Individual and Institutional Dimensions of Epistemic Injustice in Swiss Legal Education: Remarks and Ways Forward

Abstract

In Switzerland, institutions through which legal knowledge and education are produced have systemi-cally enabled epistemic injustice through forms of silencing and the cultivation of active ignorance along individual and institutional dimensions. As such, we argue that an important form of intervention in the legal education system, which would not only provide instruments to address epistemic injustice, but also better equip lawyers as individuals and as members of a collective, epistemic community, is feminist critical theory. Providing access and engagement with critical legal methodology, throughout legal studies, is integral to the development of epistemic capacities. It would help prevent formation of insensitivities to experiences of injustice and interrupt the perpetuation of silencing and cultivation of active ignorance along individual and institutional dimensions.

Keywords

• switzerland
• legal knowledge
• legal education
• epistemic injustice
• forms of silencing
• institutional dimensions
• legal education system
• lawyers
• epistemic community
• feminist critical theory
• critical legal methodology
• epistemic capacities
• injustice
• active ignorance
• fius
• cognitio
• legal gender studies