The Changing Face of Law: The Ethical Implications of Implicit Bias in the Legal Profession

Lea S. Gutierrez is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where she leads the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives designed to optimize organizational culture and align the organization’s DEI goals with organizational outcomes.

Prior to joining the State’s Attorney’s office, Ms. Gutierrez was Litigation Group Manager and Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (ARDC), where she investigated and prosecuted allegations of lawyer misconduct.

In addition to her role as a litigator, Ms. Gutierrez led the ARDC’s efforts to recruit diverse attorneys, promote a culture of inclusion, and create methods for increased public accessibility to the ARDC. She received her undergraduate degree from Hampton University in Virginia, her law degree from Temple University School of Law in Pennsylvania and her Masters of Forensic Sciences from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. She also received her certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University in Washington D.C and her Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard Extension School.

For three years, she served as Co-Chair of the YLS Professional Responsibility Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and she is currently the special advisor to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professional Discipline. She has been a presenter at various bar association and law firm events on topics related to professional responsibility, lawyer regulation, and diversity and inclusion. She also serves as liaison to the ISBA’s Special Committee on Racial Inequality, serves on the Chicago Bar Association’s YLS Racial Justice Coalition, and serves on the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She has been a presenter at various bar association and law firm events on topics related to professional responsibility, lawyer regulation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Gabrielle Lyse Brown is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, where she advises on diversity and inclusion strategy across the Investment Management, Finance, Technology, Operations, Risk Management, and Legal/Compliance divisions.

Previously, Gabrielle served as the Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the New York City Bar, where she led the Association’s efforts to enhance diversity in the legal profession across a broad range of internal and external constituents, including law firms, corporate legal departments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. In this capacity, Gabrielle spearheaded the Association’s qualitative and quantitative research and developed individualized strategies to increase the retention and advancement of women and minority attorneys. Additionally, she founded the City Bar’s Pipeline Initiative.

She is a frequent speaker and trains organizations on data-driven initiatives, implicit bias, professional readiness, mentoring, networking, and developing diversity and inclusion “better practices.” She has spoken at the Practicing Law Institute (PLI), Bloomberg Big Law Diversity Summit, and ALM Legal Week and her work has been featured in publications including the New York Times, New York Law Journal, Bloomberg, Crain’s New York Business and Thomson Reuters. She is a recipient of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association George B. Vashon Innovator Award.

Gabrielle is the co-chair of the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) Fellows Board and was a 2014 Fellow. She is a member of the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP) Advisory Board, The National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the Oberlin College Alumni Council and Practicing Attorneys for Law Students, Inc. (PALS). Additionally, she serves as a special advisor to the Pipeline to Practice Foundation and as a consultant to the New York Financial Services Diversity Group.

Currently serving as Jenner & Block's Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Courtney is also an active member of the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals (ALFDP), and the Washington Area Legal Recruitment Administrators Association (WALRAA).

Courtney is a diversity and inclusion professional with a variety of corporate, government and non-profit experience. Courtney practiced corporate law for two years before moving to the other side of the table. Courtney brings with her varied experience within top ranked organizations that help her lead on matters of diversity and inclusion.