Looks and Bias
February 27, 2009
Two good posts about why looks matter to clients and lawyers and judges and jurors: One, and two. Unfortunately, looks matter in ways many of us aren't even aware of.
A good friend is a high-powered patent lawyer. She has decision making power, and a lot of discretion. She is also young, a racial minority, and is comely.
At a recent CLE, an ugly and condescending white prick behind her in line said, "Um, this is the line for lawyers getting CLE credit." I guess she didn't look the part. After all, minority women aren't lawyers! My friend is much nicer than I am. She politely corrected him, although I imagine he went to tell his other friends about the "uppity" minority woman he just encountered.
When I asked for the lawyer's name so that I could post it on my blog, thus alerting the entire world to the lawyer's racism (even if it's subconscious), she rebuffed me. Alas.