Overview
There is broad recognition in the legal industry of the benefits of diversity to the profession. Yet there is a lack of understanding about the unique value of diversity in specific practice areas and how to achieve it.  This briefing examines the positive effects of diverse teams within two legal arenas—internal investigations and trials.  Program participants will learn how diverse representation can provide significant benefits to legal teams conducting investigations and engaging in courtroom advocacy and trials.  Participants will also learn strategies and practical tips on how to develop diverse teams within their organizations and improve opportunities for diverse lawyers to gain investigations and courtroom experience.  In addition, diverse attorneys will learn practical tips to gain meaningful professional experiences and navigate challenges.

After completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the current state of diversity within the legal profession and the benefits of diverse legal teams – 10 minutes
• Recognize the specific advantages diverse teams bring to internal investigations and trials (such as improved collective decision-making, enhanced ability to elicit information from diverse interviewees, increased resonance with juries resulting in more effective courtroom advocacy) – 35 minutes
• Learn strategies to cultivate diverse teams to conduct internal investigations and trials, in order to better service clients and utilize talent – 15 minutes

Who Should Attend:  Law firm attorneys, in-house counsel, attorneys working in legal services organizations and DEI professionals interested in learning how to achieve greater diversity within internal investigations and trial teams

Program Level: Overview

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None