Justice chauvinism and the social welfare legal professional

This paper sets out a conceptualisation of "justice chauvinism" as a lens for analysing the assumptions which underpin the justice system in England and Wales. The article aims to contribute to debate about why the England and Wales justice system is the way it is and the role played by assaults on practitioners, especially legal aid practitioners. It first sets out a justification for the concept of chauvinism within justice systems and then explores the ways in which, at macro, meso and micro levels, chauvinistic narratives are deployed to the detriment of both the provider and the recipient of legal advice and representation, with a particular focus on social welfare legal professionals. A comparative account of civil (non-family) legal aid in England and Wales and in Scotland gives concrete examples of how chauvinistic underpinnings may (or may not) manifest in different legal systems, before the conclusion invites further exploration and challenge to underlying chauvinism which misshapes justice systems and stigmatises both user and professional.