REACH CANADA panel on Strategies for Legal Professionals to Assist Clients with Mental Health Disabilities Oct 6 2022 5:30 pm

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Anita Szigeti

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THIS PROGRAM

Strategies for Legal Professionals to Assist Clients with Mental Health Disabilities

Strategies for Legal Professionals to Assist Clients with Mental Health Disabilities (CPD ACCREDITED & REGISTRATION DETAILS NOW AVAILABLE!)

Date: October 6, 2022

Time: 5:30 PM

Registration link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ReachCanada/events/strategies-for-legal-professionals-to-assist-clients-with-mental-health-disabilities/

Join Reach Canada for a panel discussion with Anita Szigeti (founding lawyer of Anita Szigeti Advocates), Neha Chugh (founder of Chugh Law), and Kate Cunning (Canadian Mental Health Association – CMHA) for a panel discussion on how legal professionals can best support their clients living with mental health disabilities.

The session will be focussed on three broad topics:

  1. Identifying Clients with Mental Health Disabilities

Mental health is an “invisible disability”, and many clients may not be forthcoming regarding their mental health issues. Our panelists will discuss how to identify clients with potential mental health disabilities, how to discuss accommodating a disability in a sensitive manner, and how to approach addressing the stigma regarding mental health in certain communities.

  • Navigating the Challenges Working with Clients Struggling with their Mental Health

Legal professionals often face practical challenges when working with clients with a mental health disability, including difficulty taking instructions, and instructions that may be contrary to a client’s best interests. Our panelists will share their experiences navigating these challenges and tips for best assisting your clients, in keeping with ethical and professional obligations.

  • Best Practices for Supporting Clients with Mental Health Disabilities

Supporting a client struggling with a mental health disability often requires more than what a legal professional can provide. Our panelists will share resources, such as community organizations, services, and partners that are available to assist your clients.

This panel is accredited for 1.0 hour of EDI Professionalism Content.

Please note that complimentary access to this seminar will be available for volunteers on Reach’s Legal Roster thanks to the generous support of the Ottawa Community Foundation. For more information, contact jho@reach.ca.

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About Anita Szigeti

• Called to the Bar (1992) • U of T Law grad (1990) • Sole practitioner (33 years) • Partner in small law firm (Hiltz Szigeti) 2002 - 2013 • Mom to two astonishing kids, Scarlett (20+) and Sebastian (20-) • (Founding) Chair of Mental Health Legal Committee for ten years (1997 to 2007) * Founding President of Law and Mental Disorder Association - LAMDA since 2017 * Founder and Secretary to Women in Canadian Criminal Defence - WiCCD - since 2022 • Counsel to clients with serious mental health issues before administrative tribunals and on appeals • Former Chair, current member of LAO’s mental health law advisory committee • Educator, lecturer, widely published author (including 5 text books on consent and capacity law, Canadian civil mental health law, the criminal law of mental disorder, a law school casebook and a massive Anthology on all things mental health and the law) • Thirty+ years’ experience as counsel to almost exclusively legally aided clients • Frequently appointed amicus curiae • Fearless advocate • Not entirely humourless
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