Implicit Bias: The Bias You Didn't Know You Have... But You Do

As lawyers, we pride ourselves on objectivity. We find it hard to accept that our unconscious biases could possibly contribute to our decision-making, let alone the attrition rates of minority and female lawyers in the work place and that bias plays any role in our interactions with diverse attorneys. We are certainly too enlightened for that. But research has shown that everyone has biases; it is just a part of who we are.  

The good news is that while our initial hard-wired responses are quick and more likely to be error-prone, research and experience also has shown that we we can activate a secondary, detailed processing system that can help us correct mistakes. We can teach ourselves to recognize our unconscious biases and, in essence, override them.   

This course, presented by Alita Wingfield of Morgan Stanley and Debra Rosen and Stella Tsai of Archer & Greiner, PC, will review the latest research and science about implicit bias, the effect of implicit bias in the legal profession and the judiciary, and practical measures for self-assessment and mitigation of implicit bias in the workplace. 

Learning Objectives:

I.     Understand the scientific foundations for implicit biases

II.    Recognize the effect in the work place if those biases remain unchecked

III.   Survey the historical impact of implicit bias in judicial decisions

IV.   Identify best practices for mitigating bias

V.    Incorporate best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in the legal profession