We asked Michael 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.
“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?”
I am Michael Dougherty, a self-employed junior barrister of 8 years call, with a civil practice from chambers in London. I was diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in my third year of practice. I’ve had autism for all of my 50 years and have known that fact for only 5 of them.
“What reasonable adjustments have you received in your workplace that have been particularly helpful for you?”
As a self-employed barrister it’s important to recognise that there is some limitation on the nature and extent of the workplace adjustments that can or will be made – at least in the world as it is today. If I take my workplace in three discrete parts:
Self-initiated work – I have the most control over my own working environment outside of court and client conferences. I have greater flexibility than my employed peers, as I can, for example, take a walk in the fresh air at any time I please, or work at hours to suit me.
Chambers-based work – I was initially slow to share my diagnosis outside of home, and eventually first did so with my clerks and chambers staff. Within that journey thereafter, I’ve been able to enjoy support with things as diverse as trying to obtain papers a little earlier, or being supported in business development activity, such as the deployment of the art of getting “in and out” of social events quickly, but participating no less effectively, by having a plan of who to speak to and what to talk about in advance.
Court work – there’s really no easy way to say this, but adjustments available in the civil courts and tribunals are pretty limited for those with the types of challenges I have (such as self-regulation and sensory / auditory processing issues). It’s fair to say one also may tend towards being cautious to articulate such internal challenges in front of professional and lay clients – although hopefully with greater awareness and understanding of neurodiversity this will become a less acute concern. That said, some practical steps that are within my control in travelling to and from and working in court include
Stay well hydrated (though not too much!)
Allow plenty of time for travel to reduce anxiety
Use noise cancelling headphones on trains, tubes and buses – an absolute must in my experience
Be disciplined about taking breaks, both during the working day, and ensuring periods of holiday are booked well in advance. Discipline yourself to switch off as much as possible in those times.
Never, ever, be afraid to ask for clarification or further explanation – it’s far less embarrassing than pursuing a flawed or confused path.
Never, ever, be afraid to tell a pleasantly chatty opponent or indeed a client that you need some quiet time and space to gather your thoughts and reset – the client and the court need the best version of you, not the most gregarious version. I long for the day when this may also be something one can politely tell a judge, but sadly the realities of heavy court lists means that court time is at a premium.
“Have the reasonable adjustments you've requested actually made a meaningful difference to your work experience? In what ways?”
There’s a really simple and pretty blunt way for me to answer this in headline form, which corresponds with having learned more about myself since diagnosis. In short, I doubt I would still be at the bar today if I hadn’t (a) been diagnosed, (b) taken steps to understand my condition, the general effects on me and the reasons why and ways in which I’m ‘different’, and (c) begun to make changes to my working and everyday practices.
I should say this doesn’t mean that all neurodivergent people would face the same challenges as me, but it should show that with awareness and support, and using coping strategies, a fundamental difference can be made.
By the time of diagnosis in my third year of practice I was finding things much more challenging than I expected to, but I told no-one. Not so much the work itself (although inevitably when you’re compromised in other ways that has a draining effect) but rather the travel, meeting new people, new work environments and an entirely unpredictable life – being out of my comfort zone was necessarily uncomfortable. Like many autistic people I crave routine, predictability and clear parameters / rules. I also find certain elements of social interaction to be confusing and difficult, although again like many autistic people, I do whatever it takes to ‘mask’ this but then pay the price in what behavioural scientists would call ego-depletion - it wipes me out.
Were it not, ironically, for my diagnosis and also the first Covid lockdown in the same month (which at a stroke stopped the travel, socials and late night instructions), I believe I may well have crashed out of the profession. On reflection in my third year of practice I’d reached perilously close to the point of autistic burnout. That’s a diagnostic label I never knew when, unaware of my lifelong condition, I had issues as a child with school refusal and exclusion, or when I found similar aspects of my first career particularly challenging at first, and generally felt like I didn’t fit in.
In short, awareness of my condition, and researching the adjustments made by others who had similar experiences in all manner of professional and social settings enabled me to make adjustments that have progressively enabled me to feel much more ‘at home’ at the bar.
