Brooks Pierce Attorneys Present CLE on Diversity & Inclusion in the Legal Profession
Brooks Pierce attorneys Natalie Sanders and Justin Outling will present a continuing legal education program (CLE) on diversity and inclusion for The Mediation Center. The presentation will be held Jan. 29 at 3 p.m.
The presentation, “Black Lives Matter. Diversity & Inclusion Matter. What Does It All Mean for the Legal Profession?” will examine the ethical and moral obligations of attorneys to address current events and promote diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. It will emphasize the inability of the profession to achieve diversity without focusing on inclusion and civil interactions. Connections will be drawn between a lawyer’s responsibilities (as outlined in the preamble to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct and ABA Model Rule 8.4) and the need for lawyers to acknowledge unconscious bias and actively work toward inclusiveness in the profession.
Sanders provides counsel and defense to businesses in all aspects of the employment relationship. Her 25 years of experience as an attorney, operations manager, entrepreneur, and community volunteer allow her to relate well to management and provide nuanced guidance in complex matters. Sanders has authored numerous articles in the area of labor and employment law and is a frequent speaker on relevant and timely topics related to this rapidly changing discipline. She has been quoted in a variety of publications, including The New York Times and Forbes.
Outling focuses his practice on business litigation and white-collar criminal defense. He helps businesses and professionals in a variety of industries, and has successfully brought and defended lawsuits in a wide range of matters. He also serves as the firm’s Director of Diversity & Inclusion. In addition to his work as an attorney, Outling is a member of Greensboro City Council and serves the Greensboro community in a number of roles, including as a Board member of Carolina State Bank, Preservation Greensboro, as well as the Co-Chair of the Board of Visitors for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
