Diversity Recruiting and Retention in the Legal Profession

The lack of diversity in the legal industry is a critical issue affecting the legal system and the broader society. It is well-documented that a lack of diversity in the profession can negatively impact legal outcomes, such as disparities in access to justice and unequal treatment in the criminal justice system.

Firms must proactively recruit, retain and promote attorneys from diverse backgrounds by partnering with minority bar associations and other organizations to provide internships, scholarships, and other opportunities for diverse students. It’s also crucial for firms to ensure that their clients are represented by attorneys who reflect their diversity. Clients want to work with lawyers who understand their culture and background and can relate to their experiences.

Promoting diversity in the legal industry is a matter of social justice and a business imperative. Firms committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace are better positioned to attract top talent, build stronger client relationships, and achieve better outcomes for their clients.

In this course, you will learn about the origins and impact of implicit bias and strategies for mitigating its effects in recruiting and retention efforts. You will also gain an understanding of how to identify and address instances of implicit bias during jury selection, which can have severe consequences for the fairness of legal proceedings.

Law firms can create a more inclusive and diverse workforce by eliminating implicit bias in recruiting and retention efforts. This will not only benefit the firm in terms of attracting top talent and building stronger client relationships, but also improve the quality of legal services offered to a more diverse population. Ultimately, this will promote greater access to justice and ensure that the legal system serves all members of society fairly and equitably.

This course would be particularly relevant for attorneys, lawyers, and other legal professionals involved in recruiting, hiring, and retaining staff at their law firms. This includes law firm partners, human resources professionals, hiring managers, and anyone involved in the firm's talent management process. The course would also be useful for those involved in the jury selection process, such as trial attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals. The knowledge and skills gained from this course can help legal professionals create a more inclusive and diverse workforce, promote greater access to justice, and improve the quality of legal services offered to clients.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore how to make a case for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal industry
• Understand what diversity, equity, and inclusion are
• Recognize and disrupt the barriers to diversity recruiting and retention in the law firm
• Create and foster an inclusive legal workplace
• Investigate how to become a diversity advocate