Susan Bryant, “The Five Habits: Building Cross-Culture Competence in Lawyers”

This article demonstrates how developing the Five Habits increases cross-cultural competence and the methods clinical teachers can use to have more inclusive conversations while building cross-cultural skills. The Habits can be used to avoid cultural blinders and recover from cultural blunders.

The Five Habits are:

1. Degrees of Separation and Connection: a framework for students to analyze questions regarding how similar or different qualities between the lawyer and client may influence their interactions.
2. The Three Rings: The Three Rings requires the student to identify and analyze the possible effects of similarities and differences on the interactions between the client, the legal decision-maker, and the lawyer, thereby focusing the analysis on how culture may influence a case.
3. Parallel Universes: students are taught to explore alternative explanations for client behaviors.
4. Pitfalls, Red Flags and Remedies: students must consciously focus on the communication process, including culturally sensitive exchanges.
5. The Camel’s Back: students are to explore themselves and their culture in the face of bias and stereotypes.

Teachers can develop these habits and cross-cultural competence in students by developing motivation, raising awareness of the significance of culture, developing both specific and general knowledge, and developing cross-cultural skills.

Susan Bryant, “The Five Habits: Building Cross-Culture Competence in Lawyers” (2001) 8:1 Clinical L Rev 33.