Katherine Soroya - Our Voice, Our Stories

We asked Katherine to share their experiences as a neurodivergent legal professional. Their story is part of 'Our Voice, Our Stories' - our series for Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 featuring authentic experiences of neurodivergent legal professionals.

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"Would you mind introducing yourself and sharing which neurodivergent condition(s) you identify with or have been diagnosed with, to the extent you're comfortable doing so?"

My name is Katherine Soroya and I am a pupil barrister. I am diagnosed with ADHD. I received a late diagnosis when I was in my thirties, meaning most of my life I felt ‘different’ but I wasn’t really sure why.  

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"How has your neurodivergent thinking provided unique advantages or perspectives in your legal work? Are there aspects of your neurodivergence that you consider professional strengths?"

Being neurodivergent myself means that I have a strong appreciation of difference. When working with clients I always seek to understand their perspective and any neurodivergence they might have. This is an essential part of good client care. 

I consider that a strength of my ADHD is that it helps me to focus on things I am passionate about and which just so happens to be law. This means I love to research legal problems, case law and prepare written arguments and I can do this even under tight time constraints.  

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"What factors influenced your decision to disclose (or not disclose) your neurodivergence in professional settings? How did you approach those conversations?"

Throughout my many years of education I sat numerous exams in environments that were not specifically adapted for me. I did not want this to be the case with the pupillage application process which is already challenging. I was therefore empowered to disclose my diagnosis which meant that I could request suitable arrangements that allowed me to perform at my best during interviews. 

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"How has your neurodivergence influenced your career choices or specialisation within the legal profession?"

Perhaps contrary to traditional thinking I consider that there are many aspects of the legal profession that are suited to neurodivergence. A career as a barrister requires an ability to absorb large amounts of information and complex law, to be able to relate to a wide range of people and work under pressure.  I find that these facets of the role are particularly suited to my neurodivergence. 

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"What coping strategies would you recommend for those who may not be ready to disclose or request reasonable adjustments yet?"

My neurodivergence means I tend to take things quite literally. I have come to realise that often people don’t say what they truly mean. If you are ever unclear about what is being asked of you or what is expected of you, don’t be afraid to seek clarification. 

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"What aspects of law firm or organisational culture are most important for supporting neurodivergent professionals?"

I strongly believe that we need to do away with the attitude that, as junior lawyers, we have to ‘put up with’ poor behaviour from others, or that because someone else had a tough time during their pupillage, it is part of the ‘rite of passage’. It is imperative that supervisors are fully informed about supporting neurodivergence and that Chambers actively promotes and practices embracing diversity.

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This was part of ‘Our Voice, Our Stories’, a content series for Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025. Explore more stories in this series at www.neurodiversityinlaw.co.uk/ncw2025

Together, we can raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding neurodiversity in the legal profession because there is strength in all ways of thinking, and no mind should be left behind.