Continued Progress Diversity & Inclusion

Mr. Nielsen reviews new data from the ABA on diversity and the need to promote minority associates. He notes a general cultural shift, such as in California where an ethnic studies course is required to graduate high school. He also discusses efforts by large law firms to now allow numerous hours per year of pre-approved Diversity and Inclusion work to count toward billable hours and bonuses and suggests a number of courses of action to improve discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in law firms.

He objectively addresses the progress made and new challenges faced by the legal profession in the areas of diversity and inclusion. This program includes a thorough review of multiple newly published articles and surveys, discernable trends, and valuable resources available. Topics include bullying as a form of gender discrimination, and ageism and mental health as other forms of perceived bias. He includes information on new programs that provide loan counseling and cross-cultural competency in ABA-accredited law schools, the Diverse Lawyers Trial Academy which aims to further "first chair" opportunities for women, the Community Fund for Black Bar applicants, and the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence.