Diversity and Inclusion in Legal Practice – Part 1: An Introduction

In this course the participants can articulate the difference between diversity and inclusion and explain how they work together as a complementary set of principles. Participants can unpack the different components of a person’s identity, such as biological sex, gender, race, culture and neurological diversities, and identify the legal instruments that are available to protect these range of diverse identities in law. Participants can understand the steps that are involved in effective diversity and inclusion management practices in the workplace, as well as some of the common challenges that are likely to arise and strategies to prepare. Participants can identify some of the biggest obstacles to creating diverse and inclusive legal practices, as well as some initiatives that are currently underway to change this and understand the benefits of taking considerate action to build more diverse workplaces for legal professionals.

This course is taught by Kelly Stone, a lawyer from the United States with more than twelve years of international law experience. Kelly holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology and Philosophy, and has been working to strengthen the capacity of both public and private bodies in adhering to obligations under the law. Kelly is well-versed in legal analysis and research, and has provided technical expertise in developing legal norms and standards, assessing risk management and strategies, and has assisted government actors in developing policies and protocols relating to safety and security. Kelly is also a certified facilitator and has trained government officials, NGOs, and community leaders on a variety of topics, including law, policy, safety and development. In addition, Kelly has a demonstrative publication record, which includes peer-viewed journal articles, book chapters, and opinion pieces.