Law school clinics play a critical role in preparing
students for legal practice across various disciplines as well as teaching law
within a social justice framework. Clinical teaching emphasizes the development
of student lawyering skills such as client counseling, transactional practice,
interviewing, fact investigation and trial techniques. However, in addition to
skills-based learning, clinical teaching plays an important role in shaping
thoughts and ideas through the teaching of client-centered lawyering and
providing culturally sensitive legal services. But what role does the
examination and exploration of implicit bias play in preparing students to be
practice-ready advocates?
Implicit biases occurs when people hold negative
associations in their mind unconsciously even while consciously rejecting
stereotypes. Based on cognitive science research, most individuals show some
evidence of bias. Bias (whether explicit or implicit) leads to discriminatory
behavior. How do we address these two truths in the legal arena? Specifically,
what impact does implicit bias have on student learning, on delivery of legal
services to underserved populations, and on the diversity of the legal
profession?
This session will explore the challenges of
incorporating discussions around implicit bias in clinical teaching and arm
participants with tools to help move this conversation forward.
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