She tailored her extracurriculars to impress the admissions offices at Canada’s top law schools. She studied economics and political science at McGill University, graduating with highest distinction. Her efforts paid off in 2021, when she was accepted to the University of Toronto’s prestigious Faculty of Law.
The students’ complaints raise questions about the responsibilities universities have to accommodate disabled students in the era of, experts on employment and disability law said, as the pandemic has proven that post-secondary school and work could successfully be completed remotely. However, as COVID cases dropped, the faculty has mandated a return to in-person learning, citing its long-standing policy against recording lectures “for pedagogical and professional reasons,” though it still offered Zoom links to those who miss class due to COVID illness or exposure. After requests for more accessibility from students, the faculty said it will provide lecture recordings and Zoom access to those who miss class for non-COVID-related reasons as well.
When corresponding with the Faculty of Law, Sheikh explained that her request is due to periodic chronic pain flare-ups from a herniated disc, as well as flare-ups related to her diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, which sometimes leave her unable to attend class in person. “I felt like I didn’t really have a choice,” Sheikh said, adding that other students who face barriers are discouraged from filing their own complaints, as it is a long and costly process.
Sheikh said it is made up of two assistant deans, adding it is unclear who else from the faculty has the power to grant disabled students academic accommodations. Tellier of the Disabled Law Students’ Association said the faculty has not outlined the updated policy in a publicly accessible document, and therefore it’s unclear who meets the disability criteria to access recording lectures and who does not. She added students were told access to a recording hinges on them being present in class.
Lawyers are overpaid art students prone to overformalistic thinking with a monopoly on law that they have ruthlessly exploited for profit to the detriment of justice. Judges come from this broken cohort. There is no rule of law or justice in this pay-to-win theater.
It's discrimination against physically impaired candidates that want to study law.