[blindlaw] requiring a Driver's License as a pre-requisite to employment as an attorney

[Susan Kelly]

That was my interpretation as well - it came to light by virtue of a supervisory position coming open in the conflict office (Legal Defender) being posted on Friday.  While I would not want the political headache involved in that position, the license requirement would seem to disqualify myself and the 3 other attorneys in the County workforce that I know personally who cannot drive due to vision loss or paralysis.  We are nevertheless capable of and expected to carry full caseloads.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michal Nowicki via blindlaw
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 10:23 AM
To: 'Blind Law Mailing List'
Cc: Michal Nowicki
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] requiring a Driver's License as a pre-requisite to employment as an attorney

Susan,

That is a ridiculous requirement.  It is outright discrimination.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kelly via blindlaw
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2015 11:36 AM
To: Blind Law Mailing List
Cc: Susan Kelly
Subject: [blindlaw] requiring a Driver's License as a pre-requisite to employment as an attorney

It has come to my attention that the County by which I am employed (in
Arizona) now makes the possession of a valid driver's license a pre-requisite to application for employment.  There are at least four of us (perhaps more) who, due to blindness or physical disability, do not drive.
Presumably, when the applications were made through paper forms, there was some oversight by a human being in the HR office that made allowances for that questionable pre-requisite, if it even existed previously.  Now, however, all applications must be made through the largely inaccessible ADP payroll and benefits computer program, further leaving those who are blind or otherwise unable to use the program independently out of the loop.

Driving is not essential to any attorney position.  The attorneys who represent adult criminal defendants are able to use a video visitation service to meet remotely with their clients should they not have access to a vehicle or lack time to drive out to the jail.  Those of us at juvenile court have only to walk to the detention pods that are located on the same physical site as our office.  Presumably, driving is similarly unnecessary to attorneys in the prosecutor's office.  Finally, even for attorneys in the public fiduciary office or others facing the odd meeting or task that would require transportation, we have a full para-transit system, public busses, and numerous cab companies.  That being so, how can possession of a valid driver's license be made a pre-requisite to application for employment as an attorney?
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