A network providing support for disabled practitioners as well as advice to the legal profession generally about disability issues is to be piloted in Yorkshire and the Humber region.



The network is a partnership between the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities (GSD) and the Yorkshire-based, not-for-profit Equal Ability Community Interest Company. The latter, founded by solicitor Sue Maynard Campbell, delivers disability training to businesses.



The initiative is backed by the West Yorkshire Crown Prosecution Service and the Disability Rights Commission.



Ms Maynard Campbell said: 'The network is a useful tool both for raising the GSD's profile and for building up the expertise of the legal profession.'



Sir John Wall, the first blind person to be appointed to the bench in modern times, added: 'The network aims to highlight the experience of practising as a disabled lawyer, to support disabled students seeking training contracts and generally to advise on disability issues.'



Jonathan Rayner