Project title

Transformation into a lawyer: the legal profession’s influence in law school socialisation

Research question

What role does the legal profession, and perceptions thereof, play in the legal socialisation of students in contemporary Dutch law schools?

Project description

Lawyers occupy prominent positions in society, and legal education plays a crucial role in preparing students for their future professional roles. Traditionally, the legal profession – lawyers and their institutions – has been heavily involved in shaping that preparation. But this involvement has changed significantly over time and is increasingly being called into question.

Drawing on empirical data from a longitudinal study, Nina Holvast examines the contemporary role of the legal profession in the socialisation of students in (Dutch) legal education. She further explores how this evolving relationship shapes students’ sense of professional identity – and their understanding of what it means to become a lawyer.

Selected publications

  • N.L. Holvast & W.J. Kortleven (2025) Chapter 84: Professional Identity Formation in law school. In: F. Cownie, A. Bradney & E.J. Jones (eds.) Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Legal Education, Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 306-309.
  • W.J. Kortleven, N.L. Holvast & A. Bešić (2024) From adaptive to reflective law school socialisation: a theoretical and empirical contribution from the Netherlands, Legal Ethics, 27(1), p. 63–83.
  • N.L. Holvast & W.J. Kortleven (2023) Towards inclusive legal education: complications and challenges – edited volume, Erasmus Law Review, 2023(4).