Diversity & Inclusion and Access to Justice Committees to Lead Action Plan
The Evansville Bar Association (EBA) announces initiatives to increase awareness and education on racial equality, equity and justice. The EBA Board of Directors asked its Diversity and Inclusion and Access to Justice committees to create an action plan to address these issues within our community. These committees have recommended both immediate and long-term action steps. Upon consideration of the committee’s recommendations, the Evansville Bar Association is pleased to announce the immediate implementation of the following:
- The EBA will begin to circulate, to its members, links to articles or videos to increase awareness and education relating to racial inequality, inequity, and injustice.
- Over the next 12 months, the EBA will offer a variety of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs relating to racial justice issues. These CLEs may include topics related to legal observer training, dialogues with local law enforcement, implicit bias training, and ethical considerations for attorneys.
- The EBA will seek to join the local government and community taskforces relating to racial justice issues.
- The EBA will host public forums to foster a dialogue between the bar and the community on the issues of racial equality, equity, and justice.
- The EBA, through its Access to Justice Committee, will initiate a pro bono and/or reduced cost expungement project.
- The EBA, through its Diversity and Inclusion committee, will establish increased community outreach and internal programming, such as renewing the EBA’s relationship with the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO) and developing a diverse candidate scholarship fund for summer clerkships and/or judicial clerkships.
- The EBA will encourage implementation of the Mansfield Rule for all legal hiring decisions to increase diversity and inclusion among our bench and bar.
- The EBA will require each of its sections and committees to conduct an internal review to determine how the section or committee can better increase awareness and offer education on relevant issues relating to racial equality, equity, and justice.
- In conjunction with the Diversity and Inclusion and Access to Justice committees, the EBA will develop a strategic plan over the next six (6) months to review and strengthen the goals and initiatives outlined herein.