LGBTQ 101 for the Legal Profession

In this course, Joni Watke will educate and raise awareness of sex, gender, and allyship issues across the country, and how these issues arise within the legal profession. The presentation will help attorneys become more culturally competent with colleagues in the legal profession, and when serving clients who identify as LGBTQ+. 

The program will discuss the multitude of identities of the LGBTQ community, the implicit (unconscious) biases we all bring to any experience, how to recognize and address these biases and implement practical changes/improvements in the care they provide to better serve the LGBTQ community. Attorneys will learn how to make practical changes/improvements to their office and client policies and in their language to more competently serve the LGBTQ community.

This program will benefit any attorneys with a limited understanding of LGBTQ issues who are seeking to become better allies and advocates.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify components of the Biology, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sexual Orientation Graphs

2. Assess common legal challenges for LGBTQ individuals, such as what is required to change gender markers on identity documents, issues when forming families under current laws, workplace discrimination and more

3. Discuss conscious and unconscious bias as it relates to stereotypes around Gender Identity, Gender Expression, and Sexual Orientation 

4. Integrate practical changes to attorney/law office language to better serve the LGBTQ community due to increased competence

5. Mirror client's language related to their self-identity

6. Make changes to intake phone calls and intake forms to better serve LGBTQ+ individuals

7. Implement practical changes to office policy to support LGBTQ employees and staff

8. Review available resources to increase cultural competence about the LGBTQ+ community