Law School in a Different Voice: Legal Education as a Work of Mercy

Abstract

This article explores the religiously affiliated law school through a feminist lens. The article represents a creative and original synthesis of three strands of thought: scholarly discussion of Jesuit identity in legal education (focusing on a series of articles in the Gonzaga Law Review); literature on Mercy identity, especially in higher education; and the work of feminist theorists, including Robin West, Margaret Farley, and Carol Gilligan. The final portion of the article articulates a new vision for legal education focused on mercifulness (in addition to justice), on community (in contrast to a radical individualism), and on a commitment to women and girls.

Keywords: Professional Identity Formation, Legal Education, Catholic Education, Jesuit Legal Education, Feminist Legal Theory, Feminism, Mercy, Sisters of Mercy