In "Middlemarch," George Eliot critiques the limitations of legal training. He argues that such training can hinder individuals when faced with questions that demand a different form of understanding or expertise. Eliot suggests that the evaluation of evidence is often mischaracterized, as it cannot be simplified into a system of quantitative measurement.

Moreover, he emphasizes that assessing evidence effectively requires a thorough knowledge of the subject at hand. Without this deep understanding, even a lawyer is unqualified to make judgments, akin to an inexperienced person lacking the necessary skills for a critical task. Eliot highlights the importance of specialized knowledge beyond legal expertise.