Month: July 2024

Good Luck on the Bar Exam!

The July Connecticut bar examination will be administered in-person on July 30 and 31, 2024. For more information, check here: https://ctbaradmissions.jud.ct.gov/home

For your final stages of preparation, check out these last minute tips:

Exam Day Tips, Bar Exam Toolbox

We wish our UConn Law graduates and the other test takers the best of luck on the bar exam! We know you’ve got this! Believe in yourself!

Meditation rocks

Empowering Justice: Disability Law Courses at UConn Law

UConn Law Library’s July tribute to Disability Pride shifts to focusing on the crucial role of lawyers specializing in disability law as advocates for justice and equality.  There is a growing demand for lawyers that have specialized knowledge in the area of disability law. Disability law encompasses a broad spectrum of issues, and navigating these legal landscapes can be daunting for individuals with disabilities and their families. Lawyers that are interested in making a different in the field of disability rights and education are in high demand, thus understanding disability law in contemporary legal practice and highlight the growing demand for specialized knowledge in this area.

If you are passionate about making a difference in the field of disability rights consider enrolling in the following courses at UConn Law to gain in-depth knowledge and practical experience:

Law 7416 – Disability Rights Clinic

In this clinic students will provide legal advocacy for people with disabilities in Connecticut under the supervision of Disability Rights Connecticut (DRCT) attorneys, addressing such issues as disability discrimination in housing, employment, services and activities provided by governmental entities, and public accommodations; access to healthcare; individual rights; civil and criminal mental health law; abuse and neglect;  and special education. DRCT’s legal work includes both individual client representation and systemic-reform advocacy. Students will also participate in a weekly seminar in which they will receive training in substantive disability law as well as advocacy skills needed to represent people with disabilities. These skills include client interviewing and counseling; legal research; legal writing; civil litigation; and alternative dispute resolution. Students will also learn to incorporate principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in their legal representation of clients with disabilities, and to identify and resolve potential ethical issues that may arise in the course of representing such clients.

Law 7563 – Life Insurance, Annuities, Disability and Long Term Care Insurance

This course focuses on life insurance, annuities, and disability income insurance, which provide financial protection against risks associated with mortality and morbidity, supplementing Social Security benefits. It covers various insurance types, including whole life, term, universal life, immediate, deferred, and longevity annuities, examining issues like insurable interest, medical underwriting, privacy, and regulatory considerations under tax, ERISA, and securities laws.

Law 7905 – Special Education Law

This seminar will review the evolutionary process by which the civil right to receive a free and appropriate public education has been expanded to include people with disabilities. The class will discuss issues such as the standards used to define “disability,” physical access to schools and other buildings/grounds, appropriate classroom instruction, the provision of ancillary services in the least restrictive environment, and topics such as discipline and safety in the special education setting. The readings and discussions will include cases involving special education, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Every Student Succeeds Act, pending legislation, and a review of the international perspective toward special education and related services.

These courses offered through UConn Law are the first step in becoming advocates for justice and equality for all.

 

Celebrating Disability Pride: UConn Law Library Display

In honor of Disability Pride Month,  UConn Law Library wishes to celebrate the achievements, contributions and diversity within the disability community.  The UConn Law library features a Disability Pride Display adjacent to the circulation desk that features issues related to disabilities in the context of the law.

Image of bookshelf containing selected books related to disability law.
Disability Pride Display at UConn Law Library.

UConn Law Library’s  Accessibility, Neurodiversity and Ableism collection contains works that consider issues related to disabilities in the context of the law, education, and other institutions, including neurodiversity and accessibility.  This collection curates both online and print items, this print display also features resources that consider the multitude of issues related to disabilities and our society.

Image of low bookshelves with selected books related to disability law.
Disability Pride Display – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Justice (DEIAJ) book collection at UConn Law Library.

Disability Pride Month serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the need for continued advocacy.  The Disability Pride book display hopes to promote awareness while celebrating achievements, and advocating for policy change.  All display items are available for checkout to UConn Law students, faculty and staff.  Hope to see you all stop by!!

Disability Pride Month: Recognizing Progress and Advocacy

Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July, the month of passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July, 1990, a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability.

The ADA stands as a cornerstone of legal protection for people with disabilities in the United States. It mandates equal opportunities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. Over the years, amendments and legal precedents have strengthened its provisions, ensuring greater accessibility and accommodation. Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Issues such as accessibility barriers, employment discrimination, and healthcare disparities continue to affect the disabled community. Disability Pride Month serves as a reminder of these ongoing struggles while highlighting the resilience and achievements of disabled individuals in overcoming them.

This month, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Disability Rights invites you to take part in the #BeCounted campaign. The #BeCounted campaign encourages lawyers with disabilities across the country to add themselves to the ABA’s U.S. map. Participation in this campaign is important because according to the Commission on Disability Rights:

Why? According to the 2021 ABA Model Diversity Survey, “[a]ttorneys with a disability are generally underreported and/or underrepresented at every level and are significantly more likely to work in the “Other Attorney” role compared to all other groups within law firms.” Also, “[f]or the most recent year, most law firms did not hire a single attorney [who] self-identified as . . . having a disability.” Furthermore, according to a 2023 report from the National Association of Law Placement (NALP), only 1.4% of law firm lawyers surveyed self-identified as having a disability. We (and NALP) believe there are more, given that one in four adults in the United States have a disability.

The American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights contains a multitude of resources to promote the the ABA’s commitment to “justice and the rule of law for people with mental, physical and sensory disabilities, and to promote their full and equal participation in the legal profession.”

UConn Law Library features a Disability Pride book display adjacent to the circulation desk. Also, our Accessibility, Neurodiversity and Ableism collection contains works that consider issues related to disabilities in the context of the law, education, and other institutions, including neurodiversity and accessibility.

Disability Pride Month serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the need for continued advocacy. By promoting awareness, celebrating achievements, and advocating for policy change, we can build a more inclusive society where every individual is valued and respected. The goals of Disability Pride Month should be strived for not just in July but throughout the year, fostering a culture of acceptance, empowerment, and equality for all.

Independence Day- Happy 4th!

As we approach July 4th, a holiday synonymous with celebrating independence and the principles by which our nation was founded, we want to inform you that UConn Law Library will be closed on July 4th, 2024.

Although our physical doors our closed, many of our resources are available online 24/7.  Our digital library catalog, databases, and research guides are accessible remotely, allowing you to continue your legal research and study from anywhere.

As we take July 4th to honor the ideals of freedom and justice that define our nation, we hope you enjoy a safe and festive holiday.

Our regular hours will resume on July 5th and the library staff will be available to assist you with your research and information needs.