Professions define themselves by who they
admit to their ranks. A licensing system reveals the profession's core values.
Professor Joan Howarth’s new book, Shaping the Bar, reveals a long history of
overt and implicit racism as part of our profession’s licensing system. Howarth
traces this history, shows how the failures of the bar exam link inextricably
with legal education, and proposes reforms to make our education and licensing
system reflect the profession we aspire to be—rather than the one we have
been. In this “author meets reader”
session, commentators will engage with Howarth and the audience to discuss
these topics.