A new group to fight the corner for disabled barristers and solicitors is to launch next month in a bid to tackle the discrimination faced by lawyers and clients with disabilities.



BADS - Barristers and Advocates Disabled Society - is the brainchild of John Horan of Cloisters chambers in London and is open to all members of both professions.



Its principal aim is to represent disabled advocates in whatever sphere they encounter problems, for instance in ensuring access to the courts. The group also wants to act as a consultant partner to the government when it is considering disability issues, and to champion the disabled litigant.



Mr Horan said solicitors and barristers with disabilities should work together to make their voice heard and bring about change.



'Disabled lawyers need a forum for themselves in the same way that other groups do, and because, while able-bodied colleagues are happy in theory to say there's an issue, in practice it seems that they are less happy to do anything about it,' he said.



The first meetings of BADS will be held on 11 September in London and Manchester. For further information, contact Mr Horan, e-mail: jh10270@jh102700.fsnet.co.uk.



Catherine Baksi