Tanya is one of our Senior Emerging Talent Advisors. In this blog, she reflects on her own previous experiences of seeking support during recruitment and explains how we work with candidates to create an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Published: 11 August 2026
Author: Tanya Mumford, Senior Emerging Talent Advisor

I'm Tanya, a Senior Emerging Talent Advisor at Shoosmiths. I have Type 1 Diabetes, ADHD and I'm autistic.

Before joining the firm, I spent a lot of time applying for jobs and navigating recruitment processes while wondering whether I should ask for the support I needed to perform at my best.

Would it make a difference? Would people understand? Would it affect how my application was viewed?

Through conversations I have since had with aspiring solicitors at careers events, it quickly became clear that I was not the only person who had felt this way.

I decided to write this blog because I know how daunting it can feel to request reasonable adjustments during a recruitment process, whether this relates to a disability, health condition, neurodivergence or any other circumstance that may require support.

I want to share why this is something we care deeply about at Shoosmiths and encourage others to ask for the support they need.

On the occasions when I felt brave enough to ask for support, I was often surprised by the response. Adjustments were frequently declined without anyone taking the time to understand my individual circumstances or explore what support might help me perform at my best.

Experiences like these can make you feel as though you have to overcome barriers that have nothing to do with your ability, potential or suitability for a role. They can even make you question whether it is worth applying in the first place.

My experience with Shoosmiths was very different. Rather than making assumptions, the team took the time to understand my circumstances, discuss what support would be helpful and were able to accommodate the reasonable adjustment I requested.

That is why reasonable adjustments are something I feel particularly passionate about in my role within our Emerging Talent team.

We want to see the real you

Applying for a training contract or solicitor apprenticeship can feel daunting enough without worrying about whether you can access the recruitment process in a way that enables you to perform at your best.

We believe that barriers should not prevent talented people from demonstrating their potential.

When we assess candidates, we want to understand their strengths and the value they will bring. We do not want a disability, long-term health condition, neurodivergence or other circumstance that may require support to become an obstacle that gets in the way of someone showing us their capabilities.

That is why we encourage anyone who feels they would benefit from reasonable adjustments to tell us.

Requesting support is not viewed negatively in any way. In fact, we see it as an opportunity to make sure candidates have the best possible chance to showcase themselves.

We want you to shine. We want to see you at your best. So why would we not support that?

Every person's needs are different

We recognise that no two people are the same. Even when individuals share the same diagnosis, the support that helps them succeed can look very different.

What works well for one person may not be relevant or helpful for someone else, and that is why we do not believe in taking a one-size-fits-all approach to reasonable adjustments.

If you are completing an application form and feel that adjustments would help you during the recruitment process, we would encourage you to let us know. The more information you can comfortably share about what support works well for you, the better we can understand your needs.

What happens if you are invited to an assessment centre?

If you progress to one of our assessment centres, we will ask about reasonable adjustments again.

This is because circumstances can change and we want to make sure we have the most up-to-date understanding of any support you may need.

Rather than making assumptions, we will arrange an individual conversation with you to discuss your requirements. These conversations are incredibly important to us because they give us the opportunity to understand your circumstances, learn what has helped you previously and explore adjustments that are reasonable and appropriate for your specific needs.

What might reasonable adjustments look like?

The adjustments we put in place will always depend on an individual's circumstances and the specific assessment activities involved.

Over the years, we have supported candidates in a number of different ways, including:

• providing additional time for certain assessment centre activities
• offering access to a quiet space throughout the day
• tailoring materials to improve accessibility
• adapting how information is presented
• making practical arrangements to support a candidate's individual needs.

Every conversation is unique because the support that helps one person thrive may be different from what helps someone else.

Our focus is always on understanding what support may help someone demonstrate their potential as effectively as possible.

Do not let worries about adjustments stop you from applying

If there is one message I would like you to take away from this blog, it is this:

Please do not let concerns about reasonable adjustments prevent you from applying.

I understand how daunting it can feel to share information about a disability, health condition, neurodivergence or any other circumstance for which you may need support. I understand the hesitation that can come from previous experiences where you may not have felt heard or supported.

But I can honestly say that I have seen first-hand how much the Emerging Talent team and the wider firm care about creating an inclusive recruitment experience.

We genuinely want to understand how we can support you.

We want you to succeed.

And we want every candidate to have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential.

Your request for support will never be viewed in a negative light. If anything, having open conversations helps us create an experience that allows you to focus on what really matters: demonstrating who you are, what you can bring and why you could have a successful future at Shoosmiths.

Any information you share with us about reasonable adjustments will be treated sensitively and only shared with those who need to be involved in supporting your recruitment experience.

A final thought

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing candidates who have accessed reasonable adjustments go on to perform brilliantly throughout the recruitment process.

In fact, I’d like to share the experience of a candidate who received reasonable adjustments at one of our recent assessment centres and was subsequently offered a training contract with Shoosmiths.

Their story is a reminder that when barriers are reduced and people are given the right support, they are able to focus their energy on demonstrating their skills, potential and personality.

And that is exactly what reasonable adjustments should be about.

Because everyone deserves the opportunity to show what they are truly capable of.

“When I first realised that I could ask for reasonable adjustments, I was very hesitant to do so. I did not want to be negatively perceived, or for anybody to doubt my ability to succeed in a legal career. However, as a neurodivergent person, I recognised that some aspects of assessment centres presented additional challenges for me, which arose from the format of the exercises rather than my ability to succeed in the role. I wanted to give myself the opportunity to perform at my best, so I decided to request adjustments when applying to Shoosmiths.

The process of doing so was very straightforward. I indicated my request for reasonable adjustments on my application form and was later contacted by a member of the Emerging Talent team to further discuss what I had requested and how these could be implemented to support me. This was incredibly helpful in ensuring I knew what to expect on the day and could focus my attention on preparing for the exercises.

On the day of the assessment centre, the adjustments we had discussed were in place, which helped reduce the challenges I would typically experience in an interview setting. As a result, I felt more confident and was able to demonstrate my abilities without additional barriers impacting my performance.

Reflecting on my experience, I am really pleased that I requested reasonable adjustments. The assessment centre was a success, and I was delighted to receive an offer from Shoosmiths. It was clear that the adjustments did not give me an advantage, rather they removed barriers that might have hindered my performance, giving me a fair opportunity to demonstrate my strengths and potential.

I would encourage anyone who requires reasonable adjustments and is considering requesting them to do so. Although I was initially apprehensive about making a request, my experience showed me that I didn’t need to feel that way. Everyone I interacted with was very understanding and supportive, and the adjustments helped me to approach the assessment centre feeling confident and able to perform at my best.”

Explore more of our recent blogs for insights and inspiration. If you have questions, our FAQ page is a great place to start.

Still curious or need advice? We would love to hear from you – email us at joinus@shoosmiths.com and our team will be happy to help.