Recognizing and Addressing "Bro Culture" and Other Barriers to Gender Inclusion in the Legal Industry

The issue of gender discrimination has received significant media attention over the course of the last several years vis-à-vis the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, which highlighted long-standing issues of sexual harassment and pay discrimination in many organizations. In order to mitigate sex harassment in the workplace, employers need to take steps toward creating a professional environment where men and women feel welcomed to the same degree. A significant barrier to this type of inclusivity has been so-called “bro culture.” This is defined in various ways, but it is fundamentally an accepted culture of bias manifested in behaviors and decisions that support the exclusion of women in the organization, both socially and professionally. The legal industry is not immune to these issues. This program will inform attorneys on how a "bro culture" can be recognized in their workplace, and give practical instruction on how to break down these types of barriers if they exist.