LawCareers.Net celebrates Neurodiversity Celebration Week

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It's Neurodiversity Celebration Week! A week that “challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences”, according to the Law Society.

“Whoever you are and whatever your background, the Law Society wants you to have the opportunity to succeed in this rewarding profession.

“We're here to support our individual members and organisations to take the difficult but necessary actions to accelerate change across the profession,” says Law Society President I. Stephanie Boyce.

The Law Society has recently signed up to two initiatives, Neurodiversity in Business and Neurodiversity in Law, which aim to improve the working environment for neurodivergent people and remove the “stigma often associated with people who think differently.”

Visit LawCareers.Net's Diversity hub for information on what law firms, chambers and education providers are doing to create a more diverse and inclusive profession!

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, LCN wants to share some fantastic articles and podcasts on neurodiversity and the legal profession.

In this LCN Blog ‘How can you be a good ally for diverse lawyers’, Phil Steventon outlines the importance of being an ally and what people in the legal profession and society can do to accommodate neurodivergent people.

In Phil’s ‘Introduction to neurodiversity’ article, he highlights a lack of awareness when it comes to neurodivergent lawyers: "Neurodiversity is something that is not often considered when we think of wider diversity and inclusion schemes and initiatives. Because the difficulties are often invisible, it can sometimes be overlooked particularly by those in management roles and when recruiting."

Similarly, in 'Championing social mobility and disability inclusion in the legal profession', Browne Jacobson LLP associate Lynette Wieland, is a champion for Neurodiversity in Law – “an organisational network that promotes and supports neurodiversity in the legal profession and works to eliminate the stigma that is too often associated with neurodiverse individuals."

In 'Neurodiversity in firms: acknowledging the benefits', future trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance and founder of the Neurodiverse Lawyer Project, Amelia Platton outlines why employees should listen to their neurodivergent employees: "Many neurodivergent individuals are extremely creative, innovative, and problem solvers. This relates to both the methods of work and the work itself. This may have a knock-on impact on other employees, who may begin to do things differently – in a positive way."

In ‘Assuring diversity: accessibility and disability in the legal profession’, AllHires Charlie Hooper highlights various ways firms can improve access to the profession: "Of course, a firm cannot improve the diversity of its workforce without hiring a broad pool of candidates, and it’s crucial that candidates don’t drop out of the recruitment process at the wrong time or for the wrong reasons."

In this LawCareers.Net Podcast Episode on ‘Neurodiversity and the legal profession’, Phil shares his experiences and insight into neurodiversity. He also touches on how it might impact people’s journey to becoming a lawyer, how the profession can become more inclusive, and the benefits and advantages of being neurodivergent.