October 29, 2018
BBI Chairman Peter Blanck to Address Diversity Professionals from Major Law Firms on Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession from National ABA/BBI Project
Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) Chairman and University Professor Peter Blanck will address diversity professionals at major law firms. The event is hosted by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) on November 1, 2018 in Chicago at the Grant Thornton building alongside fellow speaker, former AICPA President, Paulette Brown who will speak on ABA Diversity and Inclusion. Blanck’s presentation will feature findings from the recent BBI/ABA Project followed by a Q&A session.
In 2017, the American Bar Association (ABA) launched a first-of-its kind nationwide longitudinal study, conducted by the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University. The study aims to identify biases encountered by disabled and LGBTQ+ legal professionals, and to help develop and implement strategies to ameliorate such biases. Presently, diversity and inclusion programs typically focus on gender and race. Often, the LGBTQ+ communities and/or those who have disabilities are not included in efforts to expand career and professional diversity, especially in the legal and associated professions. This talk presents preliminary findings from this study, based on responses from more than 4,000 lawyers across all fifty states in the United States, and from individuals working abroad for American legal entities. It includes lawyers at law firms of all sizes, judges, government and in-house lawyers, and lawyers in academics, and at specialty and nonprofit organizations. The initial findings suggest the need for continuing efforts to promote the full and equal participation of all diverse persons, including lawyers with disabilities and who identify as LGBTQ+. The implications of the study are considered as a guide for future examinations.
About Burton Blatt Institute (BBI)
BBI reaches around the globe in its efforts to advance the civic, economic, and social participation of people with disabilities, with offices in Syracuse, NY, New York City, Washington, D.C., Lexington, KY, and Atlanta, GA. BBI builds on the legacy of Burton Blatt, a pioneering disability rights scholar, to better the lives of people with disabilities. For more information about BBI, visit: https://bbi.syr.edu