Is the class ceiling breakable?

By Makhsudul Islam

Is the class ceiling breakable or there for good? It could be broken from those at the top but individuals from the bottom suffer. Why is it that those from private schools, and from a certain section of society seem to have a divine right to enter the legal profession? Thus the minority of 7% dominating institutions such as the Bar?

Does that mean that the qualifications gained from state schools do not carry the same value as those from private schools? But are GCSE’s and A-Levels not supposed be a national standard against which academic ability is measured? If that is not the case then there is not a level playing field for all prospective lawyers. Nevertheless the question remains why are students from state schools being allowed to go Cambridge or Oxford University. Surely that would mean that the qualifications of both are exactly the same. Then why the inequality in the legal system?

In effect what we are saying is that students may well have the necessary competence to enter the profession but they could not do so since they are not from a certain sect of society, this is especially worrying if we take into account the current economic climate. But the question to the jury is: is the law not about providing access to justice, fairness and impartiality? The legal system needs to be more willing to accept those of lower backgrounds since the rationale of legality is to be fair and just, and hence it has to be submitted that a reform within the whole system is required so that there is equal opportunities for all.

Prejudice is something which the law stands against. I hereby submit that there needs to be a rigorous reform of the system in order that everyone is entitled to a fair opportunity and no one should be discriminated due to background. Those responsible for admission should take into account academic institution, achievement but nothing else. A solution would be for there to be positive discrimination, meaning that those from lower backgrounds are given more of a chance, it could be argued that the prestige, stature and tradition dictates certain classes could enter the profession but that is a Victorian way of thinking, the legal system should focus on justice not making it a profession of the rich. The legal system should not classify on the basis of social demographics but achievement and endeavour.