​​"I was diagnosed with a form of dyslexia at 27 while studying for my Graduate Diploma in Law, after a friend recognised that I had certain dyslexic traits and encouraged me to seek an assessment. My Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis came after my psychologist insisted on an ADHD indicator test as part of my dyslexia diagnosis. Both diagnoses were life changing for me. 

Throughout school and university, I did not display "traditional" symptoms of my conditions, for example, poor spelling and grammar for dyslexia or obvious hyperactivity for ADHD. However, I always seemed to underperform in timed and handwritten exams in large exam halls, and traditional methods of revision (such as memorisation by reading repetition) didn't seem to work for me. Frustratingly, teachers and lecturers just assumed that I wasn't putting in the work, when in reality the opposite was true.

As a result, the way I perceived myself at school and university had knock-on effects for my mental health and wellbeing. 

My diagnoses allowed me to finally understand how my brain worked. I was immediately able to put in place reasonable adjustments and exam revision techniques that improved my exam results exponentially. Over the past four years since diagnosis, I have learnt about my strengths and weaknesses, and feel confident sharing with others that I think differently to them.

How my neurodivergence impacts me at work

My brain always envisages the big picture. It can be tough to work through a task when I'm not fully aware of the context, because I will end up overthinking and going beyond what is needed, or I won't be sure where to start. This can lead to an ADHD symptom called "work paralysis". 

There are simple ways to address this. I appreciate a quick verbal summary of the case, and an overview of why the task I'm doing contributes to the overall strategy. This gives me the opportunity to ask questions and pinpoint the exact parameters of my work, the timeframe that I need to complete it in, and where I should start. It also gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel like I'm contributing. 

The strengths my neurodivergence brings to me at work

One of the side effects of seeing the big picture is thinking critically. I've learnt that "arguing for fun" is an ADHD trait. This is a very useful skill in litigation, and explains why I enjoy drafting skeleton arguments and rebuttals. 

I can also "hyper-focus" when I'm interested in the substance of a task, or when I need to hit a deadline. My ability to simultaneously think clearly and get things done quickly makes me calm under pressure. Practically, this means that I can be called in on a task at the last minute and effectively assist. 

Three things I think everyone should know about neurodiversity

• • No neurodivergent condition is experienced in the same way. Each person experiences different symptoms, personality traits, challenges and strengths.
  • Neurodiversity is just thinking differently. If we all thought in exactly the same way, we wouldn't come up with any fresh ideas or concepts. Being able to think differently to persuade the judge of a new angle on a legal concept is a real strength.
  • You can be neurodivergent and academic. The way you think has no impact on your actual academic ability, and the way academic ability is usually tested (timed exams reliant on memory recall) does not demonstrate how smart or capable most people are."