Archive for category Profession Access
Tribunal advocacy
Posted by Rob in Interpreting, Profession Access, Tribunals on March 3, 2010
This post was originally featured on North of the Stupid Line.
Right, we know there are not many Deaf lawyers in the UK.
We know that there are even fewer Deaf lawyers undertaking advocacy in tribunals and court.
I’m one of them. As an employment solicitor, I undertake advocacy in the Employment Tribunal on a regular basis.
Now, bear in mind that I’m profoundly Deaf and my first language is English as opposed to say BSL. I am a fluent BSL user, equally comfortable with spoken English. However, I’d be the first to admit that I do not have perfect speech; I’ve never actually *heard* a word so go figure. My voice is rather high pitched, and I tend to trip over my words from time to time or mulch all the words into one big mush as I don’t allow time to elocute-each-word-fully.
A weird byproduct of my “imperfect” speech is that some people understand me, and some don’t. I find I’m sometimes able to identify who falls into these categories: females in the former, and males in the latter; individuals who know how to LISTEN and those who don’t.
So, I undertake tribunal advocacy with imperfect speech. I hear you say: “that’s easy! Just use BSL!”. Well, yes, I could, but that would mean translating complex legal principles etc. into BSL and then hoping, just hoping, that the interpreter will be able to grasp the legal principle as well as the point I’m making, and voice over that in a way that is appropriate for such a situation i.e. formal language with legalese thrown in.
Are there actually any interpreters out there able to do this for me? And can they go to each tribunal regardless of location within England and Wales to do exactly that? I doubt it.
So, therein lies the problem. How does one solve it? Answers on a postcard please.
Employ Us!
Posted by Rob in Profession Access on November 3, 2004
We have noticed that quite a few law firms and other professional legal bodies have been reading our website and Blawg. We are really pleased to see this happening, but have one thing to ask you – why don’t you employ us?
At present, we have:
1 Deaf LPC Graduate searching for a training contract
1 Deaf Professional who wants to complete the BVC and become a barrister
1 Deaf Professional with a great deal of legal experience who wants to do a PhD
For more candidates, please read the About Us section.
Email us on contact at deaflawyers.org.uk with a job description or title you’d like and we’ll forward to the relevant Deaf Lawyers UK member.
Training contracts
Posted by Rob in Profession Access on June 14, 2004
An open letter to the legal profession:
Having completed the LPC at Cardiff Law School last summer, I am searching for that ever elusive training contract so that I can become perhaps the 6th or 7th deaf person to qualify in the UK. My preferred specialism is Employment Law, and I obtained 65% in my LPC Employment elective.
Since finishing the Legal Practice Course (LPC), I have been employed as an Advice Worker for the Royal Association for Deaf People (RAD). I conduct casework within the boundaries of the CLS Quality Mark in employment, immigration, debt and welfare benefit matters for deaf clients. I am also a volunteer advisor for Wandsworth & Merton Law Centre assisting solicitors with Employment Tribunal casework for RAD clients. I have drafted letters and documentation such as Lists of Documents and Schedules of Losses, as well as exchanged Lists as part of the disclosure process. I am committed to a career in the legal profession.
I have broad IT competence, ranging from the use of all versions of Microsoft Windows although I am familiar with most of the popular office applications (and have the ability to get up to speed very rapidly with new applications). I am also able to develop web services, including graphical, coding and editorial activities.
I have demonstrated through a range of activities I am able to work effectively both individually and as a member of a team. My teamwork skills are evident in the way I have dealt with the ratification of a new constitution during my Chairmanship of the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities, which required pulling together the Committee to commit to one specific goal. I can work individually, evident in my current role at RAD where I have had to work with the minimum of supervision, and in interviewing clients and representing at tribunals.
This is the third year I have sent countless application forms in the hope that a law firm will at least give me an interview and thereafter a training contract. I have applied to the large firms in the City, medium sized firms, high street practices and law centres. In three years I have only had three interviews, numerous rejection letters and even more non-responses.
In my mind, I sometimes wonder whether my deafness poses a barrier to progressing further in the legal profession. Any assistance you can provide would very much appreciated.
I look forward to hearing from you when I will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Wilks
Access to the LPC/BVC
Posted by Rob in Profession Access on May 13, 2004
The single most infuriating problem that exists for Deafies today is the fact that there is little or no funding for terps for postgraduate courses like the CPE or LPC or BVC. Two of our members have suffered from this lack of funding; Alison’s dropped out of the LPC twice because of it, and John has delayed his BVC in order to secure funding. It sucks.
I am the current Chair of the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities, and I am planning to submit a letter together with personal accounts of Deafies’ experiences in accessing the LPC/BVC to the Head of Training and Development at the Law Society, Julie Swan. If you would like your voice heard, please drop me a line.