A woman diagnosed as an adult as having ADHD is preparing to stage a groundbreaking conference discussing – and catering for – neurodivergence in the legal profession.
Jessica Lazarus, the commercial director of legal operations at DWF, has put together the inaugural Legal Unmasked conference which will be held in London on 6 May.
Lazarus was inspired by her own experience of trying to hide her condition for so many years and subsequently finding hundreds of other people in the legal sector going through the same thing.
The conference features thought-leaders, coaches, doctors and innovators leading conversations and workshops about how to navigate the working environment with neurodiversity, the hidden cost of ‘fitting in’ and understanding and preventing burnout.
‘From the outside, it looks like I’ve successfully navigated the legal career path. But from the inside, it’s taken a huge toll,’ Lazarus told the Gazette. ‘I was confident there were other people out there going through the same thing and so I decided to put myself out there to see who else was experiencing something similar.
‘The response was incredible and I realised there is such a massive need here. The more people I talked to the more I realised this is a huge opportunity to have a real, positive impact on the legal profession.’
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Lazarus said she wanted Legal Unmasked, which is sponsored by DWF and AI provider Legora, to feel and look different. She has worked with experts to design a conference setting which encourages focus and provides a safe space for delegates to be themselves, with features including soft lighting, a dedicated decompression room, fidgets and standing areas. Question cards will also be placed on tables to help people to engage.
Lazarus, who is a qualified solicitor, believes there is an enormous amount of untapped talent across the legal profession if people are given the conditions in which to succeed.
‘Those of us who think differently possess the very skills that are needed in this time of legal transformation. Curiosity, adaptability, connecting the dots, building relationships, and seeing the bigger picture are just some of these skills that our neurodivergent lawyers have been practicing since birth.
‘It is now a strategic imperative for firms to get the best out of their neurodivergent talent if they want to stay relevant and to thrive. Whoever gets this right is going to do really well.
‘I recognise I’m working from my own lived experience and everyone’s is so different whether they’ve been diagnosed or not. It’s about being curious, taking the time to understand each person - who they are and what they need to thrive.’
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