In a country where 1.1 million people have some kind of impairment, the chances are that you have clients, would-be clients, staff or other stakeholders who form part of the Deaf and disabled community. How does this impact their ability to access legal services, whether required or elective? How accessible and inclusive is your own practice? How are the courts responding to this challenge?

In this session, our expert panel will help you get to grips with the sorts of disability-related issues that might be encountered in practice, how members of the legal industry can support disabled clients, what’s being done in courts to provide supports and accommodations, and what’s ahead for improving access to justice for almost a quarter of our population. 

Who should attend?

All members of the legal industry ie lawyers, legal executives, managers (office, practice), administrators (receptionists, PAs etc), court staff, members of the disabled community interested in accessibility in the legal space.

Presenters

Her Honour Judge Inglis, Chief Employment Court Judge; 

Geraldine Lewis, General Manager, Auckland Disability Law Centre; 

Nick Johnston, Community Educator, Auckland Disability Law Centre; 

Tyrone Toia, Senior Solicitor, Russell McVeagh

Chair: Olivia Kelly, Senior Lecturer, Public Health & Interdisciplinary Studies, Auckland University of Technology

Learning Outcomes

• Improve your understanding of core disability matters, including what is disability, who are the disabled and why this is important for members of the legal industry.
• Gain a better appreciation of the reasons why a disabled person might be, or wish to be, interacting with the legal system.
• Delve into the sorts of disability-related issues that might be encountered in legal practice.
• Receive guidance on ways in which you can identify and remove barriers to participation, and support the disabled client. 
• Become better apprised of accessibility supports and accommodations available within the court system.
• Consider what changes you and others within the legal industry could make to improve accessibility, and in turn inclusion and access to justice, for members of the Deaf and disabled community.