Emma Bland
Emma Bland is a solicitor specialising in Private Client work. She is 18 years PQE. Emma was formally diagnosed with ADHD at the beginning of this year, after suspecting that she might have it when her son was diagnosed some years ago.
Did you change the way you worked after your diagnosis?
Many techniques for work and study that I had already developed through trial and error made more sense to me after my diagnosis. For example, the best way for me to learn something new is by using handwritten flow-charts and colours, which are easier for me to absorb than reading large chunks of text, or watching training videos.
Because my memory can be unreliable, I use lots of lists and a lot of post-it notes! After my diagnosis, I became more careful about managing the amount of work I take on, to avoid becoming overloaded. I am also more realistic now about the amount of work I can do in any one day, rather than starting each day with an overly optimistic list, and then getting stressed because I can’t tick everything off. I am more careful about avoiding interruptions, which derail my concentration, as much as possible.
Do you think an earlier diagnosis would have helped you?
An earlier diagnosis would have helped me in all areas of my life. Knowing that I am neurodivergent, and that there is nothing “wrong” with me, has helped to build my self-esteem and confidence. And the sooner techniques can be developed for managing unreliable memory and problems with concentration, the more productive – and less anxious – it is possible to be.
How do you adapt at work?
Having good secretarial and administrative support is essential. I use lots of techniques so that I don’t have to rely on my memory: checklists, post-it notes, highlighters. I have to manage myself quite carefully, because it is easy for me to commit to too much and then become overwhelmed. I am careful about looking after myself, eating healthily and avoiding stimulants such as caffeine, to keep myself balanced. As much as possible, I work with my energy levels rather than against them, focusing on work when my energy is high, and taking a break when it isn’t. Working from home recently has been better for me in this respect; there are less distractions, and if I feel energised and want to start working at 5am, then I can.
Do you believe neurodivergent candidates are prejudiced when applying for training contracts?
Yes. Personally, I find interviews very difficult because I have a processing delay. When I am asked questions for which I am unprepared, it takes me a while to process them, which leads to quite severe anxiety because I am under pressure. It is much better for me to write answers to questions that I have time to consider, but few firms conduct technical interviews in this way. I was offered a training contract with a firm because I had done some work experience with them for a couple of weeks and they asked me if I would like to do my training with them. But if I had had to have a formal interview with them, it may have been a very different story.
How do you think your neurodivergence has contributed to your abilities as a lawyer?
When my energy is high, I can hyper-focus and be very productive. I also have a lot of “big picture” ideas. For example, I am Chair of a very successful charity that I set up a few years ago; this came about because I read an article about families living in poverty in the UK and I decided that I had to do something. People sometimes ask me how I took on such an ambitious project by myself, especially as I had two very young children at the time, but sometimes ADHD feels like a superpower! When I decide to do something, nothing can stop me!
I am very careful about the emails and letters I write. I spend more time on them than many people would, double-checking details several times. The techniques that I use so that I don’t have to rely on my memory, such as making checklists on my files so I always know what has been done and what is still outstanding, also mean that I am quite organised.
Dr Christopher Green, ADHD specialist, says that you can say many things about people with ADHD, but you can never say they are boring! I am very much a people person, and my clients always seem to like me on a personal level. I think this is partly because I am very sensitive to the energies of other people, and this helps me to “read” clients accurately. As a result, they see me as sensitive and empathic, and this is particularly helpful when dealing with people who have been bereaved or who are dealing with other problems. They know that I am not just drafting documents for them; I really will do my best to help them get things sorted out.
© Neurodiversity in Law & Emma Bland
September 2020.
All opinions are of the individuals and not of Neurodiversity in Law.
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