Dr Rachel Forrester-Jones was called to the Legal Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London recently. In addition to gaining her LLB Rachel is now a Barrister (non-practising).
Rachel is Reader in Health, Community and Social Care, teaching both undergraduates and post-graduates in quality of life issues for people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems.
Alongside her teaching commitments, Rachel is an academic reviewer for several publications, an editorial board member of the Tizard Learning Disability Review, a committee member of L’Arche Community for People with Learning Disabilities, an author of over 40 publications and trains Street Pastors. Yet Rachel still found the time to successfully complete her study, which is a remarkable achievement.
When asked how she found the motivation to study to become a Barrister, Rachel said “We know that people with learning disabilities and people with mental health problems are disadvantaged when it comes to the civil and criminal justice system. It is this inequality which can ultimately lead to injustice and the hope that I might contribute to alleviating the problem that drove me to continue studying even when things got tough”.
Rachel continues to work full-time at the Tizard Centre and is already applying her legal expertise to academic and professional issues relating to people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems.