Neurodiversity in Law

National Stress Awareness day (November 6th) gives us a moment to reflect on the way we cope with the pressures of daily life. Work related stress can be significant, especially in competitive professions such as law. Amongst pressure to do more and work longer hours, it is important to consciously prioritise wellness and recognise the signs of stress. Stress can present in a variety of ways, including headaches, muscle tension, poor sleep, and lack of motivation (ISMA). Take a moment today to reflect on how you handle stress and practice stress management strategies! Strategies to reduce stress include: - Breathing exercises 😮💨 - Meditation and mindfulness 🧘 - Physical exercise 🏃 - Spending time in nature 🏞️ Please remember to always reach out for support if you are struggling to cope with the impacts of stress! #NationalStressAwarenessDay

🧡As we approach the end of October, it is vital to acknowledge that October is ADHD awareness month. 🧡 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5% of the population. ADHD is not just about distractions or fidgeting, it is about a powerful sense of justice, wit for communication, empathy, balance, and of course resilience. 💪✨ While ADHDers certainly face unique challenges, they also bring creativity, determination, and innovative thinking to the table—qualities that make them a formidable force in the legal profession. ⚖️ We believe in creating an inclusive environment where everyone, including those with ADHD, can thrive. At Neurodiversity in Law, we’re committed to raising awareness, offering support, and advocating for a legal community that recognises and values neurodiversity. 🔹 If you are working as a paralegal or clerk, studying law, teaching or training law, practising as a solicitor or barrister, serving as a judge, or working in academia, your ADHD is not a limitation—it’s part of who you are. 🌟 Are you willing to join us and redefine what success looks like in the legal sector? Connect with us today and help make the profession truly inclusive for all. 🔗 #ADHDAwarenessMonth #NeurodiversityInLaw #ADHD #Inclusion #Neurodiversity #AccessibleLaw #LawyersWithADHD

Our friends at Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar have launched their two-way mentorship scheme for 2024/2025, aimed at supporting disabled aspiring barristers! 🎓 If you're a disabled aspiring barrister seeking support from a mentor, this mentorship scheme offers invaluable guidance and advice from experienced practitioners. We strongly encourage you to apply! 🙌 Likewise, if you're a practising barrister, we urge you to sign up as a mentor. By offering your expertise and gaining a deeper understanding of the hurdles disabled aspiring barristers face, you can play a vital role in making the bar more inclusive. To learn more and register, please visit the links in the shared post below!

Continuing with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Categories, congratulations to the following businesses who have been nominated for the Not-for-Profit Organisation or Representative Body of the Year. GROW Mentoring March Women - Women in M&A  Lawyers Who Care  Neurodiversity in Law Right to Equality The Legal Lynk  Chancery Bar Association City of London Law Society (CLLS) Legal Neurodiversity Network #MenopauseMatters   The Tyro Lawyer CIC Ladies of Law®️⚖️ Girls Human Rights Hub In/Fertility in the City neurodiversikey®   Take a look at the full 250-strong list of nominees - https://lnkd.in/eciqMNPM #womeninlaw #diversity #mentalhealth #LGBT+ #diversityequityinclusion # Sustainability 

Our friends at Bringing [Dis]Ability to the Bar have launched their two-way mentorship scheme for 2024/2025, aimed at supporting disabled aspiring barristers! 🎓 If you're a disabled aspiring barrister seeking support from a mentor, this mentorship scheme offers invaluable guidance and advice from experienced practitioners. We strongly encourage you to apply! 🙌 Likewise, if you're a practising barrister, we urge you to sign up as a mentor. By offering your expertise and gaining a deeper understanding of the hurdles disabled aspiring barristers face, you can play a vital role in making the bar more inclusive. To learn more and register, please visit the links in the shared post below!

You can now register for BDABar's Two-Way Mentorship Scheme 2024-25! Sign up for mentees: https://lnkd.in/ebqw_jtj Sign up for mentors: https://lnkd.in/eXmVb7-X

October 22 is International Stammering Awareness Day - a day to celebrate the diverse ways we speak. 💚🩵 Stammering, also known as stuttering, is a divergence in speech patterns, characterised by the occurrence of repeated disruptions in a person’s speech (National Stuttering Association). Stammering can present in a variety of ways and its exact cause is unknown. About 1 in 100 people have a stammer - yet stuttering is often unfairly stigmatised and portrayed as a limitation (STAMMA). In reality, stammering is not a flaw at all, it is simply a difference in how some people speak, and it is essential that we work together to challenge the stigma and misconceptions about it. How can we make a difference? By fostering patience, avoiding interruptions, and listening openly, we can make communication smoother and more comfortable for people who stammer.  Remember: - Stammering does not mean someone has bad communication skills. People who stutter can be excellent communicators - plenty of famous actors, singers and public figures stutter. - Stammering is not something to ‘overcome’ or ‘defeat’, it is simply the way some people speak. - Always ask open questions and listen to people who stammer. The key to advancing inclusivity is by listening to the community and taking first hand recommendations from people with speech differences. Let’s work together to increase the inclusivity in the legal profession for individuals who stutter and celebrate all of the diverse ways we speak. 🔊💚🩵  #StammeringAwareness #InternationalStutteringAwarenessDay #InclusionMatters #NeurodiversityinLaw #nomindleftbehind.

📢 I NEED YOUR HELP: Calling All Participants! 📢 Andrew MacFarlane Currently seeking participants for a study on the information seeking behaviour of people with Dyslexia working in UK professional services firms. Please see research flyer attached containing project and participant requirements. To sign up, contact annie.duckworth@city.ac.uk for further information and relevant documentation. Your insights and experiences could help contribute to the development of more inclusive information literacy strategies. Feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested! #DAW24

Embracing the change, supporting each other. Menopause is a natural transition, not a taboo. Let's talk about it openly. Happy World Menopause Day! #WorldMenopauseDay

🩵 As we mark obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) awareness week, it is essential not to forget that OCD is not a quirk, type nor personality trait, it is a serious, complex and multifaceted mental health condition that can severely impact day to day life. 🩵 Approximately 1.2% of the UK population have OCD (OCDUK). OCD can be characterised by two-fold: - Unwanted and unpleasant thoughts which cause feelings or anxiety, disgust or unease (obsessions). - Repetitive behaviours, rituals or mental acts performed to temporarily relieve such feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease (compulsions). Reasonable Adjustments Under the Equality Act 2010, employers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments which would aid or alleviate disabilities. For OCD, this may present as: 1. Environmental Adjustments: - Private workspaces - Flexible seating arrangements - Remote or flexible working environments 2. Time Management: - Flexible working hours - Additional breaks 3. Support Systems: - Regular check-ins with managers - Clear written instructions - Access to and openness for support services - Time off for appointments The legal profession is gradually becoming more open about and accepting of neurodiversity, but we still have work to do. By understanding OCD and supporting those who live with it, we can create a more inclusive profession free from prejudice, intolerance and discrimination. #OCDawareness #OCD #NeurodiversityInLaw #NoMindLeftBehind #Neurodiversity 🩵