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We use contextual data to discover the true academic potential of applicants, taking account of their background and circumstances. All of our Graduate Recruitment partners undergo unconscious bias training, and all of our staff attend Diversity & Inclusion training.
LEADING FOR INCLUSION
At Herbert Smith Freehills we recognise and appreciate all the differences that make each of us unique. Upholding a culture of inclusion that fosters these differences is fundamental to our business and the diverse clients and communities we work with. Embracing a diversity of backgrounds and views means we attract and retain the best talent and provide our clients with the most considered and innovative advice. Our approach to diversity includes initiatives encompassing gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and social inclusion. Here are just a few of the ways we’re living our inclusive values:
BAME We partner with Rare Recruitment who offer an introductory programme for top BAME students to the world of commercial law through ‘Articles’ and ‘Rare Foundations’. Our Roger Leyland Memorial Scholarship (in memory of Roger Leyland, the first black partner of the firm) provides exceptional black and minority ethnic students with a high level of financial support throughout their university studies, as well as work experience. We offer mentoring programmes for BAME future joiners and trainees. We’re also a sponsor of Bright Network’s Black Heritage event, The University of Warwick’s Multicultural Scholars programme and The University of Cambridge’s MCL African-Asian Bursary. Outside of the UK, we offer penultimate-year law undergraduates studying at a university in India the opportunity to join our summer vacation schemes.
SOCIAL MOBILITY We’re committed to improving access to the legal profession for all and we aim to ensure we give under-represented groups the chance to shine. We’re proud to be ranked 15 in the top 50 UK employers by the Social Mobility Employer Index 2018. We sponsor the Rare Discuss programme for talented students interested in commercial law. We also collaborate with Aspiring Solicitors to increase diversity throughout the legal profession. We have a dedicated Social Mobility Partner panel and we’re also a founding member of PRIME, an alliance of UK law firms which aims to improve young people’s access to the legal sector.
LGBT+ Our IRIS (Inclusion Respecting Identity and Sexuality) network co-founded DiversCity, a cross-firm organisation set up to encourage members of the LGBT+ community to apply to City law firms and build confidence among these students. This year we’ll be hosting the DiversCity in Law event in our office to give students the chance to talk to representatives from some of the top firms about what it’s like to be out in the City. We’ll also be participating in the Aspiring Solicitors’ Pride event.
DISABILITY Our Ability network works closely with
WOMEN Our Women Lawyers and Women Trainee Lawyers networks both run events within our firm. Our Women Trainee Lawyers network has also run a number of events on various university campuses across the UK. We’re committed to achieving our gender targets in relation to increasing the proportion of women in the partnership and in key leadership roles. As of May 2018, 25% of our global partnership is female (as against our target of 30% by May 2019).
MyPlus consultants to shape our workplace adjustments and ensure that everyone is supported in their role if they’re affected by a physical or mental disability. We hold events for students with a disability through EmployAbility and Aspiring Solicitors, where we explain the adjustments we can make to the assessment process to ensure everyone has equal access to our firm and to build confidence in talented students with a disability.
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