Since its inception in 1989, the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities (GSD) has been working within the Law Society to make sure that the unique voice of the disabled solicitor is heard, both in Chancery Lane and throughout the profession.

A decade on, the group can tentatively assert that it is doing just that.Our party to celebrate ten years of the GSD was held last week and a significant proportion of our 400-strong membership was present.

Filling the room were people from all four sectors of the disabled world - physical, mental, sensory and hidden.

But, of course, you only see this at first glance.

As soon as you begin to chat and circulate, the warmth and enthusiasm of the group, the same as that which exists in every other group of committed professionals, becomes all that is noticeable.It is this factor that has enabled the GSD to address its ambitious aims:-- To represent the interests of all solicitors with disabilities and to provide a forum in which the views of members can be discussed and from where they can be communicated to the profession and society at large.-- To face the barriers confronting students with disabilities sitting or studying for the professional examinations or seeking employment in the profession.-- To provide a forum to consider the interests of all disabled people who may be users of the legal system, and to lobby for the wider interests of disabled people under current and proposed legislation.

And in doing so, continually to monitor and evaluate outcomes.-- To challenge conventional wisdom and engage in open debate, thus ensuring continued learning for both ourselves and others.With these hefty objectives, the GSD constantly has its work cut out.

Therefore, in the past year, while I was chair, I sought to head an outward-looking group.

For this reason, I called my year of office 'the year of the bridge'.

Bridges are needed imperatively for a group like ours, which cannot exist in isolation, but only as an effective, active part of the Law Society as a whole.

So, in order to consolidate the group's links, a ra nge of measures was undertaken.

All these measures conformed to our given aims.

Thus:-- A newsletter called The Bridge was launched to reach those members who cannot attend our regular meetings.

In addition an Internet web page was created and all our meetings were advertised in the Gazette.

extensive coverage was also given to our group in many other specialist group magazines at the Law Society, including that of the Solicitors Benevolent Association.-- A poster campaign was launched and literature was sent to every legal practice course provider in the country, so awareness of the group's existence would be raised amongst students with disabilities.-- Many of the group's members lecture or write on the implications of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Others run companies specialising in issues surrounding disability.

With this wealth of expertise, the GSD sought to participate actively and usefully in debates surrounding disability.-- Meetings had guest speakers - the movers and shakers of the disability world.

Most notably the Minister for Disability addressed the group in December.So, after the building of these bridges, it is time for the GSD to cross them.

The new chairman, Jeremy Hooper, is the man to lead the way into our second decade.

He is keen to promote the idea that law should be for all, and to this end, the GSD is participating in a Law Society conference, 'Law 4 All', in June.It is always important to stress that solicitors do not have to be disabled to join our group.

Anyone with an interest in the issues surrounding disability is welcome.