A leading lawyer is urging industry leaders to improve understanding and support for neurodivergent colleagues – with women in particular being forced to suffer in silence.
Ravi Kaur Mahey, a Director in the Childcare and Family Department at Cartwright King Solicitors based in London, has called for a “systemic update” in how neurodiversity is addressed within the legal industry, with conditions like ADHD currently understood through a “male lens”.
It is thought that up to 48,000 of approximately 300,000 legal professionals in the UK may be neurodiverse.
However, stigma around disclosure can prevent workers from asking for help, and a lack of research into neurodiversity in women means huge numbers are going undiagnosed, putting them at higher risk of burnout and stress-related health conditions.
Ravi, 46, was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in adulthood after many years of confusion and misdiagnosis.
Her social and academic difficulties earlier in life often went under the radar because she appeared “able”.
She said: “When I was in high school I felt like I couldn’t focus in any classroom. The perception from my teachers was that I was just lazy, I couldn’t sit still or couldn’t stop talking.
“Teenage life was really complex. With friends and relatives I remember thinking, ‘why are people offended by my behaviour?’, and I still experience that now.”
During a period of ill health in her twenties Ravi went to a doctor with her symptoms, which were dismissed as part of a Generalised Anxiety Disorder diagnosis she then received.
After suffering a mental breakdown aged 40, she contacted a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with ADHD. Further exploration over several more years also revealed she had autistic traits.
“I thought I knew everything about myself, but after my diagnosis I started to really read up on and understand my behaviours,” Ravi said.
“My diagnosis helped me understand how I had been misjudged and the lack of understanding I had experienced.”
Ravi has since been open about her experiences with diagnoses, her mental health, and the impact her neurodiversity had on her – particularly as a woman.
She added: “The truth is, ADHD has long been viewed through a male lens. Diagnostic criteria were developed based on how the condition presents in boys, but for many women ADHD looks very different.
“We mask, and we internalize. We become perfectionists, people-pleasers, overachievers. And because we’re ‘coping’, we’re not seen as struggling.”
“Becoming mothers and going through the menopause can be challenging enough for anyone, particularly in the legal industry, leading many women to burn out and leave the profession. But hormonal changes can exacerbate ADHD symptoms further making life even harder, an intersection which is still poorly understood in mainstream medicine.
After opening up about her struggles, Ravi has become an advocate for neurodiversity awareness and support within the legal sector and continues to host talks aimed at employers and employees alike.
“People were coming to talk to me about their own experiences… Some were crying,” she said.
“As a result of my talk a woman went for a private assessment and got diagnosed with Autism and OCD.
“When we can start empathising with and supporting each other people feel seen.”
Ravi praised the work being done by Cartwright King to better understand neurodiversity and implement the right support structures.
“No employer is going to learn how to work with neurodiverse individuals overnight, but Cartwright King are interested and invested in it – they want to make progress,” she said.
The firm recently launched a peri-menopause/menopause support group for both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals experiencing symptoms to offer each other empathy and advice.
Ravi continued: “In the future, I hope to see systems being put in place where labels aren’t the priority, and people are catered for on a needs-based approach.
“Things are improving slowly. Awareness is growing, and more women and people who work in the legal sector are speaking out. But we still have a long way to go.”
