Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility: Cultural Competence for Legal Professionals
Program Length
1/2 Day
Program Dates
Online (Live)
Learn with peers in real-time online environment.
Online (Replay)
A scheduled replay of a past program, with the ability to submit questions.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility: Cultural Competence for Legal Professionals
Program Chair
Juliet Chang Knapton
Advocate-in-Residence, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Become more culturally competent so you can provide more equitable and effective legal representation.
Fulfill your LSO CPD professionalism EDI hours and build your competence with confidence.
The legal culture is changing, and the ability to interact respectfully and effectively with all clients and colleagues is more important than ever. Your clients, the regulators and the public are demanding more individual and corporate responsibility from legal professionals when it comes to equality, diversity and inclusion, and this program will equip you with the necessary cultural competency skills to enhance self-knowledge, improve your interpersonal skills and strengthen your ability to perform your legal and professional obligations.
Through a series of presentations and exercises, you will learn the skills you need for greater cultural competence. You will also be equipped to immediately put cultural competence skills into practice with learn-by-doing exercises focused on difficulties which may be encountered in various legal settings, and how to handle them. The program concludes with a riveting roundtable discussion where you will hear firsthand accounts of the cultural competence challenges faced by legal professionals and solutions for conquering them.
Can’t Make the Date? Registration includes 120-day unlimited, online access to the recorded program.
What You’ll Learn
What is cultural competence and why is it relevant to your legal and professional obligations?
Addressing key challenges for legal professionals on the road to equality, diversity and inclusion
Understanding the risks of implicit associations and implicit bias
Taking culture into account to provide effective legal representation
How to have culturally competent interactions with clients, colleagues, students and others in the legal system
Recognizing micro-aggressions, and the assumptions and harmful messages that underlay them
Strategies for effective intercultural communication
Identifying realistic and appropriate cultural-competence goals for yourself and your firm or organization
Who Should Attend
All lawyers and paralegals (in Ontario and across Canada)
Any other legal professionals, including law clerks, law students (in Ontario and across Canada)
Faculty
Program Chair
Juliet Chang Knapton
Advocate-in-Residence, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa
Gary Feldman
Partner, Chaitons LLP
“Well organized and moved smoothly from beginning to end. I enjoyed the format and audience inclusion by way of breakout rooms and “tests".”
Newly licensed regulated professionals within the past 2 years receive 50% off the regular program fee.
Time
Jan 29, 2026 12:00 p.m – 4:15 p.m (ET)
Substitution of registrants is permitted at any time prior to the start date of the program. If you are unable to find a substitute, a full refund is available if a cancellation request is received in writing 14 days prior to the start of the program. If a cancellation request is made with less than 14 days notice, an administrative fee equal to 20% of the program cost, to a maximum of $250 will apply per person. Payment is required to receive access to the program.
We will make every effort to present the program as advertised, but it may be necessary to change the date, location, speakers or content with little or no notice. In the event of program cancellation, York University’s and Osgoode Hall Law School’s liability is limited to reimbursement of paid fees.
As law evolves, we know how important it is to stay up to date. We also understand the financial implications of continuously upgrading your professional skills and knowledge. For more information on available options, including Job Grants, OSAP, please visit:
“Gave me some tools/analogies for working on becoming more open and understanding of other cultures, experiences, values.”
CPD and Accreditation
Please Note
The hours below are for the 2024 iteration of the program and should be used as an estimate only. Confirmed hours will be available soon.
OsgoodePD is an accredited provider with the LSO, the Law Society of BC and NY CLE Board. Select your location to view the eligible hours you may claim.
All online; combination of live and asynchronous learning.
5 Modules
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Unfortunately, no. Effective for all 2019 filings and subsequent years moving forward, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has replaced T2202A’s with the T2202. Under the new CRA definition and criteria, our CLE short courses and certificate programs do not meet the definition of ‘qualifying educational program’. For this reason, we are unable to issue you a T2202. For more information, please visit the CRA site.
Once a program reaches capacity, a waitlist will be created. This does not guarantee your registration in the program; however, it places you on a priority contact list. If any spots become available, you may be notified by email or phone to confirm if you would like to proceed with the registration. Once contacted, you will typically be given 24 hours to confirm your interest. If you do not confirm interest within the provided timeframe, you will be removed from the waitlist and the next person will be contacted.
Many of our programs include 120-day unlimited, online access to view the recorded program. See the program page or brochure to find out if the program you’re interested in includes this access. If you need more time to view the content, or have questions about the access, please email: OPDSupport@osgoode.yorku.ca.
If the program includes access to the recording, you will have unlimited online access to the recorded content for 120-days from the end date of the program.
Access is only for the registered delegate. In the event of misuse, access can be revoked.
CPD hours for each program can be found on the program web page and program brochure. For questions regarding CPD hours, please email cpd@osgoode.yorku.ca
A limited amount of financial assistance is available for OsgoodePD Programs unless specific bursary information appears on the program page/program brochure. Head to our Financial Assistance page for more information.
Please reach out to the OPD Technical Support here.
Yes. We do offer group rates on our programs. Please visit our group rate page for more information. Some exceptions apply, and rates are subject to change.
In Person: Attendance for the program will take place at Osgoode Professional Development (1 Dundas Street West, Suite 2602, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z3) unless otherwise specified. Program Materials will be printed and available for pick up upon arrival.
Live Webcast: Designed for busy schedules, attend an online, live webcast using state-of-the-art video-conferencing. Attendance is via live stream with an opportunity to submit questions to the speakers throughout the program. Registration includes downloadable Program Materials and 120-day access to the program archive.
Online Replay: Watch a pre-recorded webcast, which includes a live Q&A with an instructor. Registration includes 120-day access to the program archive.
Program on Demand: Watch a pre-recorded session online, from the comfort of your home or office. Get unlimited access with our online subscription. Registration includes downloadable Program Materials and 120-day access to the program archive.
Unless a program is sold out or otherwise noted, registration closes at 12:00PM (noon) ET the business day before the scheduled program date.
Registration for webinars closes at 10:00 AM ET the morning of the session, unless sold out.
Client and Technical Support
Have questions? Get advice in person, by email or over the phone.
