Equal Protection Project Launches Its Own DEI Continuing Legal Education Program

Equal Protection Project Launches Its Own DEI Continuing Legal Education Program

The requirement that lawyers take Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) continuing legal education in order to maintain Bar admission is increasing. Eleven states require it, and more are coming on line.

I previously wrote how I opposed such a requirement in Rhode Island, My Statement To RI Supreme Court Opposing Proposed Mandatory DEI Continuing Legal Education Requirement. You can read my full statement here. Short excerpt:

I submit these comments because adding mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programing to the MCLE requirement is not justified given the highly politicized nature of DEI and could create the appearance that the Court is imposing an ideological litmus test on the Bar on a subject that is ill-defined and hotly disputed.

End result? My objection was overruled, and starting with 2025, Rhode Island attorneys will be required to include one DEI CLE credit among the total of 10 credits needed annually.

So if you can’t beat them, join them. We pledged that since RI Now Requires Attorneys Take DEI Continuing Education, Equal Protection Project Will Create Our Own DEI Program:

Now that Rhode Island mandates an hour of DEI CLE, the Equal Protection Project plans on creating a CLE program on DEI to be offered to Rhode Island attorneys, in compliance with these broad definitions, which will present a viewpoint that may not be presented by traditional DEI programing.

The first stage of EPP’s DEI CLE programming will take place on September 17, 2024, in conjunction with The Federalist Society, which expressed to me interest in such programming independent of what happened in Rhode Island.

We were happy to oblige, as we already were preparing a program to be rolled out in Rhode Island and then taken national.

Here are the details from The Federalist Society event registration page:

DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives have become ubiquitous on campuses and in workplaces across the nation, particularly after the death of George Floyd in late May 2020 and the rapid rise of “anti-racism” initiatives. These efforts, frequently using racially exclusionary or derogatory terminology and eligibility, were considered by some legal experts to be of doubtful legality. But after the Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admission v. Harvard and UNC (SFFA), DEI practices have come under expanded legal challenge. This program will examine the legal viability of race-focused DEI practices in light of SFFA, reviewing practices, challenges, and case developments.

Featuring:

• Giovanni D. Cicione, Chair, Stephen Hopkins Center for Civil Rights
• Nicole Levitt, Staff Attorney, Women Against Abuse Inc.
• (Moderator) Prof. William A. Jacobson, Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, and Founder of the Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org)

There is a cost to register. I don’t know if the video eventually will be posted online.

We will use this program as the template for our national rollout. It’s important that alternative voices and perspectives be heard. We will obtain approvals for the program from state bar associations as needed.

EPP is not just about filing legal claims. We are increasingly expanding into content such as this CLE program.

Reminder: We are a small organization going up against powerful and wealthy government and private institutions devoted to DEI discrimination. Donations are greatly needed and appreciated.

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.