THE GROUP FOR SOLICITORS
WITH DISABILITIES

Abridged January 2008


E-petition invitation

There is a petition on the no 10 site at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ratifyconvention/ to encourage the government to ratify the UN Convention on the rights of disabled persons.


Two articles from personnel today:

Attitudes to disability need to be changed
On the surface, employers are more open than ever to disabled workers. They've installed ramps for wheelchair users, and made their websites clearer for the visually impaired, for example. Yet under this veneer, is this really anything more than simply complying with the law? http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2007/12/03/43512/attitudes-to-disability-need-to-be-changed.html


Discrimination against disabled still rife, says report
Shut out: Our exclusive online survey shows that employers are happy to make practical changes to the way they work to open up access to the disabled, but prejudice is still rife. http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2007/12/03/43501/discrimination-against-disabled-still-rife-says-report.html


News from the European Union

An information society for all: the European Commission raises the goals
The European Disability Forum welcomes the new EC Communication “To be part of the Information Society”, recognising the importance of accessible Information and Communication Technologies for EU’s social cohesion and economic growth. More information available here

"ICT must bring real power, opportunity and choice for all consumers"
During the first high-level Ministerial debate on e-Inclusion held in Lisbon on 2-3 December, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding calls on the Member States to take rapid action. More information available here

RNID “typetalk” update

The RNID produces a very helpful quarterly online journal for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, which it may be useful to alert you to. To access and subscribe to the service, which is available in a variety of alternative formats including large print and Braille, please click here: http://www.typetalk.org/


Easier to use Digital TV products

http://www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk/#

Ricability, an independent national research charity, has been testing a range of TV products as part of the digital switchover. Their website has free, independent information explained in clear, simple language that cuts through the jargon.


GSD Web Forum

The GSD forum gives members the opportunity to discuss topics and ask/answer questions on disability and legal topics chosen by the membership. The forum site is moderated and registration approved by our dedicated administration staff between Monday and Thursday and is regulated for member’s safety and security. Using the GSD forum couldn’t be easier, simply fill in the user-friendly registration form available here http://www.gsdforum.org.uk/ to enjoy the benefits of online networking.

Young lawyers debate: is human rights law relevant in combating poverty and social injustice?

Law students, trainee solicitors and young lawyers from England and Wales are invited to enter the 2008 Graham Turnbull essay competition.

The competition, which is run by the International Human Rights Committee of the Law Society, is named after Graham Turnbull, a British solicitor who was killed eight years ago while working as a United Nations human rights monitor in Rwanda.

The title of the essay was chosen to reflect the trend, amongst human rights organisations, of expanding their remit to include economic, social, and cultural rights.

Essays by law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and newly qualified solicitors from England and Wales will debate the question: 'is human rights law relevant in combating poverty and social injustice.'

The closing date for entries has been extended to Friday 8 February 2008. The competition is open to law students, trainee solicitors, pupil barristers and all solicitors and barristers, within three years of admission/call at the closing date, in or from England and Wales.

The winner will receive £500 from the Graham Turnbull Memorial Fund, with the runner-up receiving book tokens to the value of £250, kindly donated by LexisNexis Butterworths. Both winning essays will be published in the Law Society Gazette. The prize giving event will take place on 24 April 2008 at the Law Society.

Entries should be a maximum of 2,000 words including footnotes and the winning essay will be chosen by a panel of distinguished judges.

Entries should be sent to: Courtenay Barklem, Human Rights Adviser, The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane , London WC2A 1PL or e-mail it to: internationalhumanrights@lawsociety.org.uk.

JLD Launch Party

The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) of the Law Society has launched! The JLD takes over representation of junior lawyers in England and Wales from the TSG and YSG on 10 January 2008. To celebrate, the JLD is running a series of launch events across the country in January and February. Come along to the event near you to meet the JLD executive, and to mix and mingle with junior lawyers in your area.

The JLD is an exciting new body which represents enrolled law students, trainees, NQs and qualified solicitors, with up to 5 yrs PQE.

The JLD website will be launched on Friday 11 January, so go to www.lawsociety.org.uk/juniorlawyers for more information from that date.

The launch events are held in association with our sponsor, Taylor Root.

For advice, surveys and legal roles nationally and internationally: www.taylorroot.com

The events are FREE and if you bring along a printed copy of this invitation, you will get a free drink (or two). So what are you waiting for? Come along from 18:30. To RSVP, please e-mail juniorlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk giving your name, contact number, and the event you wish to attend.

Dates and venues

Bristol
Friday 18 January 2008: Bordeaux Quay, Canons Way, Bristol, BS1 5UH. Venue info

Birmingham
Friday 25 January 2008: Bacchus, Burlington Arcade, New Street, Birmingham B2 4JH. Map

Cardiff
Friday 1 February 2008: Terra Nova, Mermaid Quay Stuart Street, Cardiff, CF10 5BZ. Venue info

Manchester
Thursday 7 February 2008: Bacchanalia, 15-17 Chapel Walks, Manchester M2 1HN. Map

Leeds
Thursday 21 February 2008: Townhouse, Assembly Street, Leeds, LS2 7DE. Venue info

Cambridge
Friday 22 February 2008: Revolution, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DS. Map

London
Thursday 28 February 2008: Pagliacci, 77a Kingsway, London WC2B 6SR. Map


And finally…

Judge suspended for jailing court

A US judge is removed from his post for jailing everyone in court after no-one admitted to owning a ringing phone. For more information, please click here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7116426.stm