Lawyers with Bias
An interview with Paulette Brown
A Look at Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession
We all hold implicit biases which create blind spots that subconsciously affect our understanding and decision-making. Implicit bias has insidious consequences that continue to contribute to low diversity and inclusion rates in law. Paulette Brown, the first woman of color to be president of the American Bar Association, offers concrete examples of biases at play in the legal profession, and what lawyers, firms, and companies can do to mitigate its harmful effects.
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About Paulette Brown
“We are naturally inclined to move towards people who we think are like us..... We need to start moving towards things that are not necessarily comfortable for us.”
Paulette Brown is a senior partner and the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Locke Lord LLP. She is a member of the labor and employment practice group. She is a past president of the American Bar Association (ABA). Previously, she served as in-house counsel to several Fortune 500 companies and served as a Municipal Court Judge. In conjunction with her legal practice, Brown provides diversity and inclusion/implicit bias training courses for companies. Brown has consistently been recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of the most prominent women and minority lawyers in the state. The National Law Journal has named her as one of “The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America.” US News has repeatedly named her one of the “Best Lawyers in America” for Commercial Litigation. Brown has also received DRI’s “Pioneer Diversity Award” and the New Jersey State Bar Association’s “Excellence in Diversity Award.”
