Who Gets To Call Themselves A 'Professional'? Law Professor Breaks Down The Licensing Scheme - Above the Law
Briefly

In this episode of The Jabot podcast, Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School, explores the complexities of professional licensing and its unintended consequences on various careers. Her book, 'The Licensing Racket,' delves into how these regulations often benefit established professionals while restricting opportunities for newcomers, from barbers to doctors. Allensworth discusses potential reforms, the challenges of federalism, and implications for self-regulation. The podcast highlights the need to rethink these systems, emphasizing their impact on diversity and economic mobility within professions.
Rebecca Haw Allensworth's research uncovers how professional licensing may hinder diverse professions, often prioritizing self-regulation over public interest, leading to over-regulation and stifled opportunities.
The licensing system, while intended to ensure quality, may inadvertently create barriers for entry in various fields, suggesting a need for reforms to better reflect modern professional landscapes.
Read at Above the Law
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