Originally presented Wednesday, April 6, 2022 by Paul Grossman, retired Hastings College of Law and the Office of Civil Rights

The introduction to this year’s legal strand will focus on the ethical and practical considerations in deciding when to follow legal advice and when, in the interest of social justice, to not follow it. Often, the daily work of disability professionals involves intricate balancing acts about how strictly to adhere to the letter of disability law and how to communicate our legal obligation to other university faculty and administrators. Sometimes, following the law will not be very practical, and difficult decisions must be made. Sometimes a school’s legal counsel and administration make misguided choices that we believe will harm students. When we think that the legal compliance strategies of our employer are disastrous, where can we turn for help? This session will explore how to balance our legal obligations with our social justice objectives, and how best to communicate to ensure we are providing our institutions with ethical and just guidance.