Civility Skills: Understanding the impact of bias on civility in the law

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May 2–3, 2016

Spokane, WA

Presenter: Tim Jaasko-Fisher, Senior Director of Curriculum and Program Development for Robert’s Fund

The Children’s Justice Conference is a large, multi-disciplinary conference for professionals involved in the child welfare legal system across Washington State. This 1.5-hour break out session consisted of a group of approximately 40 judges, lawyers, social workers, and other child welfare law professionals. 

Comments from session participants included:

“Fantastic session that allowed me to step back and think about what is important in the legal profession.”

“Would like to see more people take this training!”

“Funny, quick pace, quick wit – no time to be bored.” 

“Even though I am in education, 99% of this session will be used by me in the classroom and with my colleagues. Thank you! Excellent presentation skills with a variety of methods.”

“Exceptionally well done!! Change my view of attorneys and gave me some good tips in moving forward with empathy and facing bias. Thank you, you're a great presenter.”

“Best session of the conference.”

Fostering Civility in the Child Welfare Legal System

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May 2014

Children’s Justice Conference
Spokane, Washington

Robert’s Fund Assistant Director of Programming and Curriculum, Tim Jaasko-Fisher, presented a 90-minute workshop designed to engage a multi-disciplinary group of professionals in an exploration of civility in the child welfare legal system. Participants examined the relationship of civility to various standards of professional conduct. Through facilitated discussions, participants considered how, at times, core principles of legal ethics sometimes seem incompatible with social-work ethics and how focusing attention on civility may help begin to resolve such issues. In addition, participants were also encouraged to consider the costs of incivility and the benefits of civility with a focus on how civility helps judges, lawyers, and other professionals not only to avoid misconduct, but also to better serve the interests of justice.