123 St Georges Terrace Perth
Bookings are now closed for this event.
Law Week
Justice | Inclusion | Community
As part of Law Week, the Law Society’s Young Lawyers Committee is hosting an important panel session titled Inclusion and Personal Perspectives: the lived experiences of people with disabilities in the legal profession.
The Diversity Council of Australia defines ‘diversity’ as ‘all the ways in which we differ’, and ‘inclusion’ as occurring when ‘a diversity of people are respected, connected, progressing and contributing to organisational success’.[1]
An inclusive workplace is one where ‘employees trust their organisation to treat them fairly, feel diversity is valued and respected, and report that top leaders demonstrate a visible genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion’.[2]
Unfortunately, people from diverse backgrounds, including people with a disability, continue to face barriers in the workplace as well as barriers to access to justice. These barriers can be both physical and mental, ranging from short-term nuisances to long-term structural problems. Ultimately many of these issues are caused by long cemented cultures or ways of doing things, which will only alter through increased awareness and education regarding the issues faced by people with a disability.
The purpose of this year’s Panel Discussion is to create a space for the voices and perspectives of people with a disability, including lawyers with a disability, in order to promote the inclusion in the legal profession. The panellists will discuss topics including: how law firms and the broader legal profession can promote inclusion of people with a disability, ways disability can impact access to justice, and the leadership and positive contributions of people with a disability in this space.
Panellists include:
- Marisa Taliangis (Chair), Consultant, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Member of the Abilities@Corrs Reference Group
- Tom Oliver, TEDx Speaker on autistic individuals caught up in our justice system, Guest lecturer at Curtin University, Consultant at Savannah Legal, and Board Member at People With disabilities WA (PWdWA)
- Catherine Stokes, Executive Director, The College of Law
- Dr Rita Kleinfeld-Fowell, Senior Solicitor, Midlas
After the presentation, enjoy canapes and refreshments and mingle with the panellists and guests.
Free to attend, this special event in Law Week is open to all of the legal profession including Society members, non-members, law students, local community groups, and those with an interest in access and inclusion in our community.
This panel discussion will also be live-streamed and a link will be provided prior to the event for those who cannot attend in person. Please contact us on the details below if you would like a live-stream option.
To book online, please do so at the above link.
For group bookings and non-members, please use the registration form above.
For enquiries such as accessibility requests (e.g. AUSLAN or captioning) please call the membership team on (08) 9324 8692 or email membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au.
Accessibility information
- A Wheelchair accessible entry to the Corrs Chambers Westgarth offices is via St Georges Terrace and across Brookfield Place.
- The closest ACROD parking (4 ACROD bays available) is located on level 3 of Wilson’s Westralia Square carpark, with entry via Mounts Bay Road. The lifts are nearby and lead up to the Brookfield Place Courtyard, near the Corrs Chambers Westgarth offices.
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