Inequity leads to a decline in the well-being of individuals and organizations. Legal culture is obsessed with rank and hierarchy, resulting in power and privilege historically dominated by straight, white men. This panel examines the origins of law’s unhealthy infatuation with hierarchy, the social inequality that the culture of hierarchy engenders, and the biological impact that social inequality has on our well-being. The panel explores how privilege can result in a lack of awareness of, curiosity about, empathy for, and exposure to life experiences and perspectives of women, LGBTQIA individuals, people of color, first-generation individuals, and others with challenging economic circumstances. The speakers provide ideas for addressing implicit bias, teaching cultural competency, developing cultural capital in marginalized groups, developing leadership skills to support and work with diverse persons in a variety of workplaces, and preparing students to recognize and successfully deal with instances of discrimination they may encounter in the legal profession.
Business meeting at program conclusion.