From Activism to Pro Bono: The Redirection of Working Class Altruism at Harvard Law School

Although a substantial proportion of incoming working class students at Harvard Law School plan careers in public service law, few actually pursue this course after graduation. Through a survey and in-depth interviews with 23 working class students we illustrate some of the ways they are rechannelled toward careers in high status commercial law firms and the ways they deal with the internal contradictions caused by their resocialization.