Close the Divide: Dismantling Bias in the Legal World

Approved for 1 equity implicit bias credit in California; 1 general credit in Florida and Georgia; 1 access to justice credit in Oregon; 1 ethics credit in Texas; and 1 ethics equity credit in Washington. Check your Bar website or our list: https://www.clecast.net/accreditation DESCRIPTION: This CLE course addresses the impact of bias in the legal profession and provides actionable strategies to recognize and counteract biases. This program aims to raise awareness about how bias—whether explicit or implicit—can shape the decisions and interactions of legal professionals. Despite efforts to increase diversity, the legal profession continues to see underrepresentation of women and minorities, particularly in leadership roles. These disparities are linked to implicit biases that influence hiring, promotion, case management, and courtroom dynamics. Biases related to gender, race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and religion manifest in the daily practices of law firms, affecting outcomes in both criminal and civil cases. The CLE outlines practical strategies for addressing implicit bias within law firms and the legal profession as a whole. These include implementing blind hiring practices to remove personal identifiers during the recruitment process, using objective evaluation criteria for promotions and case management to prevent bias from influencing decisions, and development of firm-wide bias awareness programs, which promote ongoing education and self-reflection. Finally, the CLE emphasizes the importance of increasing diversity in decision-making roles to ensure that the legal profession better reflects the society it serves and upholds the principles of fairness and justice. You will watch a video, be provided materials, and then fill out a certificate of completion should your state require that. Access to this CLE is available for 180 days following your purchase.