12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Part II: How the Legal Profession Supports Lawyers Living with Disabilities

In Canada, 27% of the population identifies as living with one or more disabilities. Engaging lawyers with disabilities to provide accessible legal services and contribute to a more diverse and representative profession is more important than ever. However, barriers to entry and retention within the legal field continue to persist. Join us for a candid discussion on how law firms and other legal workplaces, both private and public, can foster environments where lawyers with disabilities are empowered to thrive and shine—not just adapt. 

Speakers

Mohammed Elshafie, Associate, Conway Litigation, Ottawa, Ontario; Member of the Canadian Association of Lawyers with Disabilities

Odelia Bay, Co-founder of the Canadian Association of Lawyers with Disabilities; PhD Candidate in law at Osgoode Hall Law School 

Me Phillip B. Turcotte (he/him), Crown Counsel, Department of Justice Canada; Co-Chair, Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities, Justice Canada

Moderator

Kelly McDermott, Senior Solicitor, Regional Municipality of Durham; Past President of the OBA