“Have you experienced any negative responses when seeking reasonable adjustments, and if so, how did you handle these situations?”
I’m fortunate enough to say that I haven’t yet met real resistance anywhere, and I would recommend having faith that people are generally more understanding than you might imagine or fear. I’m also not naïve enough to think that there won’t come a time of resistance, and aware and realistic enough to recognise that I haven’t (yet!) really pushed any boundaries in this respect.
“What factors influenced your decision to disclose (or not disclose) your neurodivergence in professional settings? How did you approach those conversations?”
In a broad sense, I’m doing so (disclosing) now. It’s only very recently that I have become comfortable when necessary or appropriate in saying more publicly, “this is me”. I didn’t choose to share my diagnosis immediately with anyone outside my family, or indeed for two or three years, partly as I was processing things for myself. There was then a period of “should I or shouldn’t I?’ in which, as I’ve alluded to, I probably didn’t give enough credit to how understanding and supportive people are generally, and perhaps particularly in this profession.
There is one concern that I think may, but hope does not, have reason to still cast its shadow over those of us who are neurodivergent at the bar – “what might it mean for my practice if those who do or might instruct me were to find out?”
It’s a kind of subset of the imposter syndrome with which I think many if not most at the bar are timelessly afflicted. I have no view on the point, but I read someone recently saying that while ADHD is a condition of which people are more aware / tolerant, autism retains a stigma which means those who have a diagnosis or self-identify with the condition are less inclined to ‘disclose’.
For my part, I’ve decided that the only way to find out, and the only way to not feel that fear is to step through it. If any of those who know or work with me, meet me or oppose me in a court are even remotely interested in any of the detail of my condition and my experience of it, I tend to think on balance I’d be surprised. Equally I’d be happy to discuss some or any of the ways my neurodiversity helps me be a better barrister than I would otherwise be, and perhaps when it comes to those who might have some of the same characteristics as me, to share thoughts and tips on how to make the professional environment less onerous and more fulfilling.
“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?”
I certainly think aspects of my neurodivergence are professional strengths. I have a highly visual memory, which assists in a whole host of ways. I tend to see things that others sometimes don’t – even if this can lead to over-preparation.
While being a very ‘black and white’ thinker means I often have to think things through (including things people say or do) more methodically, this leads to very careful analysis. In common with many autistic people, I have certain very specific ‘special interests’ and a related strength is an ability to hyper-focus and get deeply involved in a subject.
My time management is strong, which is a key skill as anyone writing or marking pupillage applications in recent weeks will have had seared into their brains.
“Are there specific technologies, apps, or tools that have been particularly helpful for you in managing your work as a neurodivergent legal professional?”
I have found certain technologies are useful - particularly for ‘time-boxing’ work and professional activities as well as my other activities so that some sense of control and routine is retained. This does not mean that external factors don’t arise outside my planning, but technology can give me a sense of control, and a broad framework which I can then adapt if something urgent or unexpected arises. This is of great assistance as, like many autistic people, I crave routine and structure, and one has to accept that life at the bar is often just not like that. It most certainly doesn’t mean that practice at the self-employed bar is not accessible, but it does call for some considered steps to mitigate the extent and effect of the variables.
One example is using my outlook calendar (synchronised with my court and paperwork diary) to form a detailed plan for the activities and tasks of each day the night before, so I know I have sufficient time, and don’t feel overwhelmed. I also enter dedicated time for paperwork and other tasks in advance, so I have early visibility of any issues in order to adapt plans before they become issues.
I use an Apple watch for various purposes (other brands are available!), the most basic and simple of which is an hourly silent wrist tap alert that no-one else is or would be aware of to remind me to ‘check-in’ with myself – a very useful nudge for someone whose clinical condition includes difficulties in self-regulation and a tendency sometimes to lose myself in depth of thought.
