Ivy-Rose Kramer and Kelsey Gasseling are the co-chairs of the Diversity and Inclusion section. Please email Ivy-Rose at Ivy-rose.kramer@nullco.thurston.wa.us or Kelsey at kelsey.gasseling@nullco.thurston.wa.us if you would like to join the Diversity and Inclusion section or have any questions. You must be a TCBA member to join this section.
Mission Statement:
The Diversity & Inclusion Section serves Thurston County by striving to increase the diversity of the local bench and bar to reflect the growing diversity of Thurston County; educating the legal profession and greater community about the cultural richness and diversity of the clients they serve; and working to dismantle barriers to justice.
What is Diversity; What Does Inclusion Mean?
‘Diversity and Inclusion’ means valuing the unique worth our backgrounds contribute to strengthening our legal community, increasing access to justice, and promoting laws and creative solutions that better serve clients and communities. Diversity includes: age; culture; disability; ethnicity; gender and gender identity or expression; geographic location; national origin; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; veteran status; and socio-economic status.
Why are Diversity and Inclusion Important?
A diverse and inclusive bench and bar are necessary to attract and retain talented employees and leaders;[1] effectively serve diverse clients with diverse needs; understand and adapt to increasingly diverse local and global markets;[2]devise creative solutions to complex problems;[3] and improve access to justice,[4] respect for the rule of law, and credibility of the legal profession.
More Diversity and Inclusion resources are available at:
- Minority Bar Associations in Washington State: https://www.wsba.org/connect-serve/other-bars/minority-bar-associations
- WSBA: https://www.wsba.org/about-wsba/equity-and-inclusion/achieving-inclusion
- Access to Justice Board: http://allianceforequaljustice.org/access-to-justice-board/who-we-are/
- ABA: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/resources/
- Oregon State Bar: https://www.osbar.org/diversity/programs.html
- City of Olympia: http://olympiawa.gov/community/diversity-equity.aspx
- What allies can do to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace: https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/careers/what-allies-can-do-to-support-diversity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace/
[1] https://www.mcca.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Book-2Blue.pdf .
[2] http://www.theiilp.com/Resources/Documents/BusCaseDivReport_11_Final.pdf ;
https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/litigation/materials/2014/2014_sac/2014_sac/diversity_makes_cents.pdf.
[3] See https://www.lawpracticetoday.org/article/from-the-chair-july-2016/
(“Different kinds of people will come up with different kinds of ideas, and the more variety, the better”).
[4] https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/46/5/Bias/46-5_Bassett.pdf .