ABSTRACT
This chapter uses the concept of ‘left pessimism’ in order to analyse a kind of masochism which characterises some critical academic work on Australian legal education. Its authors present excessively pessimistic, inaccurate accounts, ignoring achievements and marginalising difference and resistance. The chapter argues that, while pessimists identify some real problems, they misdiagnose them, thereby discrediting critical positions and perversely strengthening what they oppose. Drawing on the author’s experience as dean of an Australian law school, the paper locates law’s experience in the broader context of change in contemporary universities. The paper suggests that despite the threats of market commercialism, STEM hegemony and metric-obsessed managerialism, there are reasons for optimism about the quality, resilience and vitality of Australian law schools.
