Most people are surprised by the extent of the initiatives and investment (both in terms of time and money) law firms make in the diversity and inclusion field. It’s much more than a couple of positive lines on a firm’s website. By employing lawyers from all walks of life, law firms can reflect society and the clients they represent. One thing you should keep in mind is that law firms want to be diverse and inclusive. In my experience, being open about a disability has provided levels of support that I never expected and has been a wholly positive experience. It will depend very much on the extent of your disability and how you want to take things forward. If I’ve managed to get by until now, why should I say something? How am I going to know exactly what kind of help I’m going to need when I haven’t even started the job yet? Will everyone know and do I want them to know? What will my colleagues think of me? These questions are entirely normal ones to ask. That can make the question of referring to one’s disability difficult. If it’s something you have lived with since birth like I have, it is so normal to you that you don’t know any different. Unlike some other disabilities, a hearing impairment can be hidden. So given the importance of listening, what is it like to work in a Magic Circle law firm when you have a hearing impairment? Even if you are able to produce excellent academic research and first-rate legal analysis, if you do not listen to what a client wants, you are never going to meet the client’s expectations. Of the three in that list, the first is probably the most important. What is needed to be a lawyer is the ability to listen, analyse and advise. When you think of a ‘successful person with a disability’ you probably think first of a Paralympian and not of a lawyer. By Valerie Kemp, Associate at Slaughter and May
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