fwp, in cooperation with the Zero Project, an initiative of the Essl Foundation, is committed to opening doors to blind people wishing to pursue a career in law. To introduce the initiative, fwp hosted a roundtable discussion at its premises.

Jointly with the Zero Project, Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH hosted a presentation by Justice Richard Bernstein, the first blind judge at the Michigan Supreme Court, in February 2017. The focus of the ensuing exciting discussion was mainly on the daily life of Justice Bernstein. He had come to Vienna to attend the Zero Project Conference and promote the issue of ‘Employment for persons with disabilities’.

This presentation and an event featuring blind climber Andy Holzer, which took place at the initiative of fwp at the Dialogue in the Dark premises in the fall of 2016, motivated the firm to intensify its commitment to this cause. This was followed by the idea to focus on Austria and to invite one of the first two blind judges in Austria, Gerhard Höllerer (judge at the Federal Administrative Court (Bundesverwaltungsgericht)).

A roundtable event to discuss the topic ‘Blind Insights – legal career prospects for blind people’ with high-profile participants, including Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Justice Wolfgang Brandstetter, the President of the Federal Administrative Court Harald Perl, Judge Gerhard Höllerer, the Director of the Zero Project Michael Fembek (Essl Foundation), and labour law expert Kurt Wratzfeld (Fellner Wratzfeld & Partner) was held on 21 September 2017. The objective of the meeting moderated by actress and coach Lena Reichmuth was to discuss legal career options for blind people.

Gerhard Höllerer spoke about his fascinating career and his everyday work as a judge at the Federal Administrative Court: “We do the same work as all other judges at the Federal Administrative Court.”

President Perl: ‘At the Federal Administrative Court, working with the two blind judges has been normality right from the start. Very little investment in blind-friendly equipment was needed.’

Statement of Vice-Chancellor Brandstetter: ‘At the moment we employ 23 persons with disabilities as judges and three as public prosecutors. In the last few years, the respective target figures stipulated by the Federal Republic have been clearly exceeded. We are pleased to see that our efforts met with success and we are going to continue them.’

Statement of Michael Fembek: ‘We need exemplary institutions like the Federal Administrative Court as role models to show others that it can be done and how it can be done.’

Statement of Kurt Wratzfeld: ‘To have fewer dismissal protection provisions makes it easier to employ people with disabilities.’