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You Belong in Law School Imagining Futures for Students with Disabilities

Where are the disabled lawyers? Representations of disabled people in the field of law are few and far between. This lack of representation combined with the myths and mythology of both disability and legal practice means that potential law students with disabilities may be dissuaded from ever applying to law school.  

On October 24, 2024, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm ET, the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) will be joined by Aria Lorenz, founder of the Future Disabled Lawyers Initiative, for a discussion between disabled lawyers and disabled law students. This panel is designed to help people with disabilities envision a future for themselves in law schools and the legal profession at large. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the lived experiences of lawyers and law students with disabilities to plan and imagine their own futures in the field of law.  

This webinar stems from a partnership between the Canadian Association of Lawyers with Disabilities (CALD) and NEADS.

ASL and LSQ interpretation, English and French interpretation, as well as closed captioning will be provided. Registration is required – please register here. For further information and/or to discuss access needs, please contact Chloée C. Godin-Jacques, NEADS’s Lead Researcher, at chloee.godinjacques@neads.ca This bilingual event is a feature of our Virtual Access for All webinar series, which is generously supported by Employment and Social Development Canada's Supports for Student Learning Program.

Meet the Moderator

Aria Lorenz  

Aria Lorenz (she/her) is a disability activist, student leader and a 1L student at Osgoode Hall Law School. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English & Political Science from the University of Toronto. Aria is a former Canadian national silver medalist, a 2024 TedxUofT speaker, and the founder of the Future Disabled Lawyers Initiative, which works to help disabled students see a future for themselves in the legal profession.    

Meet the Panelists

Andrew Green  

Andrew Green (he/him) is a disabled person who entered law school later in life. He finished law school in late 2021 while working for the Edmonton Community Legal Centre and now works there as a lawyer. He primarily works with disabled Albertans. When he is not working, he participates in disability organizations and speaks about disability issues. He currently sits on the Board of Voices of Albertans with Disabilities.

Morgan Higginson

Morgan Higginson, (She/Her) is President of UNB Law Students' Chronic Illness and Disability Association. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of New Brunswick, which focused on the sociology of families, social inequality, health psychology, family social policy, and child development and welfare. She is currently in her third year of the Juris Doctor Program at the University of New Brunswick Faculty of Law.   

Issac Sahota

Isaac is a 2025 JD Candidate at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, with a passion for Indigenous Legal Studies and human rights advocacy. He holds an Honours degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University. Throughout his academic journey, Isaac has been a strong advocate for accessibility and inclusion, initiating programs such as Accessibility Allies and a bursary for students with disabilities at Queen’s University. He is also a recipient of the Steve Cutway Accessibility Award and the Impact in Equity Award.

Currently, Isaac is part of the UBC Innocence Project, furthering his commitment to justice by working to exonerate individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. His involvement at UBC extends to various community service initiatives, including the UBC Law Students' Society, Pro Bono Students Canada, and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC EDI Committee.

Rebecca Steckle  

Rebecca Steckle (she/her) is a writer, a bit of a researcher, and a former registered nurse; also, she went to law school twice. The first time, in 2018, she only made it 2 months before quitting because of an undiagnosed mental health disability. The second time ended in 2024, when she graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School. Her own experiences as a disabled law student resulted in an empirical research project, "Understanding the State of Disability Justice in Ontario Law Schools," to explore the experiences of students with disabilities from a Disability Justice framework (an inherent contradiction with law school). Rebecca explores the (colonial and ableist) roots of societal structures, the interconnected nature of (violent) systems, and the (il)legitimacy of concepts like inclusion and normalcy.

Phillip B. Turcotte  

Phil (he, him) was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2017. Since then, he has held positions as a policy analyst, a legal policy lawyer, and as legal counsel. He is currently works as legal counsel with the Department of Justice Canada’s Aboriginal Law Centre.

He is a graduate of Carleton University and of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law (Common law, English). Phil is Queer, Disabled, Neurodivergent and proudly so. He believes that disability is an essential part of human diversity, and that disabled folks have their place in all aspects of society, including law school and the practice of law.

Bruce Warnsby

Benjamin Bruce Warnsby (Bruce) is a Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (the People who live at the mouth of the Klondike River) Citizen, a member of the Crow clan and a descendent of Johathan and Ellen Wood. He is the son of the late Ben and Loretta Warnsby. He was president of the Yukon Branch of the Canadian Bar Association in 22-23 (the second Tr’ondek Hwech’in Citizen to lead the branch). As a disabled person (written communication), he is passionate about supporting both Indigenous and disabled people in the legal profession. Bruce practiced for 2 years as a sole practitioner in criminal defence. He then worked for the Yukon Government for a year. Currently, he is a sole practitioner and his practice focus on Yukon First Nations Treaty Implementation and Governance, primarily in justice working to re-awaken Indigenous laws.

Chloée C. Godin-Jacques, M.A (she/they | elle/iel), Lead Researcher | Recherchiste principale, National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), Rm. 514 Unicentre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6

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