The Paralegal's Guide to Bias, Diversity, and Inclusion

Agenda / Content Covered

1. What Is Implicit Bias?
   1:00 - 1:20, Serena Sayani
   1. Explicit vs. Implicit Bias
   2. How Bias Manifests Itself: Red Flags to Look For
   3. The Interplay of Bias and Discrimination
   4. Diversity in Legal Practice: Key Stats to Know
   5. Applicable Rules
2. The Effects of Bias on the Legal and Paralegal Practice
   1:20 - 1:40, Serena Sayani
3. Tactics for Interrupting Bias and Promoting Inclusion in the Law Firm
   1:40 - 2:00, Serena Sayani
4. Anti-Harassment Policies and Training Programs: Legal Best Practices
   2:15 - 2:35, B. J. Fadem
   1. Anti-Harassment Policies and Law Firm Training: Why It Matters
   2. Unintended Consequences of Insufficient Diversity Training
   3. Anti-Harassment Policies: What They Must Contain
5. Building Cultural Competence: Key Steps to Take
   2:35 - 2:55, B. J. Fadem
6. Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the Remote Law Firm
   2:55 - 3:15, B. J. Fadem

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B. J. Fadem is a senior attorney and president of the Law Offices of B J Fadem & Associates, APC. Within the area of family law, Mr. Fadem has extensive experience in handling palimony, international jurisdiction matters, domestic partners/same sex marriage, and difficult custody cases. He is an international mediator as certified by University of California Hastings Law School. Mr. Fadem is an adjunct professor at Santa Clara Law School, California. He is a certified specialist in family law by the State Bar of California. Mr. Fadem is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association (Family Law Section), National Association of Counsel for Children, Santa Clara County Minors Counsel Committee, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, and the State Bar of California. He is also a member of the BAYMEC, board member and co-chair of the Policy Committee; chair, Santa Clara County Bar Association Family Law Section LGBTQI+ Committee; chair, Diversity Committee for the Santa Clara County Bar Association; and member of Executive Committee of Santa Clara County Bar Association. He was appointed by Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell to serve on the San Jose Independent Police Auditors Advisory Commission and continues to serve on the commission. Mr. Fadem earned his B.S. degree from San Jose State University and J.D. degree from the Golden Gate University School of Law.

Serena Sayani is of counsel with Stokes Lawrence, P.S., practicing in both real estate and related business transactions. She concentrates her commercial real estate practice on acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, and leasing. Ms. Sayani's practice includes structuring complex real estate transactions for all real estate product types, including office, retail, multi-family, industrial projects, and hotels located across the United States for real estate investment trusts, public and private pension plans, tax-exempt investors, developers, and other businesses. She has substantial expertise in the negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, office and retail leases, and joint venture documents, and she provides counsel to her clients in multi-million dollar development and construction transactions involving drafting and negotiating development, design, construction, and other related agreements. On the corporate side, she works with privately held, startup, and emerging growth companies on debt and equity financings, private placement offering materials, and commercial agreements. Ms. Sayani earned her B.A.C.S. degree from University of Western Ontario and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from New York Law School.