Free Hybrid Event – DLN Meeting

Deaf Legal Network (DLN) Meeting

Garden Court Chambers is pleased to host the next meeting of the Deaf Legal Network (DLN), an initiative that brings together representatives from Deaf-led organisations and legal professionals to foster collaboration and mutual understanding.

The DLN has three aims:

• To share knowledge and best practice between Deaf communities and those working in the legal sector.
• To develop effective referral pathways to improve access to legal advice and representation for Deaf individuals and communities.
• To identify and advance legal strategies that challenge systemic discrimination and promote fairness and equality for Deaf communities.

This meeting offers an important opportunity to strengthen connections between the legal profession and Deaf-led organisations, and to explore how the law can be used as a tool for social justice.

This is a hybrid seminar with BSL interpretation for both in-person and online attendees.

Speakers

Ollie Persey, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Ollie is a public law and human rights barrister. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 across his practice areas. Ollie won the Legal Aid Newcomer Award at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year (LALY) Awards 2024 and was a finalist for a ‘Junior of the Year’ award at the Legal 500 Awards 2022. He is a member of the Equality & Human Rights Commission’s panel of preferred counsel. Ollie is a trustee of Southwark Law Centre, a director of the Education Law Association and a former co-chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers. Prior to joining Garden Court, he was a lawyer at Public Law Project, an academic at the LSE and Oxford University and worked for the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights.

Matthew Banks, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Matthew specialises in public law and community care law. Matthew holds a degree in Law from the University of Cambridge and a MA in Interpreting: British Sign Language (BSL)/ English.  Matthew previously worked as an advocate and BSL interpreter supporting deaf and disabled people for the past 15 years. This includes volunteer roles at St John’s Deaf Community Centre and the BSL Act Now! Campaign. Matthew previously completed a mini pupillage at Garden Court Chambers and has shadowed barristers at various chambers.

Zoe Chan, Director of Casework, Advocate
Zoe is the Director of Casework at Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono charity. Zoe brings extensive experience from the Australian access to justice space, having previously practised as an Australian solicitor in frontline services specialising in housing justice, and supporting litigants in person. Zoe was also previously a PILnet fellow, with exposure to pro bono projects spanning Asia, New York and Europe. Zoe is passionate about leveraging pro bono resources, and unlocking the Bar’s expertise and passion to serve the unmet legal needs of diverse communities.

Reserve your in-person or online ticket
In-person tickets are limited by the venue’s capacity. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm whether a place is available at the event.

If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to all those who have signed up on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on Thursday 15 January, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.