Lawyers with ADHD: Neurodiversity & Mental Health in the Legal Profession
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- In a 2016 study, 12.5% of lawyers reported having ADHD compared to 4-8% of adults generally. And that’s just the lawyers who know that they have ADHD. In this video I share my experience navigating the legal profession with undiagnosed ADHD and what I’ve learned since my diagnosis so that neurotypical lawyers can have an understanding of how their ADHD colleagues operate.
0:00 Introduction
0:50 My ADHD Diagnosis
2:09 Lawyers with ADHD
3:50 What Neurotypical Lawyers Should Know about ADHD
4:48 IMPORTANT ADHD CAVEAT
5:14 Procrastination + ADHD
6:05 Low Billables + ADHD
7:01 Chronically Late + ADHD
8:03 Forgetfulness + ADHD
8:58 Careless Mistakes + ADHD
11:14 ADHD Resources
11:55 Lawyer Burnout
ADHD Resources
ADHD as a Gift in the Legal Profession: www.lclma.org/2021/10/29/adhd...
CHADD - Workplace Issues: chadd.org/for-adults/workplac...
PsychCentral - Neurotransmitters Involved in ADHD: psychcentral.com/adhd/neurotr...
Healthline - ADHD: The Role of Dopamine: www.healthline.com/health/adh...
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I'd love to know--did this video give you a better understanding of your ADHD colleagues (or yourself)?
Thank you for this video. I'm a 32 year old lawyer, recently diagnosed with ADHD. Just starting to take medication and still adapting. My CV is "brilliant" for my country' standards but I struggle a lot with all the issues you described - it sums it up perfectly. What people don't know is that, although I've worked in a number of very reputable places, I was once fired for missing a deadline, I constantly under-perform in terms of my billable hours and live in a constant state of anxiety of fear of failure. I'm great with finding creative complex solutions for difficult problems but I'm horrible at basic tasks that require use of the "executive function" part of the brain. This makes my colleagues confuse ("how can she be this intelligent and still constantly forget basis things or sending emails to the wrong people?"). The truth is our job is often be very very boring and in moments where I cannot hyperfocus, I do struggle a LOT. As a results-driven/deliverables profession, it can be very challenging. I don't feel comfortable sharing my diagnosis because I know my boss would not understand (some colleagues would, but not my boss). HOWEVER, I do love my job and having a diagnosis was a turning point as I can finally stop beating myself up for failing at basic stuff and implement mitigation solutions that help me thrive. I feel this may be a turning point in my career because now I know exactly where my challenges are coming from. It's great to see a public debate on ADHD in legal professions. Thank you so much for this. It was really spot on!
Me too. On all of the above!
As a student with ADHD who wants to go to law school but was worried about if I'd be ok, this made me feel so seen!! Thank you for talking about your experiences
I’m a 31-yo lawyer and I suspect I have adhd (I’m going to get evaluated soon). One of the things I struggle with is starting basic (and I mean basic) tasks that I find uninteresting/not fun, even if they’re seemingly easy to do. It’s hard to start even when I really really want to, which stresses me out and also contributes to low billables because I can’t focus on anything else except that other basic thing I’m supposed to be doing. It’s a recurring cycle. If anyone has any tips I’m all ears 🙌🏽 Ty for this video-it’s nice to feel seen 🙏🏽
I am taking active steps to leave behind this toxic excuse of a profession after 12 years. And I’m 💯 percent sure I’ll have PTSD for the rest of my days. Ungrateful demanding clients, unrealistic expectations and deadlines, meeting budget is never enough. Employers keep wanting more. I tried leaving my first employer, joined another place, then subsequently opened my own practice. The money is great but it doesn’t get any better!! I’ve noticed so many changes in my physical appearance, my health, my mental health. Figured it’s simply the profession and I’m done with this feeling. Not worth it. I’d rather have less money but be peaceful.
Did you get a new career? New job? Or still practicing, like me?
@@morkeljakeson9438 Ello still riding it out for this year and then I’ll be done with my studies (change of career). Have cut down my practice drastically and will be looking at a sabbatical from June 😋
I’m studying for the LSAT and I’ve often worried about whether I can be a lawyer and have ADHD and this video made me feel so much better. Side note, your set-up looks so organized and ADHD-friendly!
I'm studying for the LSAT too and I'm recently diagnosed with ADHD but I'm not on medication. Studying for the LSAT is the most difficult thing I've done so far! How has studying been for you so far? Have you noticed any tips that help you with studying? I would love any advice if you have any!😅
@@Danigirlrocks101 Hi Dani! I know your comment was from awhile back but do you have any updates? I began my LSAT studies this week and I'm diagnosed adhd but cant take medication anymore. How have you been doing with it? Did you study med free? I hope its been possible for you!
