BLIND SOLICITOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 May 1934, Page 8

BLIND SOLICITOR

WON HIS FIRST CASE.

A blind solicitor made bis first ap. nearance in court at Sunderland, and won. his case.

He is Mr. Matthew Bates, of John Street, Sunderland, who began practising in January, after securing his practising certificate in December. Mr. Bates has had to depend chiefly on the help of a second person wjio has read to him the majority of the works necessary to get through his legal examination. He has, however, overcome the difficulties, and much of. his work has been done by the use of Braille toxt-bQoks. After his early education he went to Keble College, Oxford, for his degree, and he states that he was able to pass without any special difficulty. “During examinations,” he said, “I had to have the help of another person to wrote for me as I dedicated my answers.

“I must admit that at the beginning I was not interested in law, but now that I am through I have an all-per-vading interest in my work, as I am refused much in the way of recreative pleasures which sighted people can enjoy. I have made law both my work ar-d my hobby.” This is the first time that a blind solicitor has practised in the North Country. Mr. Bates was not born blind, but became so through an earlj r illness.