Neurodiversity and Mental Health in the Law

The Manchester Business and Property Courts Forum invites you to an open and practical panel discussion on how neurodiversity and mental health impact legal practice, professional life and access to justice.

Chaired by His Honour Judge Pearce, the panel will bring together Jeff Lewis, Partner at Brabners and Deputy Vice President of The Law Society; Hannah Saxe, a neurodivergent Legal Director at Brabners and advocate for greater neuro-inclusion within the profession; and Charlotte Naylor, Educational Psychologist at Catalyst Psychology, whose doctoral research explored neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Drawing on professional expertise and lived experience, the panel will discuss what neurodiversity means in practice, including how neurodivergence can affect the way people think and communicate, and the experience of being a neurodivergent lawyer.

The discussion will also explore how we as legal professionals can improve access to justice and better support neurodiversity in the Court system. The panel will also explore mental health within the legal profession more broadly.