‘Working-class students have long faced classism in higher education (HE), particularly in so-called “elite” universities. The study and practice of law are renowned for their exclusive status, historically unwelcoming to those from diverse backgrounds, such as working-class people. Class status has also specifically been identified as a common cause of “imposter syndrome”. Similarly, law schools and elite HE institutions (HEIs) can catalyse “imposter syndrome” for those who do not naturally feel they belong at university. However, little attention has been paid to the intersection between class identity, the study of law and imposterism at university Attending university may be the first time students are confronted with the impact of their class status on their experiences and opportunities. Law schools and HEIs, in partnership with legal recruiters, must do more to tackle classism and celebrate class diversity to defeat imposterism. Through exploring conversations between working-class law school students within an elite HEI via Listening Rooms, this study highlights imposter related experiences of working-class law students and addresses a gap in the literature by critically intersecting these personal and professional identities. In doing so, this study makes a number of recommendations to positively embrace and enhance the class diversity of aspiring lawyers.’
The Law Teacher, 22nd May 2025
Source: www.tandfonline.com
