Disclosing Non-Visible Disabilities During a Law Firm Interview

Dear Lawcrossing,

I am a 2L. I am getting ready to go on some job interviews, and I don't know whether I should mention in interviews that I suffer from narcolepsy. If you think I should mention it, what should I say so that I don't alienate potential employers?


PL, Minnesota,

DEAR PL,

You'd be surprised how many people approach LawCrossing with your predicament, PL-not narcolepsy, exactly, but with a whole variety of non-obvious problems and ailments, from recovering cancer victims to epileptics to people with non-physical problems, like foreigners with visa issues. Sigh. You name it, PL, LawCrossing has heard it. The question of when--and if-to "come clean" justifiably produces a lot of anxiety. LawCrossing has consulted with many employers and career counselors about this issue, and the consensus is this-if the problem/ailment will impact your work, you have an obligation to tell (and LawCrossing will help you with the presentation in just a minute). If it won't, then you can keep it to yourself with LawCrossing's blessing.

When LawCrossing talks about "impacting your work," PL, there are two likely categories: finances and performance. Sometimes people have a pre-existing medical condition that will affect their employer's insurance rates. While LawCrossing doubts narcolepsy fits this description, calling your state's labor or insurance department would give you the definitive answer to this question without you having to question the employer directly (and the employer might not know the answer to this, anyway). And while LawCrossing is not addressing issues of whether the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) would demand that an employer ignore the issue, everyone LawCrossing consulted-employers and career counselors-agreed that you ought to let employers know about it.

This, by the way, would cover another set of problems that are non-medical-namely, visa problems. LawCrossing knows many foreign law students who accept job offers knowing that their employers will have to foot a substantial visa-related bill in hiring them. LawCrossing believes that the Golden Rule is best followed in circumstances like these.

The other possible impact on your work that would demand disclosure relates to performance. As a narcoleptic, if you are likely to fall asleep at any moment during the day, this would impact some kinds of legal work more than others. For instance, working in a research capacity, for an appellate judge or at a large firm, for instance, wouldn't be greatly affected by your narcolepsy-whereas working as a public defender, assistant state's attorney, or in any capacity where sudden bouts of narcolepsy would be more remarkable, would require disclosure. Even clerking for a trial-level judge might demand that you say something ahead of time, especially if the judge would expect you, for instance, to drive him/her from location to location.

If your condition does auger for disclosure for either of these reasons, PL, LawCrossing understands from her experts that this is how you ought to accomplish it so that it doesn't tank your job chances. First of all, plan, and practice, the words you will use to explain your condition. Say them over and over until you can talk about it without flinching, apologizing, or seeming uncomfortable. A quietly confident matter-of-factness is the tone you should aim for. Say something like, "Talking to you about what you do has made me even more excited to join you than I was before. But I need to tell you about something you should know about me, and to explain it to you. I have narcolepsy. And while it doesn't affect me most of the time, I occasionally suddenly fall asleep for about 30 seconds (or whatever the actual statistics are, PL). It typically happens about three times a week. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about it, but I want to assure you up front that I've researched the kind of work you'd expect me to do, and I wouldn't be here, wasting your time, if I wasn't confident I could do every-thing you ask of me. If anything, overcoming this problem has made me even more determined to prove I can do a great job for you." Such candor will not only earn you respect, but your calm explanation of it will engender confidence in you, PL-which is exactly what you want to achieve in any job interview.

If, on the other hand, your affliction will not impact your employer, you don't have an obligation to say anything about it. As LawCrossing often counsels, interviews are for jobs-they aren't confessionals. However, LawCrossing is sensitive to the fact that you may want to disclose your affliction to your potential employer. You may feel more comfortable with them knowing about it. In that case, after you have accepted an offer, tell your employer about it, stating that it makes you more comfortable for them to know about it up front, not because it will affect your work-it won't, otherwise you would have told them about it before they made you an offer.

So there you have it, PL. LawCrossing has seen many extraordinary law students overcome all kinds of obstacles and go on to brilliant careers. She's confident you can-and will-do the same.

See the following articles for more information:
 

• 21 Major Interview Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
• The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews
• How to Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interviews
• How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
• How to Answer the Do You Have Any Questions for Me Interview Question