Access to legal work experience and its role in the (re)production of legal professional identity

The occupational closure experienced by solicitors drawn from ‘outsider’ groups (especially women) has been extensively documented. The growing importance of work experience as a gateway to the profession suggests that it may be playing an increasingly significant role in the processes of exclusion and the reproduction of professional identity. The lack of research into this ‘hidden’ moment in professional reproduction therefore represents a significant lacuna in our understanding of the (changing) solicitors’ profession in England and Wales. This paper reports on a preliminary exploration of legal work experience. It analyses data generated through collaboration with the Law Society in a survey of law firms. This is complemented by qualitative analysis of material obtained from firms’ websites and discussion boards. Throughout the paper we highlight the broader research questions suggested by this initial analysis.