ABSTRACT Recruitment of trainee solicitors by largely commercial organisations provides the effective gateway to professional qualification for aspiring solicitors. Professional bodies and others have sought to distinguish solicitors from other legal service providers through reference to professionalism and ethics. In this article I present the findings from a survey of the applicant experience of the graduate recruitment process and interviews with the professionals involved in those processes. The research is situated within the literature on professional identity development. The main aims are to contribute to understanding of the way in which graduate recruitment may inform the construction of professional identities, with particular focus on notions of ethicality within that. These engagements come at a critical time for professional identity construction. Despite data suggesting applicant expectations that professionalism and ethics will be important in their future practice, these early encounters do little to support that view. The influence of selection activities most likely marks the beginning of longer-term experiences that diminish the significance of ethicality in notions of professionalism. The data identifies recruiter assumptions as to appropriate ethical character. There is also evidence that the recruitment process may actively undermine ideas such as independence as relevant to legal practitioners.

中文翻译：

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公共职业和私人执业：进入 21 世纪的律师职业

摘要 主要商业组织招聘实习律师为有抱负的律师提供了获得专业资格的有效途径。专业团体和其他机构试图通过参考专业精神和道德规范将律师与其他法律服务提供者区分开来。在本文中，我介绍了对毕业生招聘过程中申请人体验的调查以及对参与这些过程的专业人士的采访的结果。该研究位于专业身份发展的文献中。主要目的是帮助理解毕业生招聘可以为专业身份的构建提供信息的方式，特别关注其中的道德概念。这些参与是在专业身份建设的关键时刻进行的。尽管数据表明申请人期望专业精神和道德在他们未来的实践中很重要，但这些早期的遭遇并不能支持这种观点。选拔活动的影响很可能标志着长期经验的开始，这些经验削弱了职业主义概念中伦理的重要性。该数据确定了招聘人员对适当道德品质的假设。还有证据表明，招聘过程可能会积极破坏与法律从业者相关的独立性等理念。选拔活动的影响很可能标志着长期经验的开始，这些经验削弱了职业主义概念中伦理的重要性。该数据确定了招聘人员对适当道德品质的假设。还有证据表明，招聘过程可能会积极破坏与法律从业者相关的独立性等理念。选拔活动的影响很可能标志着长期经验的开始，这些经验削弱了职业主义概念中伦理的重要性。该数据确定了招聘人员对适当道德品质的假设。还有证据表明，招聘过程可能会积极破坏与法律从业者相关的独立性等理念。