Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity! The Law Is Autistic (With Susan From Meet My Brain) (Episode 115)
An episode that lays down the law!
Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode:
* In today’s episode, Matt and Angela sit down with retired judge, late-diagnosed autistic, and host of the Meet My Autistic Brain podcast, Susan, also known as The Autistic Woman.
* We discuss how the field of law draws many autistic individuals, yet it often requires a high level of masking.
* It’s our strong sense of fairness and justice that often draws us to law—but when we realize the system isn’t always just or fair, it can lead to disappointment and, ultimately, burnout in this career.
* We discuss how higher education and academia, including law school, can be challenging for autistic individuals, but we often persevere due to our relentless determination and refusal to give up.
* On the other hand, autistic individuals are often drawn to the law field because of its structure and clear rules.
* However, our tendency toward black-and-white thinking can sometimes mislead us, as the law often operates in complex gray areas.
* That said, certain areas of law do align with this way of thinking, such as working as a prosecutor or specializing in contract law, where rules and interpretations tend to be more clear-cut.
* Law also involves one of autistic people's favorite pastimes—research!
* Problem-solving and strategic thinking, both strengths for many autistic individuals, can also make us highly effective in the legal field.
* Our hosts and Susan delve into the hierarchy within the legal system and explore the role of autism in judicial decision-making.
* Autistic individuals often leave the legal field due to burnout, as well as the unpredictability and instability that can arise from differing interpretations of the law.
* Finally, we discuss popular autistic-coded lawyer characters and how they reflect the unique experiences of neurodivergent individuals in the legal field.
“We unconsciously process so much data. We are in a swirling cauldron of chaos all the time, and just getting rid of this visual clutter is meaningful. There are so many things that we can do as autistic people to live healthier autistic lives. And we don’t even know that [some of those] things are options.” - Matt
“We [autistic folks], because of our neurology, we don’t develop habits - we develop strategies. Neurotypical people do things on autopilot - like wake up, brush your teeth, go for a walk, all this other stuff, but we can’t do that. We have systems.” - Matt
“When we go nonverbal out of stress, when we don’t make eye contact, neurotypicals are led to believe that that’s because we’re shifty or we’re lying. So, our inherent way of being might serve as a disadvantage in a legal system.” - Matt
Did you enjoy this episode? We explored the intersection of autism and the legal field, discussing the challenges autistic individuals face in law careers, from burnout to navigating the gray areas of the law. Tune in as we dive into the unique experiences of neurodivergent individuals in the legal profession. Share your thoughts in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to connect with us and share your experiences!
Show Notes:
Listen to our producer, Simon’s, podcast, The Neurodivergent Experience
My favorite episodes is episodes 33 - Living with Alexithymia and Dyspraxia
Go listen to Meet My Autistic Brain -
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