Global Voices: Diversity in Law for International Students

By Jasmeen Kaur.

Reading time: four minutes

International students face a lot of difficulties during university, especially law school. Given that the diversity within the law sector is still as shallow as the SRA’s diversity data has shown that ‘18% of all lawyers are Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic group, a 1% increase from 2019 statistics. 78% are white’. If these statistics are already low, it can be 10 times more complex for international students to adapt to this.

This article will be looking at:

1. The language and communication challenges international students face;

2. Access to opportunities in the law sector and overall; and

3. What could be done to improve these difficulties for international students.

Language and Communication Challenges

International students, despite the language and communication barriers demonstrate remarkable resilience. A report indicated 373,600 non-UK-born, non-UK passport-holding international students in England and Wales during Census 2021. Within this are 11.6% from India, 11.2% from China, 9.5% from Romania and 5.3% from Nigeria.

These barriers can significantly impact their degree where, for instance, the primary language of instruction or legal practice differs from their native language. Overcoming these challenges requires additional effort in language acquisition and communication skills development. Despite their language limitations, many students persevere, seeking help to explain their knowledge in tests or research papers, even when they have outstanding concepts.

Another problem is pronunciation since some students need help to speak and feel self-conscious when giving presentations. Phongsuwan (1997) investigated the connections between foreign students’ academic achievement and language proficiency and their level of satisfaction with college. He discovered that language proficiency and satisfaction with the university’s contribution to academic advancement, especially in terms of grades, were significantly correlated. Additionally, there was a correlation between grades and feelings of content with the educational setting.

Now, when studying law, English proficiency is paramount in the sense that there are lots of readings and cases that are complex to understand. Where even someone who understands English may find it complex due to not being familiar with these terms, for international students, this can have an impact on their grades. This is because if they are finding it hard and possible not willing to ask for assistance due to embarrassment or other lack of motivation etc, making their journey so much more stressful than it already is for law students in the UK. One way someone may advise international students is to make friends and ask for assistance through that. However, in addition to limiting their active engagement in learning activities, language barriers and inexperience in multicultural group discussions make it challenging for them to form friendships with local students (Schartner and Cho, 2017; Yuan, 2011).

Access to Opportunities

Due to work authorisation requirements, company preferences, or visa restrictions, international students may need help obtaining specific legal internships, training contracts or job opportunities. Regretfully, the harsh reality in the legal field is that obtaining a training contract becomes more difficult for international students. Many legal employers lose out on the UK’s incredible foreign talent because they are unwilling to take on the extra cost and administrative strain of sponsoring trainees. Already, students part of the BAME community face difficulties, and not being from the UK and having, as mentioned above, language barriers, visa issues, etc., make this an extremely unappealing career for international students, which should not be the case, especially at this day and age since diversity is meant to be at the greatest, but that is unfortunately not the situation at the moment.

Especially when it comes to applying for jobs, this applies to law graduates and everyone; as everyone is aware, job employers take a few seconds to read CVs and cover letters. Some specific challenges international students face include understanding and adjusting to the Western (individualistic) perspective of careers, learning to use English for “employability,” navigating job searches in an unfamiliar labour market, building a network, and dealing with cross-cultural communication differences. How they write and use English dramatically influences the tone of the resume and cover letter. It is really disheartening to observe that this can make it exceptionally hard to find employment opportunities. To ensure that all students have equitable access to opportunities regardless of nationality or citizenship status, efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within legal institutions should address these obstacles.

What should be done to improve this?

Several initiatives can be implemented to enhance opportunities for international students in the UK. Existing resources like Student Circus, a job portal tailored for Tier-4 visa holders, and UKHired.com, a platform with a visa-points-based calculator, offer avenues for job searches and visa sponsorship. However, broader efforts are needed. Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into classroom settings can cater to diverse learning styles and foster cultural understanding. Studies show that digital tools like online discussion boards and podcasts facilitate cross-cultural awareness among students, albeit with some limitations. This will allow international law students to understand the law and the legal terms that are less complex to comprehend. In addition, law firms should specifically focus on international students by providing them with internships and work experience opportunities, allowing them to showcase their skills and talents without being discriminated against.

These measures collectively contribute to a more inclusive environment, offering international law students better prospects for success in the law sector in the UK. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but integral parts of our legal institutions.

Final

Now, international students require our assistance to make choosing a career in law less complex and burdensome. After all, they are probably already facing difficulties in moving away from home and adjusting to a new country, so it would be gratifying to know that they are happy with their degree. Language limitations and restricted access to opportunities are among the challenges international law students face in the UK. Tailored programmes, such as internships, are crucial to addressing this effectively. By offering focused assistance, we can foster a more welcoming atmosphere and enable international students to succeed in the legal field.