Report Says The Law's Elitist; What's New?
Make sure you’re seated for this. So the independent study entitled "Fair Access to the Professions" has called for more equal opportunities. Singling out lawyers, it pointed to the fact that the majority are privately educated suggesting that 75 per cent of judges and nearly 70 per cent of barristers went to independent schools. The paper also offered evidence that the profession has become more exclusive recently leading social mobility czar, Alan Milburn, to conclude that the professions had a "closed …
Make sure you’re seated for this.
So the independent study entitled "Fair Access to the Professions" has called for more equal opportunities.
Singling out lawyers, it pointed to the fact that the majority are privately educated suggesting that 75 per cent of judges and nearly 70 per cent of barristers went to independent schools. The paper also offered evidence that the profession has become more exclusive recently leading social mobility czar, Alan Milburn, to conclude that the professions had a "closed shop mentality" and "have become more and not less exclusive over time". Right so the law is elitist, a refreshing soundbite.
But the facts don’t tell the whole story of course – commenting on the report, Paul Marsh, the President of the Law Society said: "Law firms have been making giant strides to open up access to the solicitors’ profession, and with their help the Law Society has recently launched the Diversity and Inclusion Charter, which provides a framework of commitment to all aspects of diversity. The profession’s collective efforts to become more accessible were recognised by Bridget Prentice at the recent Law Society Parliamentary Reception and we are continuing our work with solicitors to deliver a truly diverse and inclusive legal profession."
Clearly the profession takes pride in its efforts to balance its social make-up but Rome wasn’t built in a day. And in this case Rome hasn’t quite finished construction just months prior to a general election. Can we expect this political football to pick up a bit of spin as the general election approaches? Probably. That’s not to say there isn’t work to be done on this front but political opportunism and soft targets are a match made in heaven. Or are we being too cynical?
North of the Border, The Law Society of Scotland welcomed the Report’s praise for Scotland’s initiative for promoting social mobility. Collette Paterson, Deputy Director of Education and Training and Policy said: “The Society is already involved in a number of projects which aim to increase the awareness of law amongst all social categories and ensure the widest possible opportunity to enter the profession for all.
July 22, 2009
as meritocricies go the law firms aren’t doing too badly. human relationships are always going to play a factor whether its before your get there or once you are in. this is a blatant attempt at a bit of class division at a time when a lot of effort has gone in by the profession. typical politicians.
July 22, 2009
Politicians drawing lines in the sand. Standard practice unfortunately.
July 22, 2009
University and law school are an expensive proposition. This is more of a barrier to entry than the elitism of the legal profession. As law firms pay for law school it is a bit unfair to accuse them of being elitist in terms of recruitment.
July 22, 2009
I put myself through uni and law school (I got a TC which paid for LS fees and a grant) lots of debt still but I ended up at a decent firm and am gradually paying it off. It is not easy but that’s the point. Firms need to get the best people in and those willing to push harde enough, rich or poor now have the opportunity.
Chastising the profession is not the way forward; motivating and supporting less privileged people is the way forward and that is a policy issue not an employment issue.
July 22, 2009
Look nepotism will never die in any walk of life whatever politicians like to think. Human nature dictates we help those closest to us if we can. I’m all for levelling the playing field but for that you need the older generations to retire and the new to come through – this inevitably takes decades. Politicians like to pick up tired old mantras when they have run out of proper issues to beat each other with. This is no exception.
July 23, 2009
Well, the comments so far, from members of the legal profession, simply serve to demonstrate its ‘closed shop’ mentality!
“75% of Judges and 70% of barristers went to Independent schools” – a damning statistic.
The fact is that the privileged few, the ruling classes, raise their children with the best education and connections and smooth their journey to positions at the top in business, medicine, the law, accountancy etc. Until privileged parents are willing to see their ‘not so clever’ offspring working in call centres in order make room for very bright but underpriviileged young people, the legal profession will remain the preserve of the wealthy and the privileged.
‘Realist’ believes that, with a combination of ability and dedication, anyone can become a solicitor. That is probably true, almost anyone could. However, without the right schooling, connections, hobbies, how far can one actually get as a solicitor? I would suggest that reaching the top of the legal profession without the right background is extremely difficult. Moreover, becoming a barrister and/or a judge is bordering on impossible.
July 23, 2009
I agree 100% with the above comment. I am a solicitor of sixteen years qualification who went to comprehensive school and I certainly do not claim any exceptional intellectual / academic ability-It`s just that I have seen numerous judges, Coroners etc. demonstrate a degree of same which convinces me I could do a better job ! But I don`t have the connections to progress, and everyone knows that senior barristers and the judiciary regard “high street”-type solicitors as jumped-up little oiks; hence the ludicrous paucity of same in the upper echelons.
July 23, 2009
75% of Judges and 70% of barristers probably qualified before the profession really started to take equality seriously. Now that it does the old guard will fade in time but their prejudices will probably not retire until they do.
July 24, 2009
“Take equality seriously”…that is a loaded phrase. It can indeed mean a conscious and conscientious effort not to stereotype people on any social gender or ethnic grounds- or it can mean simply “ticking the boxes” on target delivery sheets so beloved of insipid government, and then carrying on in the same old way. Regrettably, some habits are passed on from generation to generation, particularly if certain attitudes are inculcated in avowedly elitist institutions that mummy and daddy have worked hard to send their little darlings to…