ANALYSIS: More Neurodiversity Among Law Students Than Lawyers

A higher percentage of law students identify as neurodivergent compared to practicing attorneys, according to recent Bloomberg Law survey data.

Stanford School of Medicine describes neurodiversity as “a concept that regards individuals with differences in brain function and behavioral traits as part of normal variation in the human population.” Conditions that may fall under the neurodiverse umbrella include autism, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Reflecting increased discourse about neurodiversity in the legal profession, law students seem more willing than earlier generations of attorneys to embrace the concept. Given the importance of this topic, Bloomberg Law’s fall 2023 Law School Preparedness Survey asked law students and practicing attorneys about whether they identify as neurodivergent. We didn’t define the term for them, but instead left it up to the respondents to determine whether their brains were neurodiverse.

In response, 25% of law student respondents identified themselves as neurodivergent, while only 7% of practicing attorneys said the same. This most recent survey data was almost identical to the responses from the year before: In 2022, 26% of law students said that they were neurodiverse compared to 7% of practicing attorneys.

This disparity between law students and practicing attorneys likely doesn’t indicate a surge of those with neurodiverse brains applying to law school, but rather suggests an increased awareness of neurodivergence among law students. Just as law students have benefited from more education on well-being and mental health issues, they have also likely benefited from the increased discourse (and possibly reduced stigma) in the legal community about neurodivergence.

A second piece on this topic will be available next week and will examine the increase in American Disability Act charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission based on a failure to recognize or properly accommodate neurodiversity-related conditions.

Bloomberg Law subscribers can find related content on our  Surveys, Reports & Data Analysis page, our In Focus: Law Student Development page, and our In Focus: Lawyer Well-Being page.

If you’re reading this article on the Bloomberg Terminal, please run BLAW OUT <GO> to access the hyperlinked content or click here to view the web version of this article.