Cultural competency refers to the ability to understand, communicate, and interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.¹ For attorneys, this means recognizing and respecting clients' values, traditions, and perspectives while tailoring their approach to meet specific needs.

This skill requires more than just awareness; it requires understanding different perspectives, reflecting on biases, expanding cultural knowledge, and building cross-cultural competencies.

For instance, an attorney representing an immigrant family in a child custody case may need to understand the cultural importance of extended family involvement in child-rearing to advocate effectively.

Importance of Cultural Competency

In today’s increasingly diverse society, cultural competency has become essential for attorneys.

According to the 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, there is a 61% chance “that two people chosen at random will be from different racial and ethnic groups.” This reality highlights the importance for both current and future attorneys to develop cultural competence as a key skill.

How Cultural Competency is Critical for Your Practice​

• Cultural Competency helps you build effective client representation. Clients come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, and their values, beliefs, and experiences can significantly shape how they perceive legal issues. An attorney who demonstrates cultural sensitivity can build trust and rapport with clients, making it easier to gather accurate information and provide tailored legal advice.² For example, understanding how different cultures approach conflict resolution can inform the negotiation strategies an attorney employs.

• Cultural Competency helps you avoid miscommunication. Cultural misunderstandings can lead to miscommunication, potentially harming the attorney-client relationship and affecting the outcome of a case.³ For example, an attorney might misinterpret a client’s reluctance to make direct eye contact as a sign of dishonesty, when in fact it could be a cultural norm reflecting respect or deference. Such misunderstandings could lead to breakdowns in trust or misaligned legal strategies. Therefore, attorneys must be able to recognize and address language barriers, nonverbal communication styles, and culturally specific behaviors. This awareness is critical to ensure that clients fully understand legal proceedings and that the attorney’s advice is effectively communicated.

• Cultural Competency enhances your ability to advocate for your client. ​Cultural competency improves an attorney's ability to advocate for clients effectively in courtrooms, negotiations, and mediations.⁴ Understanding a client’s cultural background can inform how evidence is presented, making them more likely to resonate with judges, juries, or opposing counsel.

• Cultural Competency promotes​ diversity, equity, and inclusion​. Attorneys who dedicate their time to learning cultural competency actively contribute to creating a more equitable and inclusive legal profession. That is because cultural competency is the “bridge connecting diversity and inclusion.”⁵

Benefits for Businesses with a Culturally Competent Workplace

Cultural competency is not only advantageous for attorneys but is also an essential asset for the organizations in which attorneys work. Employers that cultivate a culturally competent workforce enjoy several significant benefits, including:

• broader market reach;

• increased innovation and creativity;

• enhanced reputation and improved recruitment efforts;

• better team collaboration; and

• stronger client relationships through effective understanding and communication.

How to Develop Cultural Competency as a Skill

Cultural competency is not an inherent trait. It is a skill that requires ongoing effort and commitment to develop.

Here are some practical steps attorneys can take to develop this skill:

Engage in self-reflection. Understanding one’s own cultural background and biases is a foundational step in developing cultural competency. Self-reflection enables attorneys to identify potential blind spots and preconceived notions that may affect their interactions with clients and colleagues.⁶ Consider:

• reflecting on your upbringing and the cultural norms you were exposed to;

• identifying your own implicit biases and working to address them; and

• seeking feedback from peers or mentors to gain perspective on your cultural sensitivity.

Educate yourself. Understanding different cultures, traditions, and social norms is essential for attorneys. Ways to expand your cultural knowledge include:

• reading books, articles, or case studies that focus on diverse cultures;

• using resources like the National Center for Cultural Competence self-assessments and tools;

• attending workshops or training programs focused on cultural competency. For example, one of Marquette Law School’s graduation requirement is the course, Enhancing Cultural Awareness for the Next Generation of Lawyers;

• staying informed about global and local issues that affect specific communities;

• joining professional organizations that prioritize diversity, such as the Hispanic National Bar Association or the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; and

• participating​ in your law firm’s Employment Resource Groups.

Practice active listening. Active listening means fully focusing on what the other person is saying and asking thoughtful questions to understand their perspective.⁷ This skill is particularly important when working with clients from different cultural backgrounds, as it demonstrates respect and fosters trust.

Build relationships across cultures. Developing cultural competency requires direct engagement with individuals from diverse backgrounds.⁸ Seek opportunities to:

• collaborate with colleagues who have different cultural perspectives;

• volunteer with organizations that serve multicultural communities; and

• participate in networking events or cultural celebrations to expand your understanding.

Adapt communication styles. Effective communication often requires adjusting your approach to align with your client’s cultural norms.⁹ For stronger communications, it is suggested that you:

• use clear, jargon-free language, especially if English is not the client’s first language;

• pay attention to nonverbal cues, such as eye contact and body language, which may carry different meanings in various cultures;

• be patient and open-minded when navigating cultural differences; and

• use translators or ​translation services when necessary.

Advocate for systemic change. Attorneys can use their positions to address systemic inequities in the legal system by:

• supporting policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion;

• mentoring underrepresented law students or young attorneys; and

• encouraging their firms or organizations to prioritize cultural competency training.

Conclusion

Cultural competency is no longer optional for attorneys – it is a fundamental skill for effective representation, reducing miscommunication, and promoting justice for all. As the legal profession continues to evolve, cultural competency will become increasingly important for bridging gaps, addressing biases, and fostering trust in attorney-client relationships.

By engaging in self-reflection, education, active listening, andadvocacy, attorneys can develop this critical skill and use it to create a more equitable and inclusive legal system. In doing so, they not only enhance their practice but also contribute meaningfully to the diverse communities they serve.

This article was originally published on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Business Law Blog. Visit the State Bar sections or the Business Law Section webpages to learn more about the benefits of section membership.

Endnotes

¹ ​See Leah Brown, “Integrating Cultural Competency Learning Into Your DEI Training Strategy: A Crucial Step Toward True Inclusivity,” Training Industry, April 24, 2023.

2 “Cultural Competency in Law,” eLearning for Legal Professionals, 2025.

3 ​Id.

4 Aastha Mandaan, “Cultural Competency and the Practice of Law in the 21st Century,” Probate and Property Magazine, March/April 2016.

5 Brown, “Integrating Cultural Competency Learning.”

6 “The Benefits of Cultural Competence Every Employer Should Understand,” EasyLlama.com.

7 “Cultural Competency in Law.”

8 Laura Bagby, “How Cultural Competency Can Open New Markets for Attorneys,” Attorneyatwork.com.

9 Wendy Muchman, “The Effective Lawyer: Communication, Cultural Competence, and Civility,” American Bar Association: The Public Lawyer, Winter 2023.