Differentiation and discrimination: Understanding social class and social exclusion in leading law firms

Abstract

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link AbstractFor leading law firms in the City of London, diversity and inclusion has become an important human resources strategy during the past fifteen years. A recent focus on social class within the sector has been encouraged by increasing governmental concerns relating to social mobility which acknowledge that elite professions, particularly the law, have become more socially exclusive over the past thirty years. Based on a detailed qualitative study of six leading law firms conducted between 2006 and 2010, this paper asks: why do leading law firms discriminate on the basis of social class? It argues that discrimination is a response to conflicting commercial imperatives, the first to attract talent and the second to reduce risk and enhance image. The paper describes these dynamics, emphasising the role played by the ambiguity of knowledge. It argues that until these conflicting demands are reconciled, organisational and state-sponsored initiatives centred on the 'business case' for diversity, may achieve only limited success.

A Web of opportunity or the same old story? Women digital entrepreneurs and intersectionality theory

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“…There are two key ways in which this cultural match can be demonstrated: university credentials and extracurricular pursuits (Ashley & Empson, 2016;Cook et al, 2012). However, cultural matching goes much deeper than that, stretching all the way back to the social backgrounds (Ashley & Empson, 2013) and early childhood experiences of potential recruits (see Berglas, 2006 andEmpson, 2004). Human Resource professionals within firms acknowledge that they deliberately look for recruits such as insecure overachievers.…”

The commercialisation of law and the enterprising legal practitioner: continuity and change

“…This issue has already been the subject of extensive investigations; for instance, scholarship exists on the impact of globalization, 1 the reconfiguration of the state, 2 the loss of market shelters, stock exchange listing of firms and the development of commodities with embedded expert knowledge (for example, Hanlon, 1997Hanlon, , 1999Kritzer, 1999;Twining, 2000;Freidson, 2001;Abel, 2003;Empson, 2007;Faulconbridge & Muzio, 2008). 3 Other studies focus on the legal work force, following the weakening of the profession's capacity to control entry into legal training and the (related) diversification of its supply side (for example Sommerlad & Sanderson, 1998;Shiner, 1999Shiner, , 2000Vignaendra, 2001;Duff & Webley, 2004;Nicholson, 2005;Sommerlad, 2006Sommerlad, , 2007Sommerlad et al, 2010;Ashley & Empson, 2011). A neglected dimension is the connection between these aspects of contemporary professionalism.…”