We can view the bar association as a self-policing group to some extent. But the unauthorized practice of law is a crime in most jurisdictions, so it's policed by the State. In the context of Ostrom's commons this means a hypothetical 'lawyer-commmons' exists at the whim of the State and is unlikely to survive. In practice, a fake lawyer serving jail time can't get out of jail by negotiating with the bar association for access to lawyering. It's similar for medicine and engineering. I take your overall point that professional organizations have internal rules, decorum, membership criteria, etc. If you're at all interested, Ostrom's 8 rules for managing the commons are worth a read.
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We can view the bar association as a self-policing group to some extent. But the unauthorized practice of law is a crime in most jurisdictions, so it's policed by the State. In the context of Ostrom's commons this means a hypothetical 'lawyer-commmons' exists at the whim of the State and is unlikely to survive. In practice, a fake lawyer serving jail time can't get out of jail by negotiating with the bar association for access to lawyering. It's similar for medicine and engineering. I take your overall point that professional organizations have internal rules, decorum, membership criteria, etc. If you're at all interested, Ostrom's 8 rules for managing the commons are worth a read.