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The aim of this paper is to reshape the way a specialization into legal action has been able to be developed into trade unions organizations. It stresses four different social and historical configurations, whether what concerns the legislative, the political or the unionist arena: beginning of the 20th century, the 1940's and the beginning of the 50’s, the 70’s and today. Then, the paper emphasizes unionist institutions, and their leaders, that have been specialized in legal and judicial action. At least, it shows how the development of such a legal activity results in disturbing usual relationship of unions with actors belonging to he legal field (principally attorneys and law teachers): through other jurists, with whom they have relationship of concurrence or of co-operation, they can gain new resources.