The ND Lawyer

Introduction and overview - 0:00

Section 1, Why there is an information gap: 07:10

Section 2, Using legal recruiters: 10:30

Section 3, How to find roles: 14:28

Section 4, CVs: 19:54

Section 5, Competency and Technical Interviews: 24:34

Section 6, Reasonable adjustments: 38:45

Outro and summary: 43:27

I'm back after two years with a solo episode of The ND Lawyer Podcast. I talk about finishing my training contract, qualifying as a solicitor and what’s changed (or hasn’t) since then. There’s some reflection on life, why I’ve felt distant from the neurodiversity space lately, and what it’s like trying to find direction when things feel a bit uncertain. It’s honest, low-key and a bit rambly in places — but maybe that’s the point.

Website: https://ndlawyerproject.org.uk

Instagram and Tiktok: @ndlawyerproject

Linkedin: Amelia Platton 

In this week’s episode Naomi (PR Director at NDLP) is Joined by Gemma, who  was diagnosed as autistic aged 17 and now works as a Legal Engineer at Simmons & Simmons Wavelength, consulting clients on legal operations. She is a part of the Neurodiversity Network at Simmons & Simmons and advocates for the proactive inclusion of neurodivergent and disabled people. Gemma is interested in how legal operations functions can help to remove barriers to neurodivergent people by improving processes and using technology.

Naomi and Gemma discuss all from mental health to what a legal engineer does to the importance of neurodiversity networks. 

In this week's episode, we are joined by Stephanie Camilleri, who was diagnosed with ADHD following the diagnosis of her children.  Stephanie has worked in magic circle law and in-house, predominately in banking law. She founded The ADHD Advocate in 2018, uniquely combining "Coaching, Education, and the Law".

Stephanie explains that The ADHD Advocate "helps people understand their ADHD - their entitlements to support under the law and how they can manage the challenges and harness the strengths that come with ADHD...clients include children with ADHD and their parents, adults with ADHD, teachers, schools and leaders in the corporate world."

Find out more here
To find Stephanie on Linkedin, press here
Transcribed version here

Welcome back to the ND Lawyer Podcast!  In this shorter episode, we introduce Series 2 and some changes to the podcast. Amelia explains some candid personal updates (including starting as a Trainee) alongside an overview of the project's growth within the last 8 months. 

In this week's episode, Saffia and Adam from the full-service national firm Geldards LLP join us for a discussion. While Saffia describes the firm's approach to neurodiversity in recruitment and employment, Adam talks about his experiences as a dyslexic Associate Partner and Head of Education Law.

In this episode we are joined by Annie Crowe. Annie is a proud autistic ADHD advocate and lawyer and the founding Director of Neurodivergent Millennial, a consulting business, a consulting business that is leading the way for Neurodiversity inclusion in the 21st Century. She is also the founder and Chair of Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia (EDNA), a neurodivergent-led not-for-profit aimed at primarily supporting autistic Australians with eating disorders through the promotion of neurodiversity-affirming healthcare and disability support. She is an internationally recognised speaker on neurodiversity and disability inclusion. Annie has a background in human rights law and policy development, she uses this combined with her lived experience to advocate for social justice and inclusion of neurodivergent people in the Australian Health System and workforce. She works tirelessly to ensure neurodivergent voices are heard and that their lived experience is valued for the expertise that it is. 

Dr. Felicity Gerry QC joins us on this week's episode. We begin by talking about Felicity's path, her career, her pursuits, and her personal insights. We then talk about her work on autism and criminal justice, as well as the broader issues of complicity, intent, and defences, "trauma-informed courts," and what the criminal justice system can do to be more inclusive to all.

Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/HHNq_S3Xd7RWzkxk8jONt0xU68U

https://felicitygerry.com/ - "Professor Felicity Gerry QC is an international QC at Libertas Chambers, London and Crockett Chambers, Melbourne, largely defending in serious and complex criminal trials and appeals, often with an international element. She was Solicitor’s Journal Legal Personality of the Year 2016 and Australian Barrister of the Year 2020...Admitted to the list of counsel for the International Criminal Court and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague and in England & Wales and in Australia (Victoria and the High Court Roll) and has had ad hoc admission in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. She led the appeal in R v Jogee in the UK Supreme Court which was described by the BBC as a ‘moment of genuine legal history’ and she led the intervention for JUSTICE in the Shamima Begum Appeals. Felicity is one of the few women silks to defend in a terrorism trial and led a team of academics and practitioners who were given leave to file an Amicus Curiae brief in the ICTY on JCEIII liability. She has also advised in relation to death penalty matters in Indonesia and the Philippines, on citizens held in Syrian camps and on complicity in international criminal cases. Felicity is Honorary Professor at Salford University in the School of Health and Society where her research focus is on Autism and criminal law, FGM law and Child Rights. She is also Professor of Legal Practice at Deakin University where she is unit chair for MLL419/MLJ728 Contemporary International Legal Challenges – topics have included Modern Slavery, Terrorism, War Crimes and Climate Change law – and is involved in the clinical programs." 

"Autism Spectrum Disorder and the criminal Law" (Gerry QC, FR, Allely, CS and Rowland, AG) - https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/61021/1/autism-spectrum-disorder-and-the-criminal-law-felicity-gerry-june-2021.pdf
Website - https://felicitygerry.com/
Libertas Chambers - https://www.libertaschambers.com/our-people/felicity-gerry-qc/
We are the city - https://wearethecity.com/inspirational-woman-professor-felicity-gerry-qc-international-queens-counsel-professor-of-legal-practice/
University of Salford - https://www.salford.ac.uk/our-staff/felicity-gerry

We meet Sana Malik, a prospective Bird & Bird Trainee Solicitor and LPC student with ADHD and Dyspraxia, in this episode. We start by discussing Sana's experience getting diagnosed and navigating her Paralegal and Banking roles and Legal Internships with undiagnosed neurodivergence, then we talk about rejection during four unsuccessful application rounds and how she got a TC.  Finally, we hear Sana's insights into what more the legal sector can do for neurodiversity, building inner confidence, and what drew her to her current firm, Bird & Bird, an international law firm with a focus on technology (35 minutes onwards).

Transcript alongside audio recording - https://otter.ai/u/RenolRw7OYe14j5cVgFNcZcG8po
Sana's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sana-malik-27632a110/
EmployAbility - https://www.employ-ability.org.uk/
Bird & Bird "NeuroNetwork" via Early Careers Officer Rachel Boyle - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rachel-boyle-a3974098_diversity-inclusionmatters-neurodiversity-activity-6889255176855797760-ZZtF?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

We speak with Sarah, Staff Disability Advisor and Trans Lead at the University of Oxford, in this week's episode. Sarah is trans, blind, and neurodivergent, and was named Stonewall's LGBT+ role model of the year (East Midlands 2018). She also presents her own podcast, the Simply Equality Podcast. Sarah talks about her personal experiences, the similarities and contrasts between the LGBT+ and disability experience, what businesses, universities, and individuals can do to be more inclusive, and why she decided to advocate, campaign, and train others. 

Transcript; https://otter.ai/u/3siaTzugGChzexE7tuOSXuiW9bk
Simply Equality Podcast; https://www.simplyequality.com/about-me
Linkedin; https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-stephenson-hunter-she-her-02225a96/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fuk%2Esearch%2Eyahoo%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=uk