0 - RSVP for Race CLE

Race and the Legal System: Tools for Constructive Conversations

As lawyers, we are ethically required to work to improve the law, access to the legal system and the administration of justice. Many would argue that systemic racism is one of the most pressing ethical issues our legal system faces. At the same time, it’s hard to address issues of race because they are so complex, include elements of unconscious bias, and often invoke intense feelings (overwhelm, anger, shame, guilt, and/or helplessness). The difficulties can prevent us from fulfilling our ethical and even moral obligation to act.

This 4.0 credit CLE (3.0 ethics credits applied for the in-person seminar and 1.0 on-demand credit beforehand) reviews some tools that can help us meaningfully engage, including:

- Overview of unconscious bias (UB), especially affinity and confirmation biases

- General strategies to identify our UB

- General strategies to interrupt our UB so we may act consistent with our values

- Application of these strategies to UB as it relates to race

- The need to understand and navigate emotions

- The need to gain knowledge about racism

- Suggestions/reminders for listening and speaking effectively

Participants will be better equipped to have meaningful conversations with clients and colleagues about race and racism in the legal system and better able to fulfill attorney ethical responsibilities.

Dates/Times: Wednesday, November 13 from 11AM to 2PM (Please note this is a new time)

Cost: Free for MABL members, MAIBA members, HCBA members and VLN volunteers, $25 for others. Payable in advance by credit card or in person by check.

Pre-Work: This CLE includes roughly 1.25 hours of prework, including videos eligible for 1.0 on-demand CLE credit.

Before registering, please read: For the purposes of discussion, this CLE will assume (and not be discussing) the following about race and racism:

People of color do not have equal access to justice or resources.
All human beings have some unconscious bias.
Unconscious racial bias is a natural consequence of growing up in this society. (We didn’t ask to have it!)
While racism today isn’t our fault, it is a pressing human rights issue that we have an ethical and moral obligation to address.
Addressing racism effectively requires that we explicitly identify and connect with our own values related to justice and equity.

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We order Pizza Luce for lunch. Do you have any dietary restrictions we may accommodate (we can also provide food from other nearby restaurants)?

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November 13

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I am a MABL member (free). I am a VLN volunteer (free). I am an HCBA member (free). I am a MAIBA member (free). I am a MHBA member (free). I will pay by check in person on the day of the CLE. I will pay by credit card.

Thanks for your support! Please enjoy this CLE at no cost.

Please present a check for $25 payable to VLN to the CLE before the session begins.

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$25

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Thank you! We look forward to seeing you soon. Please press "Submit Form" below to complete registration for the CLE. You will receive an email shortly with more information about the pre-work to complete prior to the session.