The Royal Association for Deaf People’s Deaf Law Centre (RAD DLC) today announced that national law firm TLT will be the first UK law firm to receive the ‘Deaf Law Quality Mark’ accreditation.
The accreditation recognises that TLT has taken significant steps to ensure its legal services are accessible to D/deaf and hard of hearing clients, and that the firm offers a supportive working environment to employees who are D/deaf and hard of hearing.
TLT will be awarded the accreditation by Rob Wilks, Director of Legal Services with overall responsibility for RAD DLC, at an event on 24th June in the presence of The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
Rob Wilks says:
“TLT has demonstrated a strong awareness of the needs and cultural differences between Deaf and hearing people, taking a highly positive and proactive approach which goes far beyond regulatory requirements. We launched the ‘Deaf Law Quality Mark’ in recognition of the well documented barriers that Deaf people face in accessing legal advice services in an attempt to raise awareness of their needs and to set a benchmark for the delivery of high quality advice services to this client group. …..”
Richard Silver, Policy Officer from the Solicitors Regulation Authority, adds:
“We welcomed the creation of the Deaf Law Quality Mark when it was launched as one way for law firms to pull down more of the barriers that people with hearing loss can face when they need legal support. It’s really positive to see that just 1 year after the Quality Mark was launched TLT have taken the steps needed to achieve the Quality Mark and are committed to making their services as accessible and inclusive as possible for the Deaf community and others with hearing loss.”
TLT’s Equality & Diversity Officer, Lee Reed, comments:
“TLT has been working to improve access to legal services and client service delivery to those with protected characteristics since the firm was formed in 2000. Alongside this, and recognising that client service is only as good as those delivering it, TLT has made major efforts to ensure that as an employer TLT values and encourages diversity and fosters a collegiate working environment. We’re delighted to be working with the Deaf Law Centre to improve access to legal services and create a supportive working environment for people who are D/deaf of have some level of hearing loss.”
To secure the accreditation TLT has implemented a broad range of initiatives and amended a number of firm-wide systems and processes. For example, TLT has appointed individuals across the firm to be ‘Deaf Champions’ whom are trained by RAD and can provide advice and guidance to when dealing with clients, suppliers, candidates and others who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
The champions ensure that meeting rooms are set up appropriately and that any additional equipment, such as a hearing loop, is available; they provide guidance for individuals who may be working for the first time with British Sign Language (BSL)/English interpreters, lipspeakers and notetakers; ensure that interpreters have the required vocabulary and are appropriate to the clients’ needs; and coach employees in understanding the cultural differences when dealing with people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing.
TLT is encouraging all staff to learn some basic phrases of BSL by making available to all employees free of charge online language videos. The firm has also launched an SMS service providing all clients with the ability to engage with TLT using a variety of methods. To encourage D/deaf applicants TLT has changed its recruitment policies enabling D/deaf candidates to submit their video application in BSL.
All law firms in England, Wales and Scotland are eligible for the accreditation.
