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EVERYTHING ABOUT US
LIFE AT HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS
We believe that a truly global law firm is built on a diverse and inclusive culture, reflective of the societies in which we live and work. To best serve our clients, we’ve created an open, dynamic and inspirational working environment.
Black, Asian and Minority Ethic (BAME) trainee graduate recruitment committee in relation to engaging with BAME students, including at our annual ‘Multiculturalism in the City’ panel event. WOMEN LAWYERS Our Women Lawyers network helps drive the firm’s diversity initiatives, aiming to improve gender balance amongst partners and encouraging talent amongst female lawyers. The Women Lawyers network is linked to our Women Trainee Lawyers network, as well as to our Women in Business Services network. Together, they focus on increasing access to role models, supporting career development and engaging men in gender equality. We are also members of the 30% Club and the ‘Opportunity Now’ gender campaign. IRIS Our global IRIS network – Inclusion, Respecting Identity and Sexuality, includes partners and staff who identify as LGBT+ and their allies, friends and supporters. An integral part of this network is our ‘ally’ programme that supports our LGBT+ employees in the workplace and fosters a supportive working culture. Anyone, regardless of whether they identify as LGBT+, is welcomed and encouraged to become an ‘ally’. We are proud to be a founding member of DiverCity, attracting LGBT+ graduates to the City and we are recognised as one of the top 10 global employers for LGBT+ Inclusion by Stonewall, the UK’s leading LGBT+ rights organisation. Furthermore, the firm was named as a Star Performer in Stonewall’s ‘Top Employers in the UK’ list. FAMILY Launched in 2012, the Family network aims to increase the visibility of family life at the firm and runs a series of monthly seminars on family topics, including parenting, care for the elderly and mental health in the family. The network works with HR to shape family-friendly policies and benefits, to make Herbert Smith Freehills an employer of choice for work-life balance. The network also runs a ‘Bring your child to work’ day and the ever-popular Family Christmas party.
ABILITY Open to all employees, the Ability network was established in 2014, to help raise awareness of disability and to provide a forum for communication and education. The objectives of the network are wide-ranging and focus on the entire firm becoming more confident in its understanding of disability and in becoming an employer of choice for those who have a disability. Topics covered in its panel sessions have included dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism. Many seminars are delivered in partnership with the Family network to include those with friends and family who have a disability. The network also collaborates with external networks, including PurpleSpace, a networking and professional development hub for disabled employees, and resource group leaders and allies from all sectors. The network has also run events focusing on mental health and supports our mental health and wellbeing programme, which includes our mental health mentors and the ‘This is Me’ role model campaign. MULTICULTURALISM Our Multiculturalism network celebrates diverse ethnicity, race, nationality, religion and faith. Its activities include a celebration of Eid and joint events with clients on Diwali and Africa Day, as well as film nights and panel keynote speaker events. The network works closely with the educational role, as well as helping to create an inclusive working environment for our colleagues, clients and external partners. You do not have to identify directly with a particular affinity network to get involved. People become a ‘friend’ of a network in order to show their support or interest. Being part of a network gives you the opportunity to contribute to the diversity and inclusion efforts of the firm and to get involved in the various events and activities. EMPLOYEE AFFINITY NETWORKS Our networks connect staff across the firm. They are a vibrant part of our culture and perform an important
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