Discuss the influence that pluralist structures have of the democratic law reform process.

• What are the pros and cons of pluralist stakeholders?Why do you think they have become the dominant form of social influence?
• What different strategies were most effective at reaching a number of different stakeholders?What media technologies helped this happen?
• What is the government role in balancing the power of different stakeholder groups?
• How might these issues shape the way that a law reform body presents their issues papers and reform process?
• What role do lawyers and justice professionals have in this field?

Extension Task

Examine a recent law reform process and identify the key documents - the issues paper and the final report in particular.Skim through these documents, paying particular attention to executive summaries to get the gist of the process.

• What are the key issues involved?How are these broken down into specific questions in the issues paper?
• Who responded to the issue paper?You will find these listed in the final report and that document will also make reference to different submissions that were made.What major stakeholder groups responded to this issue?
• Do you think the law reform process was an efficient way of responding to the issue?