What and when should you tell a potential employer about your disability, neurodivergence, learning difficulty or mental health condition? Should you tell them at all? And what support might be available? This article looks at the pros and cons of mentioning your disability or condition, and the adjustments that may be available to you in the job application process.
Throughout this article, we talk about disability in a broad sense, in line with the relevant law. This law – the Equality Act 2010 – covers many different disabilities and conditions, including physical disabilities, learning difficulties like dyslexia and mental health conditions like depression. Many neurodivergent people do not see themselves as disabled but being neurodivergent will often be considered a disability under the Equality Act.
Mentioning your disability
Talking about your disability or your needs as a potential employee can be hard. Below we think about reasons why it might be useful to share this information, as well as reasons why you may not wish to.
Remember that if you do decide to share information about your disability, you have a right for this kind of personal information to be kept private and confidential, so you can ask for it not to be passed on to others.
Reasons to tell a potential employer about your disability or need for support
Accessing the right support within the application process and/or the workplace
Once a potential employer knows about your disability, they are required by law to provide the right support by making ‘reasonable adjustments’. This means making changes so that you are not disadvantaged by your disability. Any adjustment should be tailored to your individual requirements.
Positive things about your disability
Your disability might be seen as an advantage or an extra qualification for the job you’re applying for. Perhaps you’ve developed skills or shown determination and resourcefulness that could be useful at work. Disclosing your disability gives you the chance to talk about it in a positive way.
Explaining your CV
If there’s a gap in your education or career, it may be that explaining the situation enables everyone to understand what happened and how you handled it.
Better working relationship
Being open about your disability could help build better working relationships from the start. On the other hand, you may feel more comfortable talking about your disability after you have built up a good relationship with your employer and colleagues.
Equal opportunities and Disability Confident
Most employers will have an equal opportunities policy, making a commitment to treat everyone in an equal way. Some employers make specific commitments under the government Disability Confident scheme, such as committing to a fair recruitment process and offering work experience to disabled people. Look out for the ‘disability confident’ symbol on job adverts.
Reasons to not tell a potential employer about your disability or need for support
Worry that people will see or treat you differently
You may worry about not being seen beyond your disability and that an employer will not look at the skills you have. Or perhaps you worry that getting a job will be harder if people know you are disabled, or that employers will see the disability as a problem.
Talking about your disability with a stranger
It can be hard to express what you want to say on an application form and can be hard to talk about what it’s like to be disabled with a stranger.
It’s not relevant
Perhaps you feel that being disabled has nothing to do with the job and so there’s no reason to mention it.
When to tell your (potential) employer
If you decide to tell your (potential) employer about your disability, you then need to decide when and how to do this.
Before interview
The advantage of telling an employer early on is that support can be put into place, which could include adjustments to the interview process. You might tell the employer in your application form, covering letter or personal statement. This might also be easier for you if you prefer to express yourself in writing.
If you get offered an interview, it is much easier for an employer to arrange any support you might need if you let them know if advance. Additional support should not be a problem if the interview process is fair.
During the recruitment process, adjustments might include making changes to the interview or assessment centre, for example by providing materials in alternative formats or altering the timings.
If you have a visible disability, telling the employer in advance of an interview means that the interview can be focussed on the job as opposed to your disability.
Before you start a new job
Having conversations about your support needs before you start work can mean that support is available from day one. Adjustments may include flexible or part-time working, providing specialist equipment or a tailored workspace, adjusting targets or reallocating roles. The government Access to Work scheme can provide free advice to employers and money to help pay for specialist equipment and support.
After you have started a job
It may be more comfortable for you to talk about your disability and support needs once you know your line manager / colleagues or are established in a role. Once your employer becomes aware of your disability, they are legally required to make reasonable adjustments and provide the right support for you.
Some IP roles require you to sit qualifying exams. Reasonable adjustments may also be possible in these. You can approach networks such as IP Ability, IP Futures or the Disabled Solicitors Network for advice and support, as well as your professional representative body (for example CIPA, CITMA, the Law Society or the Bar Council).
Resources
- IP Ability and IP Futures – communities that support anyone who works in IP, regardless of role, including those in assistant, admin, finance, HR, IT or other “support” roles.
- IP Ability Tools and Resources – comprehensive list of third-party tools and resources designed to inform and support IP professionals and employers with issues relating to disability, neurodiversity and health conditions.
- ACAS Advice on Disability at work and Neurodiversity at work
- Disability Rights UK Telling people you’re disabled: clear and easy guide for students
- Government Access to Work scheme – free advice and support for employers.
- Law Society Disabled Solicitors Network
- Law Society Career Advice: Becoming a solicitor as a disabled student
- LawCare – mental health charity for the legal sector.
Last Updated: July 23, 2025