P2P

17 I L T A N E T . O R G efforts strive to improve or increase a sense of belonging among traditionally marginalized individuals within a larger group, collective, or community. More importantly, we must remember that historically marginalized voices typically do not form the majority within a collective of survey participants. Underrepresentation of marginalized voices in survey results can produce skewed conclusions and can, ultimately, misinform DEI strategies. Encouraging participation in DEI-related surveys and data collection efforts among community members with diverse backgrounds is crucial. By gathering a more comprehensive and diverse set of responses, we can improve the accuracy and relevance of the insights derived from the data. In the case of the ILTA DEI Climate Survey, increasing participation from a broader range of individuals within the legal technology community would allow us to better understand the current DEI landscape, identify improvement areas, and design targeted approaches for 2025. CONCLUSION The effectiveness of any DEI effort is limited by the quality of the data driving its implementation. AI can play a decisive role in managing DEI initiatives but cannot deliver value without accurate and comprehensive data. This information is essential to understanding the experiences and needs of diverse populations, and DEI initiatives are vulnerable to failure if designed without meaningful data as the foundation. Even if AI is used, deficient data will lead to poor insights, and resulting DEI initiatives may reinforce existing disparities rather than help to address them. Furthermore, organizations miss opportunities to celebrate their progress without measuring the outcomes. Therefore, by gathering comprehensive, representative data, we can ensure that accurate insights inform our DEI efforts and that we are making positive and meaningful steps toward creating more inclusive and equitable environments. ILTA MARI SUN is a legal fellow at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She is a member of the ILTA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Mari can be reached at mari.sun@wipo.int. ANNA CORBETT is a Practice Solutions Analyst at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. She can be reached at acorbett@akingump.com

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