We have have been exploring professional identity formation through the framework provided by the ABA. Law schools are required to provide substantial opportunities to students for the development of professional identity. (ABA Standard 303(b)(3)). Interpretation 303-5 provides further clarification and notes professional identity formation involves an intentional exploration of the values, responsibilities, and competencies considered foundational. Interpretation 303-6 adds this should include cross-cultural competency and the obligation of lawyers to promote a justice system that provides equal access and eliminates bias, discrimination, and racism in the law.
The ABA also provides guidance on the frequency and timing of this instruction in Standard 303(c) that explains a law school must provide education on cross-cultural competency, bias, and racism at the start of the program and at least once again before graduation. This Standard adds another timing component that is tied to field placements, and notes "the second educational occasion will take place before, concurrently with, or as part of their enrollment in clinical or field placement courses."
Therefore, we suggest students accessing this module at the start of their legal education program, and using the second module (at a minimum) before participating in a field placement (externship, clinic, etc.).
The University of Buffalo School of Law has cultivated a fantastic repository of resources related to ABA Standard 303(c). One of the resources is a collection of multimedia tools provided by the University of Tennessee College of Law utilized in their Clinic Orientation. (Click here.)
Module Exercise.
Review the resource linked above, select two of linked media items, and then reflect on how you can work across cultural divides to provide outstanding client service and advance equal to justice that transcends bias.
[The Danger of a Single Story, a Ted Talk by novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who "tells the story about how she found her authentic voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding."] - First resource listed.