The professions in American society are examined in this collection of 24 papers given at a conference sponsored by the Law and Economics program of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law. An attempt is made to define and focus on the issues that fail to be considered in any re-evaluation of public policies towards the professions. The essays examine: regulatory philosophies such as competition policy and self-regulation; who qualifies for self-regulation and the objectives of professional education; supply and access; paraprofessionals; employed professionals and their income and power of bargaining; and regulating continuing competence. An introduction by Michael J. Trebilcock defines the need for examining the role of professionals. The final chapter by Ivan Illich concludes that the present time will be remembered as The Age of Schooling, "when people for one-third of their lives were trained to accumulate needs on prescription and for the other two-thirds were clients of prestigious pushers who managed their habits." It is suggested that professional dominance be channeled to provide for the actual needs of society. (LC)