This article reports on a qualitative study aimed at understanding how LGBTQI+ law students and recent graduates perceive and experience the legal profession. While we found that several participants self-censor in interactions with the profession, others considered their LGBTQI+ identity as advantageous, enabling them to benefit from ‘diversity hiring’. Despite this, many participants regarded the legal profession as ‘conservative’ and influenced by the ‘old guard’, which remains unaccepting of LGBTQI+ identities. Participants also considered the profession to be more accepting of some LGBTQI+ identities than others. We conclude by suggesting strategies to improve perceptions and experiences of the profession.

本文报告了一项定性研究，旨在了解LGBTQI +法律系学生和应届毕业生如何看待和体验法律专业。尽管我们发现一些参与者在与该行业的互动中进行自我审查，但其他参与者则认为他们的LGBTQI +身份是有利的，从而使他们能够从“多样性雇用”中受益。尽管如此，许多参与者还是将法律职业视为“保守”的，并受到“守旧派”的影响，而后者仍然不接受LGBTQI +身份。参与者还认为，该行业比其他行业更接受某些LGBTQI +身份。最后，我们提出了改善行业观念和经验的策略建议。