Mitigating Bias and Creating a Sense of Belonging
The concept of belongingness goes beyond diversity and inclusion. Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance; and belongingness is being able to dance like no one is watching. This presentation will address the following issues:
Speaker:
Sybil Taylor Aytch, ME.D., RP, is a first-generation American and a native of New York City. She is an educator and Registered Paralegal who has interviewed, mentored, and trained scores of paralegal students and entry-level paralegals. She writes and speaks frequently on issues related to the paralegal profession including ethics, technology, utilization, professionalism, and diversity and inclusion. Sybil has extensive experience in complex litigation, commercial bankruptcy law, antitrust law, and trial preparation, specializing in electronic document and discovery management, trial technology, and project administration
Sybil is the Senior Paralegal in the Commercial Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights group in the Phoenix, Arizona office of the national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP. Prior to moving to Phoenix, she was a Senior Specialist and Coordinator in the Corporate Restructuring group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in New York for 8 years.
Sybil is also an Adjunct Professor in the ABA-approved Paralegal Studies program at Phoenix College where she teaches Ethics and Professional Practice, Civil Interviewing and Investigation, Bankruptcy, and The Paralegal Profession. From 2004-2008, she served as a member of the ABA's Standing Commission on Paralegals Approval Commission where she led site visits to review applications for ABA-approval at multiple educational institutions. She was previously an Assistant Professor at Western International University where she taught Critical Thinking, Civil Procedure, and Comparative Law.
Sybil holds a double Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in French and English from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Educational Psychology from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. She was also educated in Paris, France and earned a Certificat en Littérature in French Literature from l'Université de Paris- La Sorbonne and a Certificat en Sciences Politiques in International Law from l'Institut d'Études Politiques.
Sybil is a member of the Oregon Paralegal Association and has a long history with NFPA. In 2002, she was the recipient of the Outstanding Local Leadership Award. From 2007-2010, she served as Ethics Board Chair. Since 2017, she has served as Chair of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committee and as Bar Association Coordinator. Sybil is also a founding member of the Paralegal Division of the Maricopa County Bar Association in Phoenix and served as its first President in 2002.
From 2020-2021, Sybil served as Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board for the International Practice Management Association. In 2021, she was appointed to serve for a 3 year term as a member of the Arizona Supreme Court's Commission on Diversity, Equality, and Justice in the Judiciary.
Sybil is also the co-author of two published textbooks: Ethics And Professional Responsibility For Paralegals (8th edition) and Concise Guide To Paralegal Ethics (5th edition).
Authorized for 1.0 General CLE Credit from OPA/NFPA
