We would appreciate it, if you could pass this information onto any deaf law
students studying at your institution, or keep it for future reference
purposes.

Many thanks.

---------------------------------


Deaf Lawyers UK


For immediate release

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P R E S S   R E L E A S E

Unique New Website launched by Deaf Lawyers UK

A brand new website - http://www.deaflawyers.org.uk - has been launched to
look at issues relating to Deaf lawyers, as well as Deaf issues within the
legal system.

The website was set up by a group of Deaf solicitors, barristers, law
students and people trying to qualify as lawyers.  It aims to respond to
access issues, publicise specialised information and raise awareness of
issues Deaf people face within the legal system.  The site also aims to
bring Deaf lawyers together, and to reach out to others who may not be aware
of their rights.

Due to lack of access and understanding of our needs, the number of Deaf
people trying to access the legal profession in the UK has been fairly
small.   As well as this, there is no way for British Deaf people to get
access to independent information about relevant Deaf legal issues.

www.deaflawyers.org.uk includes a Deaf Blawg, which is an online journal, to
be updated regularly.  Written by Deaf people, the Blawg will raise and
discuss issues outlined above, as well as providing regular comments by Deaf
people on Deaf legal access in the mainstream culture.

The website is gathering support from Deaf lawyers internationally.  Henry
Vlug, a Deaf Lawyer from Canada, said, "I am truly impressed.  The website
has already pointed me to the UK Equal Treatment book, which I have
downloaded and passed onto the British Columbia Law Society Equality
Committee, to see if they could do something similar."  Meanwhile, Sheila
Conlon-Mentkowski, Chief of the statewide California Client Assistance
Program, Sacramento stated, "This website is very thoroughly researched and
is rich in resources from different aspects of the law as relevant to the UK
experience.  I congratulate our UK deaf legal professionals and colleagues
in setting up and maintaining an excellent law related site."

Additional support has come from the British Deaf Association.  Its Chair,
Doug Alker commented, "The BDA welcomes this initiative, and sees it as a
significant step forward towards Deaf lawyers having involvement and
influence in Deaf legal issues."

www.deaflawyers.org.uk highlights the potential, professionalism and depth
of Deaf talent in the UK that is still not recognised at the beginning of
the 21st century.  This group of Deaf solicitors, barristers, law students,
decided to strike out on their own to help to make the law and the legal
system accessible for British Deaf people.

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Notes to Editors:
1.  The website can be found online at http://www.deaflawyers.org.uk and the
direct link to the Deaf Blawg: http://www.deaflawyers.org.uk/blawg
2.  For further information on this project, please email:
[log in to unmask]
3.  The term 'Deaf' is capitalised to mean all deaf people, to indicate
positive affirmation of their identity; and as a celebration of individual
and collective talent.