Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter in Legal Education
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of what we do at the Law School Admission Council. Through our partnerships with our member law schools, we해외 카지노 추천re striving to give students from all walks of life a chance to make the dream of a law career a reality 해외 카지노 추천 and, in turn, create a legal system that reflects the society it serves.
On a recent episode of 해외 카지노 추천Live with Kellye & Ken,해외 카지노 추천 iLaw President Ken Randall and I were honored to speak with Deans Craig Boise (Syracuse University College of Law), Camille Nelson (American University Washington College of Law), and Anthony Varona (University of Miami School of Law). Among other topics, we discussed diversity, equity, and inclusion at their own schools; how students should be thinking about these important issues; and how to translate diversity in law schools to diversity in the legal profession. Below is a summary of our discussion; you can watch the entire episode on our website.
What do diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you?
Dean Varona noted that diversity (having people who are different), equity (treating everyone fairly), and inclusion (making sure everyone has a seat at the table) are three very different, though related, concepts. But as Dean Boise put it, 해외 카지노 추천Equity is the means to move from diversity to inclusion.해외 카지노 추천 In other words, it해외 카지노 추천s one thing to have people who are diverse, but having equitable systems in place is the way to make sure those people are represented and included in the conversation. And Dean Nelson added the concept of empowerment to these three tenets: 해외 카지노 추천We want to make sure people are brought to the table from all walks of life, but what해외 카지노 추천s the point of being at the table if they해외 카지노 추천re not empowered?해외 카지노 추천
What do you do at your own schools to promote these values?
The deans agreed that increasing the diversity of law classes doesn해외 카지노 추천t happen by accident, and all have implemented programs and initiatives for underrepresented groups. Dean Boise shared that 34 percent of students who entered his school this past fall were students of color. Deans Nelson and Varona said the diverse communities in which their schools are located play a role, but they해외 카지노 추천ve also implemented programs that diversify the pipeline of incoming students. And Dean Varona added that it해외 카지노 추천s necessary to dig deeper into diversity data to make sure all groups, not just those prevalent in the school해외 카지노 추천s geographic area, are represented and empowered.
How should students be thinking about these concepts?
As Dean Nelson noted, the first year of law school can be difficult for students, but particularly for those from underrepresented communities. Since first-year law students generally don해외 카지노 추천t get to choose their classes or faculty, Dean Nelson worries that during that year, they may lose sight of why they came to law school in the first place. It해외 카지노 추천s important, she said, for students to be authentic and not try to fit into a preconceived notion of what a lawyer should be. Along the same lines, Dean Varona said that many students of color have reported 해외 카지노 추천impostor syndrome해외 카지노 추천 해외 카지노 추천 in other words, feeling like they don해외 카지노 추천t belong in law school, even though they해외 카지노 추천re being told they do. But coping with and overcoming those feelings and embracing that 해외 카지노 추천outsider해외 카지노 추천 status, he said, is actually those students해외 카지노 추천 best advantage for success in law school and in their future careers.
What efforts are you making to diversify your own faculty?
Dean Boise pointed out that not much hiring has occurred in the past 10 years, but now, with some distance from the economic downturn, there해외 카지노 추천s an opportunity to go back into the job market with a focus on diversity. 해외 카지노 추천Last year, we hired six faculty members, four of whom were from underrepresented groups,해외 카지노 추천 he said. Both he and Dean Varona said their schools have added diversity components to hiring procedures and job postings as a way to institutionalize this important issue. 해외 카지노 추천As deans, it해외 카지노 추천s important for us to talk about how important these values are,해외 카지노 추천 Dean Varona said.
How can law schools help translate their increasing diversity to the legal profession?
The deans agreed that the continuing lack of diversity in our profession is dismaying. Dean Boise suggested it해외 카지노 추천s a product of a deeply entrenched system that relies on proxies such as law school prestige or class rank to determine one해외 카지노 추천s ability to be a good lawyer. He added that firms, as a result of pressure from clients, 해외 카지노 추천have finally awakened to this and realized it해외 카지노 추천s going to cost them work해외 카지노 추천 if they don해외 카지노 추천t diversify and also provide a path to partner for young diverse lawyers. Dean Nelson added that firms need to employ thought leaders to carry the water and make diversity and inclusion a priority.
I want to thank Deans Boise, Nelson, and Varona for sharing their valuable time with Ken and me on this episode, and I encourage everyone who해외 카지노 추천s interested in this topic or looking to make a difference with a law career to watch the full discussion. As always, we해외 카지노 추천re honored to partner with these and other law schools to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to create a legal system in which the doors of justice are open to all.
