Careers - Diversity
We need to build professional teams from the best lawyers we can recruit and, in doing so, are committed to sourcing talent from the widest possible pool of people.
We believe it to be self-evident that the characteristics we value in our colleagues and prospective colleagues – common sense, determination, academic excellence, articulacy and a sense of humour – are not the preserve of a particular social or ethnic background. We also want to respond to the expectations of clients who themselves have a diverse workforce representative of society today and acknowledge that the deployment by us of bright individuals with different backgrounds and interests brings a fresh perspective to problem solving.
We are convinced, as a matter of plain common sense, that treating individuals equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect regardless of disability, age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religious belief or sexual orientation is more than an issue of compliance with anti-discrimination legislation. The adoption of such a policy enhances the service we provide to our clients, rewards our people on the basis solely of their abilities and contributions and results in a more stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.
We believe it to be self-evident that the characteristics we value in our colleagues and prospective colleagues – common sense, determination, academic excellence, articulacy and a sense of humour – are not the preserve of a particular social or ethnic background. We also want to respond to the expectations of clients who themselves have a diverse workforce representative of society today and acknowledge that the deployment by us of bright individuals with different backgrounds and interests brings a fresh perspective to problem solving.
We are convinced, as a matter of plain common sense, that treating individuals equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect regardless of disability, age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religious belief or sexual orientation is more than an issue of compliance with anti-discrimination legislation. The adoption of such a policy enhances the service we provide to our clients, rewards our people on the basis solely of their abilities and contributions and results in a more stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.
We are founding signatories of the Law Society´s Diversity and Inclusion Charter and are, amongst other things, developing good diversity practice by collecting and sharing with other signatories examples of practical activities that contribute to progress in this area. Further information can be found at: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/inclusioncharter/charter.page
Each year we conduct a monitoring exercise which helps us to evaluate the diversity of our staff and partners. In 2009, this revealed that out of a total staff of 411:
Each year we conduct a monitoring exercise which helps us to evaluate the diversity of our staff and partners. In 2009, this revealed that out of a total staff of 411:
- 40 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, four were disabled, with a similar number of males and females.
- Among the 45 trainees, 3 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, 22 were male and 23 were female. None were disabled.
- Among the 150 qualified solicitors below partner level, 10 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, 74 were male and 76 were female. None were disabled.
- Among our 151 non-legal staff, 25 were from ethnic minority backgrounds, 36 were male, 115 were female and three were disabled.
- Among our 65 partners, two were from an ethnic minority background, 58 were male and seven were female while one was disabled.
