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The decree of March 27, 1954 reformed the law degree in French universities. It was the result of three years of reflection led by a reform commission composed by prominent law professors. This decree established the recognition that the law, far from being a pure dogmatic creation, is deeply rooted in society. Analysis of the minutes from the commission’s meetings helps to clarify what is meant by this statement. The article demonstrates that the reform represented more of an epistemological shift than a reflection on the possible alliances between law and the social sciences. The reform envisioned that law would be taught as a body of knowledge, a technique, but also as a resource available to professions largely beyond the legal realm.