The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2025

A ccessibility

Is Your Law Firm Compliant With Title III of the Americans With Disabilities Act?

A Practical Guide for Legal Professionals

By Angie Barker

A S ATTORNEYS, WE SPEND countless hours ensuring our clients comply with laws and regulations. But many law firms overlook their obligations as service providers under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 1 This oversight represents not only a potential legal liability but also a missed opportunity to overtly demonstrate our profession’s com mitment to equal access to justice. Title III of the ADA, 2 which prohib its discrimination on the basis of disability in places of public accom modation, applies directly to law firm offices. It creates specific obli gations every law firm must under stand and properly implement. 3 Our profession has a unique responsibility to model compli ance with civil rights legislation. But when law firms fail to provide accessible facilities, they create barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from obtaining legal representation, consulting with attorneys or participating in office-based legal proceedings.

This article examines the specific Title III requirements that apply to law firm offices – focusing on practical compliance strategies for parking lots, building entrances, reception areas, restrooms and conference rooms. Unlike Title I, which addresses employment discrimination, or Title II, which applies to federal, state and local government ser vices, Title III specifically governs public accommodations operated by private entities. The scope of Title III extends beyond mere physical accessibility. In general, the statute requires that “goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation.” 4 Title III of the ADA defines places of public accommodation broadly to include “office of an UNDERSTANDING TITLE III’S APPLICATION TO LAW FIRMS

accountant or lawyer, pharmacy, insurance office, professional office of a health care provider, hospital, or other service estab lishment.” 5 Given that a lawyer’s office is specifically mentioned, the question as to whether a law firm’s office falls under Title III of the ADA is a settled matter. Unfortunately, not every attor ney or law firm understands or adheres to the statute. In 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) brought an action against attorney Patric LeHouillier and his law firm, LeHouillier & Associates PC, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The DOJ claimed Mr. LeHouillier violated the civil rights of the opposing counsel’s client (who fit the definition of dis abled under the ADA) by denying her entry to his law office for a deposition being conducted in his firm’s conference room. The matter culminated in a consent decree replete with obligations, remedial actions, monetary relief and civil penalties against Mr. LeHouillier

Statements or opinions expressed in the Oklahoma Bar Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Oklahoma Bar Association, its officers, Board of Governors, Board of Editors or staff.

50 | SEPTEMBER 2025

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL