Disability can affect any one of us, one in four people will be affected by mental ill-health in the course of their life and 83 per cent of people will acquire their disability whilst in employment.
Legal professionals can have a wide range of disabilities that affect them to varying degrees, including visual and other sensory impairments, impaired mobility and less immediately apparent disabilities, such as epilepsy, dyslexia and mental health issues.
Disability status is under reported across law firms – only 3% percent of lawyers and partners declared they had a disability in 2019, compared to 13% of the workforce in the UK.
The Network
The Disabled Lawyers Network is dedicated to promoting and supporting equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) within the legal profession with a focus on disability.
Our mission is to create a more inclusive and supportive legal profession for disabled lawyers. We strive to promote the rights and interests of disabled lawyers and to advocate for equal opportunities and treatment.
We believe that everyone has the right to succeed and thrive in their career, regardless of their disability. Through education, resources, and support, we aim to empower our members to achieve their goals and to create positive change in the legal profession.
The network intends to:
- provide support for students and those looking to enter the profession;
- provide support for those already working within the legal profession (at all levels);
- encourage and assist in making the legal profession accessible, inclusive and welcoming for disabled lawyers; and
- raise awareness and understanding of disabilities and health conditions.
Sign up to become a member
Sign up to become a member to access all our content.
As a member, you will have access to resources, educational events, and networking opportunities that will help you to grow both personally and professionally. You will also have the opportunity to be an active participant in our efforts to create a more inclusive legal profession.
Our network is open to all disabled lawyers, as well as allies who are committed to advancing the cause of disability rights and inclusion in the legal profession. We welcome all members of the legal community to join us in our efforts to create positive change.
Find out more about our membership and sign up here.
Contact Us
If you would like to get in touch with us you can email us at info@lawyerswithdisabilities.com or visit or contact page.
Finally, please note we are separate from the Law Society, the Law Society Lawyers with Disabilities Diversion (LDD) (now Disabled Solicitors Network) and the Association of Disabled Lawyers. We occasionally share links to their websites and articles for the purpose of sharing relevant information with our members. However, we do not have any formal association or endorsement with these organisations.