12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Overcoming Barriers in the Profession Series Panel 2: Disability & Mental Health

The second panel in the three-part series on EDI barriers will feature a discussion among lawyers living with and/or advocating in relation to disabilities, mental and physical health, and human rights issues. They will share information about the barriers faced, their lived experiences, the gaps present within society, and the supports and solutions needed. This panel will go beyond talking about individual barriers and strategies to navigate on the individual level to discuss the systemic barriers and changes needed to be made by firms/law societies.

Key points to be covered by the panel who all have in-depth experience in these issues will be:

• Barriers specific to disability and mental and physical health in practice;
• Barriers in the legal workplace and networking;
• Harassment, discrimination, microagressions, accommodation; and
• Systemic changes needed and individual strategies

This moderated panel discussion will be followed by audience Q&A if time permits.

Speakers

Rumana Monzur, Department of Justice
Beth Beattie, Senior Counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General Civil Law Division, Ministry of Health
Melanie Benard, Senior Advisor, Canadian Human Rights Commission

Moderator

Rebecca Brown, Canada Energy Regulator