"[Tom Newkirk] well understands the difficulties (and they are very real) of remediating problems due to implicit and systemic bias. His aspirations are to achieve things that are best not only for his immediate audience but, even more, for the larger community served by his audience." - Dr. Tony G. Greenwald, Professor of Social Psychology.
Employment, Discrimination, and Civil Rights lawyer Thomas Newkirk focuses exclusively on the areas of plaintiff-oriented civil rights and employment law. Tom also has a specific focus on discrimination in college athletics, representing student athletes, female coaches, and administrators across the country.
Tom is a leading expert in identifying, educating, and designing remedies for the effects of implicit or subconscious bias. Implicit bias is a leading cause of harm in employment, criminal justice, and in college athletics. To reduce that harm, it is necessary to increase the understanding of implicit bias as well as other cognitive processes that often prevent us—as individuals, employers, governments, and universities—from taking the necessary steps to reduce that harm.
To increase this understanding, Tom provides training (often for free or at reduced rates) on implicit bias to private businesses, public agencies, and institutions. Tom has worked with the Iowa State Bar Association, the National Employment Lawyers Association, Des Moines University, the NAACP, the NCAA, the American Association of University Women, among others.
Tom holds degrees from Drake University and Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. Tom is currently a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and Iowa NELA.
Tom currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where he and his wife continue to teach their adult children to be enlightened and respectful in all walks of life.
