BASF’s Equality Committee on Disability Rights recently held a CLE and panel discussion titled “Training, Hiring, and Retaining Lawyers with Disabilities.”

The event, presented during October’s Disability Awareness Month, was moderated by committee co-chair Cristina Rubke, Shartsis Friese. The program addressed the importance of fostering diversity within the legal profession through the training, hiring and retention of attorneys with disabilities. Panelists included: Claudia Center, Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center; Nora Devine, Thomas, Quinn & Krieger; and Teresa Renaker, Lewis Feinberg Lee Renaker & Jackson.

Attendees included employers, attorneys and law students. The panelists provided an overview on workplace accommodations, information about employment applications and interviews, as well as practical tips for creating a supportive work environment for individuals with disabilities.

The Disability Rights committee has had a busy year. The committee recently welcomed a new co-chair Heather Borlase, Bayer & Borlase.

Additionally, the committee released a survey to determine priorities for the committee’s educational programs and professional development offering. The committee will offer a CLE in February on the subject of testing accommodations.

If you would like to learn more about BASF’s Equality Committee on Disability Rights, please contact Nicole Britton-Snyder at nbrittonsnyder@sfbar.org.