As legal systems increasingly operate within culturally diverse and transnational contexts, legal education plays a crucial role in preparing future lawyers for global citizenship and justice-oriented practice. This paper explores how female law students in Turkey, Portugal, and the United Kingdom understand and engage with cultural expertise, specialised knowledge used to interpret cultural, linguistic, and social difference in legal decision-making, and how gendered educational environments shape their confidence, agency, and ethical responsibility. Drawing on survey data and reflective interviews with 182 law students, the study examines students’ perceptions of the legitimacy of cultural expertise, their preparedness to mobilise such knowledge, and their experiences navigating hierarchical and evaluative legal settings. Findings indicate that while students widely recognise cultural expertise as essential for fair and peaceful resolution of culturally complex cases, women often experience heightened self-doubt and professional risk when requesting or relying on expert input, particularly in adversarial contexts. Across national settings, students identify clear pedagogical guidance, accredited intercultural frameworks, and experiential learning opportunities—such as scenario-based simulations and exposure to expert testimony—as critical for developing confidence and ethical judgement. These educational practices support future lawyers in recognising cultural difference not as a procedural obstacle but as a core dimension of justice, inclusion, and social cohesion. By foregrounding student perspectives, this paper contributes to debates on Global Citizenship and Education for Peace, demonstrating how gender-responsive legal education can strengthen intercultural competence and support more equitable, humane, and socially responsive legal systems across Europe.

Authors:
Eleni Meletiadou, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Eleni Meletiadou is an Associate (Teaching) Professor (Management Education and EDI) in the Guildhall School of Business and Law at London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.

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