I would also say that certain aspects of technology are sometimes slavishly followed with little scrutiny of what actual benefit it provides as against the time invested in it. I used to be a heavy user of social media, but my use is now limited to a cursory glance at LinkedIn once in a while, and looking at photos of my grand-daughter on my daughter-in-law’s Facebook page - one of my grand total of seven Facebook friends. I have also disabled all notifications on mobile devices, including but not limited to WhatsApp, email, text messages and news, save for some specific rules on who can get through by which medium. I then have set times to check those things. I was initially concerned that in doing so that I’d miss out on huge volumes of work or other opportunities (FOMO I think they call it) but I can only count one thing in over two years, and the trade-off of not being constantly distracted and checking neurotically if someone had seen, replied to or ignored my message has been worth it many times over. With a particular strength of focus but with anxiety as my kryptonite those distractions being stripped out pays real dividends.
“Have you developed any particular approaches to professional networking events or building relationships that work well with your neurodivergent traits?”
I’m currently reviewing and rethinking my approach to networking, so this is probably one for another time. I haven’t really done a great deal of networking in my time at the bar. I came from a prior career in sales and marketing where this was a large part of what I did, and I found it painfully difficult. In truth, I’d rather, if I can, use the time to focus on being a better barrister (and husband and father) and spend a little less being sociable, but I know many people place great value on relationships, so it’s a necessary part of my CPD plan for this year.
One thing I would say though is that I’ve learned that there is nothing wrong with being ‘clinical’ and having a very clear plan for events. A top tip for those with sensory processing issues is to arrive early and let any crowd build around you rather than walking into the event when the crowd is fully formed. Also have your reasons for leaving early ready in advance. (Yes, they are excuses, but everyone has them.) To me, these social gatherings are unapologetically another form of work – I should feel and be able to say, “I’ve done enough now”.
“If you could travel back in time, what wisdom would you share with your younger self about navigating the legal profession as a neurodivergent person?”
This question needs so much more than a few words, and is probably one for another time. In my spare time I’m writing a book – painfully slowly I’ll admit - dealing with some of the science of autism and related anxiety, and my wider strategies and thoughts to deal with some of the more common challenges, whether in this profession or the wider world. I’m also increasingly engaging in outreach work such as with a large group of parents of neurodivergent (predominantly autistic) children in the Kent / Sussex region, and I’m looking at the practicalities of offering a number of work shadowing opportunities each year for those interested in seeing the realities of practice at the bar with autism.
If pushed for one piece of ‘wisdom’ I’d deal with the notion of ‘masking’ which is common and commonly discussed among the neurodivergent.
Many neurodivergent people will try to ‘mask’ away their condition, fearful of being discovered, and will attempt to ‘fit in’ by mirroring the behaviours and mannerisms of others. To be fair, that’s how I learned to engage with the business world in my first career. Part of my autism is that I find it difficult to read the emotions or intentions of others, and sometimes have difficulty in understanding the content of or reason for ‘unspoken rules’ of social conduct.
Commonly, people in this position are told not to mask and are certainly warned that it is exhausting. It is, but I draw a distinction between ‘masking’ and ‘camouflaging’.
Masking when done right is purposeful and productive. Masking to my mind is what happens when one practices the lessons learned from experience and from others, and uses the tools and strategies which work for the individual to smooth the edges of the day. Others don’t necessarily need to be aware of those things in the moment, or at all – like the wrist tap from my watch. Masking, with carefully considered intent, for personally beneficial effect, is purposeful and productive.
Camouflaging is pointless, unsustainable and exhausting. Camouflaging is trying to be someone else to fit in with them – particularly problematic if your condition means you have difficulty in reading those people in the first place. Camouflaging is the problem.
In short, masking is the equivalent of the swan swimming along as gracefully as it can and does, without the world needing to know the legs are kicking away underneath. Camouflaging is the swan trying to be a duck.
As with anyone else, learn more about and enjoy and embrace your strengths and your differences. Work on the things you find difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – know that everyone’s legs are kicking away under the surface.
If you would like to find out more about Michael's practice, visit his Chambers profile here. Additionally, find out more about Farrar's Building here.
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.
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