What percentage of lawyers have ADHD?
Asked by: Cristian Leannon | Last update: January 15, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (22 votes)
Here's why we're talking about neuroscience and ADHD on a career blog for lawyers… Approximately 5% of the adult population has ADHD; but an estimated 12-20% of lawyers have ADHD. Which means as many as 1 in 5 lawyers has it.
How common is ADHD in lawyers?
In a 2016 ABA study on lawyer well-being, 12.5 percent of lawyers reported having ADHD, compared to 4 to 8 percent of adults generally. With lawyers reporting roughly double the rate of ADHD as the general adult population, it's important to understand the ADHD brain and how it can work for attorneys, not against them.
Can you become a lawyer with ADHD?
Lawyers with ADHD Are Great at Their Job
High achievers with ADHD are drawn to the legal profession because we thrive under pressure. When humans are stressed, our brains release cortisol and adrenaline to help us focus on essential tasks and stimuli.
Is law school possible with ADHD?
Lee Burgess: Here is the good news – there is no law school requirement that you learn in “the same way” as everyone else. In fact, regardless of whether you have ADHD, you will likely be more successful in law school if you take time to experiment and identify the learning strategies that you find the most effective.
Do most successful people have ADHD?
Approximately 6.76% of adults globally, which amounts to around 139.84 million people, experienced ADHD in the year 2020. It's important to note, however, that many of these individuals lead successful lives. In fact, there are plenty of successful people with ADHD.
Lawyers with ADHD: Neurodiversity & Mental Health in the Legal Profession
Does Johnny Depp have ADHD?
Johnny Depp is a legendary actor, famous for his diverse roles in films like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Edward Scissorhands.” He was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and has faced challenges associated with the condition.
Is Elon Musk ADHD?
Elon Musk has not publicly disclosed a diagnosis of ADHD, however, he has been open about being on the autism spectrum, specifically identifying with Asperger's syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Is law a good career for someone with ADHD?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Lawyers with ADHD have unique strengths such as a strong sense of justice, intense determination, and creative, divergent thinking. ADHD lawyers can hyperfocus on tasks of interest, which can lead to increased efficiency.
What is the hardest subject for people with ADHD?
What subjects are hardest for people with ADHD? Children and adults with ADHD are most likely to struggle with subjects that require memorization, drills, and organization. This includes reading, writing and math.
Does Harvard accept ADHD students?
Learning, Attentional Disabilities: Acceptable clinical documentation for learning disabilities (LD) and attentional disabilities (e.g., attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) includes a comprehensive diagnostic interview/consultation and neuropsychological or psycho-educational evaluation plan, which ...
What jobs best suit ADHD?
Many adults with ADHD find joy in professions that allow them to work directly with children – in careers such as teaching or childcare. These jobs rely on your dynamic personality and thoughtful creativity, though they may put your patience to the test.
Can ADHD be used in court?
If it can be established that the person has the disability, that it impacted their conduct, and that they need treatment, the court may take this into account both with respect to the severity of punishment and in consideration of therapeutic options as part of or instead of incarceration.
Who suffers from ADHD the most?
During 2020–2022, 11.3% of children ages 5–17 years had ever been diagnosed with ADHD (Figure 1, Table 1). Boys (14.5%) were more likely than girls (8.0%) to have ADHD, and this pattern was seen for children ages 5–11 years and 12–17 years.
Is ADHD considered a rare disability?
Worldwide, ADHD affects approximately 5 percent of children and 3 percent of adults.
Are there millionaires with ADHD?
There are some well-known very high-achieving ADHD entrepreneurs including Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Walt Disney. Richard Branson had no interest in anything academic. Still, once he was able to harness his talents and imagination in his own way, he began to build a phenomenal business empire.
What age is ADHD hardest?
Usually, the most difficult times for persons with ADHD are their years from middle school through the first few years after high school.
Why is math so hard for people with ADHD?
ADHD can hinder mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills due to challenges with sustained attention, working memory, and executive functions. These difficulties can impact the ability to focus, follow multi-step procedures, and apply critical thinking strategies during mathematical tasks.
What subject are people with ADHD best at?
The students with ADHD also performed better in certain subject areas than those without ADHD. These included the arts, creative writing, science discovery, and architecture.
Is ADHD considered a legal disability?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is recognized as a disability in California under various federal and state laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Do people with ADHD have a good work ethic?
Despite the challenges that come with ADHD, people with this condition often have a strong work ethic.
Do people with ADHD get in trouble with the law?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been identified as significantly over-represented in the prison population and being a likely precipitant to engagement in criminal conduct.
What is high IQ ADHD?
High-IQ people with attention deficit often excel at tasks requiring divergent thinking, which is spontaneous and non-linear — “out of the box” thinking. They are usually less successful at tasks requiring convergent thinking, which requires accuracy, logic, and speed — the math-SAT thinking.
Did Einstein have ADHD?
Albert Einstein, Physicist & Mathematician
Although it can't be proven, many scholars and historians believe that Einstein one of the greatest minds of all-time, had ADHD. Einstein was a German physicist and mathematician who developed the special and general theories of relativity.
Can caffeine help ADHD?
Caffeine can help to increase the levels and effect of dopamine. Since ADHD is linked to a dysfunction in the dopamine pathway, caffeine might be helpful for ADHD due to its dopamine-boosting effects.