@@Lizzz888 I wish I could offer you more advice! I decided not to apply this cycle and I'm going to take the test this summer! I'm planning to restart my studying next month. I wish I could give you inspirational advice, but ADHD + my internship has made my progress very slow.😭
I really appreciate what you share!
For long time female ADHD has not studied. So, many girls could not get the proper help. And it is really important to talk about the symptoms which is not typically considered as “the ADHD”.
I’m Korean and I feel the situation in Korea lags even far behind 😕
Great perspective, thank you for sharing. It was really helpful.
Wow. I left the law and became an academic. It was the best thing I ever did! What you are saying describes me to a "T", though I have never been diagnosed formally as ADHD. It's pretty clear to me (as well as all my friends and family) that I'm a classic case.
Just curious, what area of academia you are in.
undergraduate law (criminal justice, pre-law, paralegal)@@morkeljakeson9438
I was told by several people in my life i should have gone to law school. one time in my life i found myself in court defending myself. I was called for my case, and the prosecution opened by say they would like to set a new date because they don't have their case prepared. now i don't know the law, but when asked do i have anything to say, i blurted out They had 16 weeks to prepare a case, i think that's plenty of time, i would like a dismissal. Now i don't know how i did it, it was a pure reaction with no thought put into it. The judge said something along the line of the prosecution did in fact have plenty of time and granted my dismissal. it was first case of the day and i still remember all eyes on me in the audience, the look on their face of astonishment when i walked out. it was a great feeling.
i was innocent anyway, but still felt rewarding.
i was diagnosed at 6 years of age.
This is great, thanks!
How did you deal with your working memory issues?
One thing that helps me is repeating things aloud or in my head until I don't need them anymore (e.g., computer passwords, phone numbers, something I need to grab for my kid that they need for school, etc.). Beyond that, I live in a forest of sticky notes, a detailed, color-coded Google calendar, an Apple Watch synced up to that calendar along with various reminders, alerts, alarms. Also, the biggest predictor of my working memory is the amount and quality of sleep I got the night before!
I wish i could be good at something and not give up when i get bored.
Hi Annie, I am currently in my final year of law degree in Ireland (so the system is quite different), and the is a huge chance that I may have ADHD. And I was told that I should get tested. I fear that I can’t make a decision or focus long enough, and my lack of efficient Time management would make me a horrible lawyer. So I am already shooting myself in the foot by not applying for internships and grad roles. I am also confused about if the law is the right path for me the past four years. I have been trying to think of another direction, but I have either gotten bored of some or couldn’t shake off the legal path.
Do you have any advice? As I have been confused about this for the last 2 years. I don’t have any passion for any particular field. But I like writing and research so the law wouldn’t be a bad place to start. And those around me also seem to have a bigger zeal for law than I do. I am just unsure how to navigate the legal space, knowing are so many areas.
And I am also in the top 5 in my class with one of the highest grades so it makes it hard for everyone around me to understand why I am confused about my future but I also thrive under pressure.
My advice to you would be to get tested! Because if you do have ADHD, you can get the support you need through medication and therapy to manage your symptoms and thrive as a lawyer. I work with so many successful lawyers with ADHD who have treatment plans that allow them continue to excel in their careers. So hope is not lost--you can still do this!
Also, regardless of whether or not you get diagnosed with ADHD, request that your mental health care provider evaluate you for co-morbidities like anxiety, panic, depression, bi-polar disorder, OCD, dyslexia, etc. There are so many other conditions that occur alongside ADHD and identifying them sooner rather than later is ideal.
I was first diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in my late 20s, yet no one thought to evaluate me for ADHD until I requested it at age 40.
Hi! How do you handle lawschool while having adhd?
That's the neat part.
You don't.
@@theeternalgus9119Then how come there are lawyers with ADHD even unmedicated ones 🤔
wait you’re 40?!? you look like you’re in 20s… 🤔
I'm *over* 40! I got lucky with the family gene pool 💁🏻♀️
@@TheJDNationYOU’RE OVER 40?!
I’m a new viewer so I’m genuinely and honestly shocked!
The high prevalence of ADHD in lawyers is probably less to do with actually having ADHD and more to do with the fact that most people can’t keep up with the job and manifest symptoms of ADHD.
This is so wrong and a damaging message to spread you are not a medical expert by any means.
agreed this lady does not seem like she has adhd. i could never in a billion years be valedictorian of my class even with all the adderall in the world.
@@megankice9187 i have adhd this lady does not, and im just being honest here
@Wendy's Are you trying to say that many of the lawyers that "appear" to have ADHD do so because they are not able to cope with the demands of being a lawyer? Are you a lawyer?
@@megankice9187 which message are you referring to? The video or the comment from @Wendy's?