In part I understand what you mean. I think it is extremely important that courtroom procedure doesn’t get so complex that it is impossible for an individual to cope with. In practice a lot of judges go out of their way to make self–representation possible. However, I don’t think that having professional lawyers represents a tragedy. Specialization is very important, and we would all be worse off without it.
Teaching is even more important, and we use professional teachers. Building a house is also an important moment in our lives, and most people would do well to accept the advice of a professional architect.
I disagree, I think for important things like the rules that govern us (i.e. the legal system) we need to be able to fully understand and interact with them. Imagine if voting was so complicated that you had to pay someone to vote for you!
Likewise, taxes should be simple and understandable and doable. Don't undersell our importance as citizens; We should demand more because we deserve well!
Yeah but the rules that govern our lives in society shouldn't need a phd to understand.
There are often daily situations where both citizens and police don't know really know what the law is.
Reform is proven to be really hard. But that's the tragedy.
For instance taxes shouldn't really be more complicated then filling in a simple automated form. Also for businesses. And it should really be the burden of the government taxing that it's all clear. But it's not and it's a mess and the burden is put on the people.
This is by design. Governmental systems are "captured" by special interests and made intentionally obtuse and complex as a barrier to entry. Lawyers and judges are a guild that works to make the law complex and extract rents from the productive economy. Over 1/3 of the U.S. Congress are attorneys as well.
I honestly don't think there is such a malicious intent behind it. Perhaps in some small instances.
Generally, the fact of the matter is simply that law is highly complex and the way it evolves is almost always by creating new laws, not getting rid of old ones. That's unfortunate obviously, but just like you don't just rewrite the Linux kernel, you can't just reset the legal foundation.
Some, and maybe most, of the complexity is organic. But there are specific instances, like the tax code, that have been kept intentionally complex at the bequest of special interest groups.
And of course, laws are made mostly by lawyers. So they don't have much of an incentive to change things.
Teaching is even more important, and we use professional teachers. Building a house is also an important moment in our lives, and most people would do well to accept the advice of a professional architect.