Pride in Me; Pride in My Practice - Disability Pride Month

This July, in honour of Disability Pride Month, Middle Temple’s Disability Forum is proud to host a special event celebrating the stories, achievements, and experiences of disabled lawyers.

This occasion will:

• Showcase the careers of disabled barristers, highlighting their resilience, successes, and contributions to the legal profession.
• Address the ongoing lack of visibility of disabled lawyers and open up conversations about the actions needed to create a truly inclusive legal community.
• Offer a space for reflection and knowledge-sharing, as speakers pass on valuable insights and advice to the next generation.

Disability Pride Month is a time for celebration and a powerful reminder of the importance of acceptance, the removal of disabling barriers, and the protection of rights for disabled people in every sector, including the law. Join us for an evening of storytelling, empowerment, and community.

Discussion will be facilitated by Daniel Holt, Chair of the Disability Forum, and we are pleased to welcome the following speakers:

• Konstantina Nouka

Konstantina is a tenant at Nexus Chambers and practises in criminal defence and family law. Prior to joining Nexus as a Pupil, Konstantina worked as a COVID-19 Public Inquiry Paralegal. She is also the Chair of Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar and a Committee Member at the Young CBA. Konstantina has been diagnosed with Ulrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy and uses a wheelchair full-time. 

• Michael Etienne

• Alice de Coverley

Alice de Coverley is a specialist education, equality, and public law barrister, regularly acting on behalf of children and young people with disabilities, mental health conditions and special educational needs, as well as in discrimination claims brought under the Equality Act 2010. Alice is also Trustee of Neurodiversity in Law, a charity specialising in raising awareness and providing support around neurodivergence within the legal profession. Alice is ranked as a Leading Junior in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. She has co-authored a legal textbook on school exclusions, which can disproportionately impact disabled children and young people.

• Daniel Holt

Daniel Holt is Chair of the Disability Forum. He is a barrister and recognised in The Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 as one of the 100 most influential disabled people and was highly commended at the European Diversity Awards 2018. He also received the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Award from Middle Temple. Daniel leads the Association of Disabled Lawyers and engages with individuals, organisations, and regulators to improve the experiences of lawyers and students with health conditions. The Association was nominated for Outstanding Disability Network of the Year at the 2023 British Diversity Awards. He is also Chair of the Disability Forum and sits on the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee within Middle Temple. Daniel was also a Board Trustee of Disability Rights UK, the nation’s leading voice for disabled people. He co-authored its response to Parliament’s inquiry into key unimplemented provisions of the Equality Act 2010 for disabled people. He was also Chair of its Income Generation Committee.