Dementia capability for the legal profession
Our work aims to advance dementia capability for the legal profession. The term ‘dementia capable’ describes a practitioner whose knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours enable them to work effectively with people living with, or at risk for, dementia, those who support them, as well as other clients wishing to plan ahead for the future.
Activities
Defining and developing dementia-capable attributes
In 2023/24, Prof Ries led a Delphi study that involved legal practitioners and people with lived experience of dementia. Participants shared their views to reach agreement on the attributes of a dementia-capable legal practitioner and strategies to support practitioners in attaining those attributes. Read more about this work here.
Pilot evaluation of online dementia training
Prof Ries conducted a pilot evaluation of an online dementia training courses for legal practitioners. Participants rated the training positively and were able to apply it in their professional practice. This research also provided insights into the role of the legal profession and lawyering practices in advancing the objectives of Australia’s National Dementia Action Plan.
Find out more in this article, Nola Ries & Briony Johnston, 'Dementia training for lawyers: results from a pilot evaluation study and implications for building dementia capability in the legal profession' (2024) Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2023.2280529.
Please also visit our resources page.
Publications: Advance Care Planning
Briony Johnston, Nola Ries & Amy Waller, ‘Key Informant Perspectives on Barriers to Advance Personal Planning: Results from a Qualitative Interview Study’ (2023) 30(3) Journal of Law and Medicine 690-705.
A Waller, R Sanson-Fisher, N Ries & J Bryant, “Increasing advance personal planning: the need for action at the community level” (2018) 18 BMC Public Health 606 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5523-5
Nola M Ries, Maureen Douglas, Jessica Simon & Konrad Fassbender, “How Do Lawyers Assist Their Clients with Advance Care Planning? Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey of Lawyers in Alberta, Canada” (2018) 55(3) Alberta Law Review 683-701
Nola M Ries, “Lawyers and Advance Care and End-of-Life Planning: Enhancing Collaboration between Legal and Health Professions” (2016) 23 Journal of Law and Medicine 887-906
Nola M Ries, Maureen Douglas, Jessica Simon & Konrad Fassbender, “Doctors, Lawyers and Advance Care Planning: Time for Innovation to Work Together to Meet Client Needs” (2016) 12:2 Healthcare Policy 12-18