讼师是中国传统法律制度中的法律职业者，是颇具律师雏形意义的古代职业法律人。目前有史可考的第一位讼师是春秋末期名家邓析。以其为始，到被西方律师制度取代时止，讼师在中国历史上存在了大约2500年。在这漫长的历史时期中，由于中国传统法律制度崇尚“无讼”理想，且个别恶讼师存在一些不良行为，讼师行业一直处于尴尬境地，不仅无法获得官方的地位认可，还屡屡遭受法律和其他息讼机制的多重禁治。但是，如此不利的环境并未导致讼师面临生存危机；甚至在自宋朝至明清的相当长历史时期中，讼师还表现出日趋活跃的特点，这反映了讼师行业在传统法律制度中存在的必然性与必要性。分析讼师的出身、业务等方面内容，可以总结出讼师对于传统法律制度的作用，其中既有对法律发展的积极影响，也存在着因行业与制度博弈而产生的消极消耗。由于种种原因，讼师并未成为中国当代律师制度的启蒙力量。但认识和探讨讼师的作用，对定位、研究中国律师的作用仍具有重要借鉴价值。本文结合明清时期的案例材料，探讨讼师在中国传统法律制度中的作用问题。第一章分析讼师行业在传统文化背景下的生存情况与存在价值；第二章说明讼师行业在传统社会生活中的实际表现；第三章归纳讼师对于传统法律制度的双重作用，肯定讼师对中国传统法的积极价值；在结语中探讨当代中国律师发挥“法律人”作用的渠道与方式。文章侧重的研究包括：第一，坚持从客观中性的视角，考辨对讼师行业的正反面评价，还原讼师在中国传统法律制度中的基本存在情况和从事法律事务的实际状况；第二，结合明清时期相关材料，分析讼师在中国传统法体系中的双重作用，对该行业存在的原因和价值予以确认；第三，着重讨论中国式法律职业的形成特征、伦理特征和技能特征等问题，从而为当代律师进一步发挥“法律人”作用找到具有传承性和借鉴性的路径。

Songshi, legal profession in the traditional Chinese legal system, can be seen as an early model of a lawyer. According to historical evidences, Deng Xi in the Spring and Autumn Period is believed to be the first Songshi. Before replaced by Western lawyer system, it has existed in China for over 2,500 years. During the long period of time, the dominating “no disputes, no litigation” idea in the traditional Chinese legal system and as well as some bad behaviors put this occupation in a rather awkward position. It was not officially recognized and often confined by other litigating ways back to then. However, Songshi survived the critical environment. It even became increasingly active from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, which reflects the inevitability and necessity of its existence in the traditional legal system. We can summarize how Songshi affected the traditional legal system through exploring its origin and operation. There are both positive effects and negative consumption due to the game of industry and regulation. For various reasons, Songshi did not become the enlightenment forces of contemporary Chinese lawyer system. However, the process of learning and discussing Songshi’s role can serve as a good reference when we research the function of Chinese lawyer system. Based on the historical materials of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the thesis explores the role of Songshi in the traditional Chinese legal system. Chapter one analysises the survival situation and existence value of Songshi under the traditional cultural background. Chapter two focuses on the occupation’s performance in the traditional social life. Chapter three summarizes the dual effect of Songshi on the traditional legal system and show its positive value. The last part discusses the channels and ways of contemporary Chinese lawyers as “the lawyers”. The thesis focuses on three aspects. First, it tries to objectively discuss and analysis some adverse reviews toward Songshi profession and to restore its basic situation and actual conditions in legal issues. Second, it analyses the dual function of Songshi in the traditional Chinese legal system based on certain materials of Ming and Qing Dynasties. It recognizes the existing reasons and value of Songshi. At last, it conducts a discussion of the formation features, moral and skill characteristics of Chinese style legal career so that it can provide some useful and inspiring information to contemporary lawyers.