Episode 3: Connie Dalziel on The Legal Neurodiversity Network

In episode 3 of The Thinking Legal podcast, we spoke to Pinsent Masons associate Connie Dalziel, who co-chairs the Legal Neurodiversity Network - A network of law firms, employees and partners striving to improve neurodivergent experiences in the legal sector.

Connie secured an autism diagnosis as an early career lawyer, a move which she believes benefitted her mental health in and out of work immensely. She decided that she’d be open about the diagnosis at work, and was met with support. She became involved in the Legal Neurodiversity Network early on, eventually becoming a co-chair following the organisation’s rapid growth.

She is adament that the conversation should move on from talking about “adjustments” towards “inclusion by design” - one in seven people in the UK are neurodiverse and not all of them will have secured a diagnosis or be willing to disclose that information, so initiatives that require people to reach out for adjustments are sub-optimal.

Connie speaks here about the experiences of neurodiverse lawyers and the challenges some face. She also talks about the importance of visibility in the industry and of building a network of fellow neurodiverse individuals.