Character in law: a qualitative study of character in legal practice in the UK

This article explores the meaning and importance of character for modern legal professionals. It adds to a growing body of work in virtue jurisprudence by providing an empirical perspective from research among practising lawyers in five UK firms. Our study explored three questions: How do legal practitioners understand the meaning and importance of character in their profession? What opportunities are there for the cultivation of virtues in legal practice? How might attention to character development contribute to the application of ethical values that are prized in the legal profession? Interviews with 34 participants were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify prominent themes. There are main emphases: (1) lawyers’ desire to become virtuous, even if their understanding of the process is limited; (2) lawyers’ moral seriousness despite being ethically imperceptive at points; and (3) the influence of lawyers’ work environments on their character and ethicality. The article concludes by outlining potential strategies for the cultivation of character as a way to support ethical legal practice.