COMMENDATION FOR DIVERSITY
Baker McKenzie 100 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6JA
T 020 7919 1000 E londongraduates@bakermckenzie.com W uk-graduates.bakermckenzie.com
Method of application: Online application form
Application deadline: Apply by 31 July 2018 for training contracts commencing in 2020
Apply by 15 January 2018 for summer work placements
Method of selection: Assessment centre including partner interview, psychometric testing and video interview Work areas: • Banking and finance • Capital markets • Charities • Commercial property/real estate • Construction & engineering • Corporate finance/mergers & acquisitions • Corporate tax • Dispute resolution • Employment, pensions & incentives • Energy & natural resources • Environment • Financial services • Company & commercial • Competition and EU law
meaningful relationships.”
as a person and as a professional,” enthuses Chloe. “It is honestly such a lovely place to work.” Sam agrees: “As I am in a position of being able to compare firms, the culture here is markedly different. You feel part of a wider family, you don’t get that everywhere. This applies across the entire firm – not just to lawyers, but also to business services and PAs; everyone is made to feel valued.” Ellie muses on her experiences as a trainee so far: “Talking to friends at other firms, I frequently feel very lucky to be here! I’ve had two female supervisors, both of whom were amazing lawyers, working mums and very well respected. There is a very open and approachable culture.” Jonathan sums things up: “My expectations were very high when I joined – the firm had a reputation for being one of the best in the world, with a strong commitment to D&I. I’ve definitely had that confirmed.”
Firm-wide commitment is a cornerstone for the success of these multitudinous initiatives. Each focus group has two partner sponsors and there is active leadership from the firm’s management committee; it is right at the heart of the entire firm’s strategy, with a designated partner whose sole job is D&I. “You have to make sure that you apply it to the entire office and engage with everyone,” Arron confirms. “We also set goals for each group and monitor those goals; you’ve got to know where you’re heading to see what works and what needs tweaking.” Arron touches on the importance of Rare’s CRS within the recruitment space: “The system helps to highlight candidates who are from less privileged socioeconomic backgrounds and gives us the ability to make hiring decisions in context. For instance, the CRS highlights if a student has attended a poor- performing school and we are able to view academic credentials through an entirely new lens. During the last year, we have made training contract offers to people who, before using the CRS, would not have made it past the first stage in our process.” The emphasis on D&I feeds into a broader culture which is welcoming and warm. “When you join, you feel instantly as if you’re part of a family that cares about how you develop
• Insolvency/restructuring • Insurance/reinsurance • Intellectual property • Media & entertainment • Private client • Projects/project finance • Technology, media & telecommunications
Offices: London
What the judges said: “Baker McKenzie has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to increasing diversity and to building an inclusive culture. Backed up by a robust monitoring system and defined outcomes, the firm has shown that it is dedicated to recruiting a diverse workforce and to running networks, training, events and campaigns that encourage every individual at the firm to get involved and to promote change in this area.”
By Isla Grant
13
LawCareers.Net
Best in Law 2017
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