Helping Legal Professionals Become More Conscious of Unconscious Bias

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM CT/1:00 PM ET

Cost: Free

Place: Virtual - Zoom

CLE: We will apply for 1.0 hours of CLE credit for Minnesota, California, Texas, and Washington state for this webinar.

Unconscious Bias, also known as implicit bias, affects us all. Two of the biggest challenges with unconscious bias, however, are that it exists at a subconscious level and it is in exact opposition of who we’d like to believe we are. So there is an element of unawareness and an element of denial that we must contend with when it comes to addressing and overcoming our unconscious bias. The impact of unconscious bias in the legal profession has longstanding societal implications, and continues to contribute to an alarming rate of racial and gender inequities and disparities in our judicial system. The Supreme Court’s Race Bias & Gender Task Force Report has identified several issues of unconscious bias in the legal system. Some of those findings include underrepresentation of minority judges and attorneys, implicit bias in courtroom interactions, disparities in case outcomes based on race and gender, unequal access to legal representation for marginalized groups, and systemic barriers preventing diverse legal professionals from advancing to leadership positions within the judiciary. In this session, attendees will hear stories and real world examples of unconscious bias at play in the legal profession and will be equipped with the insights and tools to both resolve and prevent these occurrences from taking place. Attendees will also be challenged to identify strategies and solutions to safeguard their specific practice from the ills, inequities, and effects of unconscious bias.

This webinar will be presented by Tru Pettigrew. Tru is a celebrated author, an engaging speaker, a committed community leader, and experienced marketing executive.

Tru spent four seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx of the NBA and WNBA from 2020 - 2024, and takes great pride in serving as the organization's first Chief Impact Officer. Following the murder of George Floyd, Tru played an integral role with the team from convening team discussions around race relations and social justice to serving as a bridge builder for community dialogue with the Minneapolis Police Department and other civic members.

As a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion advocate and committed Community Leader, Tru has established a strong reputation for building bridges across racial, cultural, gender, and relational lines of all kinds.

Tru’s newest book, We Can All Be Bridge Builders, serves as a comprehensive guide for leaders of all levels, equipping them with the tools and strategies to help bridge gaps across differences and cultivate genuine relationships and cultures of inclusion.

This webinar is co-sponsored by Mitchell Hamline School of Law and by Santa Clara University School of Law's High Tech Law Institute. Register today to hold your place for this thought-provoking event.