This article studies a comprehensive change in the California Juvenile Court Law that was enacted in 1961. It inquires into the possibility of changing behavior patterns by legislation. Focusing on the role of counsel, Professor Lemert found that the change gave attorneys formal entry into the juvenile court. However, this gave rise to new adaptations among the participants in the juvenile court process, adaptations that could defeat the intent of the proponents of the change. He concludes that while formal structures are changeable in anticipated directions, the form taken by the new roles in the modified structure is less subject to directed change.
