What we can learn from the European Accessibility Act

In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force, establishing accessibility requirements for key products and services. The directive aims to boost the accessibility and inclusiveness of society, by removing barriers faced by disabled people. For example, ATMs will need to offer audio assisted electronic transactions, so that they are accessible to visually impaired people. Also, keyboards will have to be made with disabled people in mind.

While the UK is not legally required to comply with the Act, this is a significant piece of legislation that the nation can learn from, as it recognises that society needs to adapt – not those with impairments. This is in line with the social model of disability which states that ‘people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference’.

Accessibility in the legal sector

The legal industry is behind the curve when it comes to inclusivity, so would greatly benefit from adhering to the accessibility requirements in the EAA. According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, 16% of the UK workforce is disabled, however only 6% of lawyers were disabled in 2023. Moreover, the Magistrates’ Association reported in 2023 that three-quarters of magistrates courts are insufficiently accessible.

It is not just physical spaces that present accessibility barriers; over one billion people worldwide encounter barriers when trying to read and understand content online. This could be due to disabilities, learning difficulties, visual impairments, or speaking English as a second language. With AI and digital technology becoming more prevalent in the legal sector, we should look to the EAA accessibility requirements for guidance on how we can make our products and services more accessible.

Minster Law’s assistive technology

At Minster Law, we know that the legal sector and claim journey is complex enough, without the additional barriers faced by disabled people. Earlier this year, we were proud to introduce ReciteMe assistive technology to our digital channels, to help customers access our content and services without barriers. Since then, 30% of customers using Minster Law’s digital claims portal, INK, have used our assistive technology to progress their claim and consume content. But this is just one step that we are taking towards improving the accessibility of our services.

Our commitment to customer excellence

We strive to achieve customer excellence, no matter the requirements of our clients. We have an active and ongoing commitment to make our legal support, recruitment and digital channels more inclusive. Our dedicated ED&I team is constantly monitoring and improving accessibility and invites feedback on any changes or action that we can take.