Please join the Massachusetts Bar Association's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and Judicial Administration Section Council for a webinar that will help legal practitioners better interact with and advocate for those who identify as non-binary or transgender.
Defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, civil litigators and court staff will gain key skills that are necessary when working with people who are transgender or non-binary. Whether you are representing a client, putting a witness on the stand, conducting a jury voir dire, or just speaking to someone during a court proceeding, negotiation or other court event, it is important to be familiar with basic terminology and concepts related to sexual orientation and gender identity.
The discussion will be moderated by Shayla Mombeleur, Esq. and led by Connor Barusch, Esq. Barusch (he/they) is a transgender public defender and public defender trainer in Massachusetts, where he has a decade of experience representing clients as a public defender and frequently consults with other public defenders in Massachusetts and throughout the country about working with trans and non-binary clients and witnesses. Barusch has also worked as a trans activist and trainer since 2003.
The program will familiarize attorneys with:
- Basic terminology and concepts relating to sexual orientation and gender identity
- How to ask people what name and pronouns they would like to use in various situations
- Common barriers faced by trans and non-binary people in the court system
- Some actions that can be taken with all clients or litigants in order to signal support of transgender/non-binary people with whom they may not know they are interacting
Representing and Respecting Transgender and Non-binary Clients
and People in the Courts
Thursday, April 15, 4-6 p.m.
MBA Zoom Webinar
Click here to register.
This program is FREE for MBA members.
This session will be hosted using Zoom. Registration is required by 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, to participate in this program. After you register with the MBA, please look for an email from MassBar Education with the Webinar ID and Password. The email will be sent before the program on April 15.