legal work, enhance efficiency, and embed services within socio-technical infrastructures. 2. Social dimension: Analyzes the legal profession’s “attraction crisis,” encompassing generational turnover, gender inequalities, and attention to well-being. These structural challenges require innovative HR management, inclusive practices, and policies sustaining resilience and continuity in professional services. 3. Governance dimension: Focuses on the formalization of internal rules and procedures, including conflict-of-interest management, case and revenue allocation, and transparency mechanisms. These strengthen accountability and trust, enabling firms to meet societal expectations while safeguarding independence. The paper also addresses the risk of “ESG washing,” especially where professional organizations lack standardized non-financial reporting. To mitigate this, it proposes an approache based on qualitative, practice-oriented indicators capturing the concrete implementation of ESG principles in organizational processes and service delivery. In conclusion, the paper contributes to policy implementation literature by showing how hybrid organizational actors beyond the public sector participate in delivering public functions. It highlights how emerging accountability regimes, such as ESG, increasingly shape the structure, governance and practices of professional organizations in turbulent governance contexts.
From individual practice to hybrid organizations: driving sustainability in the legal profession
Giulia Di Rosso
2026-01-01
Abstract
Contemporary governance is increasingly defined by hybridization and the diffusion of public functions beyond the formal state. While street-level bureaucracy traditionally focuses on public agencies, less attention has been given to professional organizations operating at the intersection of public and market structures. This paper argues that contemporary law firms exemplify hybrid actors implementing a constitutionally grounded public function – the right to defense – within complex governance environments. The paper conceptualizes the legal profession’s transformation from individual practice to organized, associative forms, marking a structural shift. While services remain personal, they are now delivered within law firms that mediate, coordinate, and structure provision. The center of gravity moves from the individual lawyer to the firm as a locus of service production, with internal rules, coordination mechanisms and governance structures. Building on this, the paper claims that ESG parameters act as an emergent accountability regime shaping how legal services are organized and delivered. ESG is framed not merely as a corporate model but as a paradigm capturing how professional organizations respond to societal expectations, manage internal processes and structure client and stakeholder relationships. It thus offers insight into organizational modernization while preserving professional autonomy and public trust. The central research question is: how do ESG regimes reshape organizational structures and service delivery in hybrid legal settings? To address this question, the paper develops a conceptual framework structured around three interrelated dimensions. 1. Environmental and digital dimension: Examines the digitalization of justice systems, including electronic civil and administrative procedures, which dematerialize legal work, enhance efficiency, and embed services within socio-technical infrastructures. 2. Social dimension: Analyzes the legal profession’s “attraction crisis,” encompassing generational turnover, gender inequalities, and attention to well-being. These structural challenges require innovative HR management, inclusive practices, and policies sustaining resilience and continuity in professional services. 3. Governance dimension: Focuses on the formalization of internal rules and procedures, including conflict-of-interest management, case and revenue allocation, and transparency mechanisms. These strengthen accountability and trust, enabling firms to meet societal expectations while safeguarding independence. The paper also addresses the risk of “ESG washing,” especially where professional organizations lack standardized non-financial reporting. To mitigate this, it proposes an approache based on qualitative, practice-oriented indicators capturing the concrete implementation of ESG principles in organizational processes and service delivery. In conclusion, the paper contributes to policy implementation literature by showing how hybrid organizational actors beyond the public sector participate in delivering public functions. It highlights how emerging accountability regimes, such as ESG, increasingly shape the structure, governance and practices of professional organizations in turbulent governance contexts.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
