Lawyers with ADHD

Why is the most basic work admin so excruciating? Filling out forms, time logs...would rather pull out my own teeth. Anyone else, or is this just my brain rebelling?

Anyone have new side effects from your ADHD meds after a pregnancy?

I was taking Adderall 10mg xr before pregnancy with no issues. Restarted at 5mg at 12 months post partum and had the worst jitters/a… more

Private practice has exacerbated my ADHD in my personal life to an extent that I never could have predicted. Something about responsiveness being the bedrock of the career means I’m not able to be as … more

does anyone use bullet journals to stay organized in addition to using an online calendar ? benefits compared to just a regular notebook?

A partner had a court date added to my calendar without notifying me. I admittedly missed the court date in the swarm of emails on a chaotic day, and take ownership of that. But I feel like the appropriate thin… more

Ever walk out of a meeting and realize you contributed absolutely nothing? Too busy zoning out and trying to follow the thread of the conversation.

I can either be a brilliant lawyer or keep my house from looking like a disaster zone...never both at the same time. Anyone else feel their life is a constant tradeoff?

Any adhd lawyers in -house and any tips? Recently went in house and aspects of this are so much better than private practice. But we have one AGC who insists that I’m the note taker on every call with… more

How do you keep your cool under pressure? Had a client chew me out on the phone for something my paralegal messed up. Felt my face get hot, was about to say something I'd regret. My brain just goe… more

Do you ever just need a get-your-shit-together day? For me, that’s today. I’m feeling a lot of pressure to work today, but my house is chaos, I need to grocery shop and grocery plan, and if I don’t get th… more

If you're happy with your life and career, please comment on this post. We need some success stories and proof that happy lawyers exist.

What do you do for work? Do you have any tips for finding … more

I have a stack of half-finished case files on my desk. Each one feels insurmountable. It's not laziness, it's like a mental block. How do you break through that?

Organization tips for doc review? I’m drafting a brief, & it's taking a long time because I have to keep stopping to search 1000s of pages of docs to find supporting facts, dates, etc. I've been told… more

You know that panicked scramble for a pen/paper because a brilliant idea just hit? No? My office is littered with random notes to self. Does this organized chaos work for anyone else?

Guys I missed a deadline and it’s been over a week. I have promised myself I will get the project done this Thursday. Senior associate has not asked about it. Do I let them know it’s on my radar and commit to … more

AuDHDer here. I have fully hit burn out at my ID firm. My body is physically shutting down and I’m not functioning. No raises and our billable hr requirement increased so I’ve been working nonstop jus… more

Any reasonable accommodations request success stories? What did you ask for? How did you go about requesting it?

Are California firms or employers allowed to reduce your benefits or shift the cost based on accommodations with a doctor's note?

How do you tell your firm that you need accommodation without it affecting your income?

To all who say don’t disclose your ADHD to your firm, can you explain what the downsides are? I would like to ask for certain accommodations but am wondering if it’s best to just try to informally do… more

I’m trying to skip my adderall at least one weekend day so my body doesn’t build up tolerance, but I just end up feeling like crap. Any thoughts?

Ever stare at a case file for an hour, know you read everything, but have zero clue what you just absorbed? That guilt of wasted billable time is the worst. Anyone find ways to stay present?

Anyone else still need bill a bunch to meet their hours but have zero focus to do it because there is basically no one in the office today? I need to bill 10 hours and I’m at .8 for the day. Please s… more

Ever take a "half dose" on days when you need focus but not the full intensity? Seems to work for me, but curious if this is common practice.

I get sidetracked while working and cut my hours out of guilt. It’s killing me. How tf do you bill 8 hrs a day with ADHD? Serious question.

It takes so much extra energy for me to muster the focus and motivation to apply and interview. When it goes nowhere, I feel totally deflated. How do you bounce back?

Ever get backlogged so badly that just looking at your inbox makes you nauseous? Idk how to dig myself out of the hole I created and it just keeps getting worse.

Tips on improving attention to detail (aside from double checking and printing things out which I already do)? I have been working my butt off, got on meds, and some partners have complimented me on m… more

I can’t see myself staying in the same career for longer than 10 years at a time. I just get too bored even switching jobs. Now I’m torn between starting a company or going to medical school. I have s… more

Why can't we all just start our own firm together to help our neurodivergent people or have some sort of hybrid thing?

Think about how productive we could all be together with support from one an… more

The Pomodoro Technique changed my life. 25 minutes on, 5 minutes totally off, repeat. Keeps me from getting overwhelmed by huge tasks. Anyone else love this?

What are some rewards you give yourself for doing small to moderate sized tasks? I’m spending too much money treating myself like a puppy every time I do something I don’t want to do (which is all day… more

Piggybacking off another discussion from a few days ago… How do you decide between an ADHD coach and a general career coach? Should an ADHD coach fulfill both roles? I really want to climb in my caree… more

Does anyone have experience with coaches Emily Whelden or Rosemary Hollinger? I have intro calls scheduled soon and would love any insight anyone has on these 2. I have never worked with a coach bef… more

I was asked to find something else. I already felt like big law was not my thing but I’m still having a hard time coping.

Any lawyers in management roles on here? I'd love your perspective on what makes a GOOD accommodation request from an employee.

Looking for advice - I’ve been having trouble cleaning my apartment. Because work is usually so busy or if its not busy, im worried about not being busy (I’ve been struggling lately) and I mostly clea… more

Does anyone have ADHD coach recommendations specifically for lawyers and/or tips for some issues I’m having? I have done therapy and it helped with thought patterns that were exacerbating my stress a… more

How do you handle working for people who don't give feedback? I can't help but spiral into worst-case scenarios. Did I say something wrong? Am I doing everything fine? That self-doubt eats you… more