S P E C I A L
F E A T U R E
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D I V E R S I T Y
C O M M I T T E E
Judge Claudia Rickert Isom and Dean Laura Rosenbury
#metoo – How a Hashtag Can impact your Law Firm
we need to move beyond a focus on diversity training or better mentoring in order to
focus on structural changes that might check implicit bias.
At a panel discussion held last fall in conjunction with
origin, sex, gender (including identity and expression),
The Florida Bar’s Path to Inclusion Symposium, University
sexual orientation, age, or disability. We also require a
of Florida Levin College of Law Dean Laura Rosenbury
similar assurance before a student may be assigned to an
related how a group of female and male law students met
externship field placement for credit.
with her to discuss concerns about sexual misconduct and
Recent events reveal that such assurances may not
gender discrimination during their summer jobs. Dean
be enough, however. I would like us to be more explicit
Rosenbury agreed to share
that we expect employers and
her views and guidance about
externship supervisors not
this concern:
to subject our students to
Isom: Dean Rosenbury, do
unwanted sexual advances
law firms and courts that host
and other forms of sexual
summer law clerks sign any
harassment. We will be
kind of agreement as to these
implementing that change
clerkships or externships?
over the summer so that it
Rosenbury: Employers
is in place for the next
using the services of our
academic year.
Center for Career Develop -
Isom: Is there any kind
ment must agree in writing
of code of conduct or
to provide our students and
guidelines that apply to the
graduates with equal oppor -
appropriate standards of
tunity to obtain employ ment
conduct between an attorney
without discrimination or
and a law student who is
segregation on the basis of
University of Florida College of Law Dean Laura Rosenbury
at the Florida Bar Path to Inclusion Symposium.
race, color, religion, national
Continued on page 15
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SUMMER 2018
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HCBA LAWYER