The Evolution of a Lawyer’s Professional Identity: How will updated ABA Standards Impact Your Workplace?

The American Bar Association recently revised its standards for the formation of a lawyer’s professional identity and added a new curriculum requirement focused on “bias, racism, and cross-cultural competency.”  Join us on November 30 to learn more about the specific standards and hear from a panel about their impact on practicing attorneys and what these changes tell us about the evolution of the legal profession and industry.

Neil Hamilton, Holloran Professor of Law  at St. Thomas School of Law, will provide an overview of the updated standards and highlight key changes. Following his presentation, our moderator Michael Skoglund (Cargill), and panelists Alison Plavin (Taft Law), Leanne Fuith (Mitchell Hamline), and Neil Hamilton (St. Thomas) will discuss:

• How are these standards being implemented in law schools?
• What can organizations hiring recent law school graduates expect?
• What should law firms and corporate legal departments do to prepare and align themselves with these ABA standards?
• How will the ABA standards impact diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially when it comes to attracting and retaining attorneys of color?
• Do they new standards put the legal industry on par or behind other professions?

In addition to the panel, UPLIFT, a mock trial program for middle school students, is holding a clothing drive to collect suits for students. To help UPLIFT students look and feel the part, we kindly ask for new or gently used suits, ties, and dress shirts. More information on the suit drive can be found here.