Ethnicity

WE HAVE TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO DIVERSIFYING OUR WORKFORCE AND FOCUSING ON ETHNICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

"The legal sector's continued success depends on the people we attract, their talent, ambition, creativity and drive. Law firms must step up their efforts to seek out and support talented individuals with the potential to help their firms thrive – regardless of colour, background, beliefs and social circumstance."

Harold Brako – Partner at Addleshaw Goddard

The ethnic diversity of our firm has improved but we understand that there is still work to be done. Our ambition, to ensure that our resourcing pipeline is as talented and as diverse as possible, is driven by three Inclusion Partners, Harold Brako, Shakeel Dad and Hemal Kotecha, who are committed to progressing our ethnicity diversity through a series of strategic partnerships and the development of strong ties with professional ethnicity networks.

Some of the strategic work includes the Ethnicity Talent Law initiative. We launched it in 2021 working with Leeds University encouraging students from ethnically diverse backgrounds to attend panel events show casing ethnically diverse colleagues and hearing their stories and routes to law, while also receiving practical advice on applying for vacation schemes or training contracts. The success of 2021 has led to the expansion of the target universities in 2022, to include Leeds Beckett and Bradford University.

Recruitment

We have invested in a partnership with Bright Network, a free membership network designed to help university students and recent graduates across the UK connect with employers and get the support they need to fulfil their potential.' A significant proportion of the student membership are of ethnically diverse.

The firm has implemented internal recruitment procedures and introduced training and guidance to ensure that every application is dealt with on its merits. We engage with those responsible for recruitment and promotion decisions to ensure they fully understand and appreciate those diversity considerations which help to nurture and promote a fully inclusive culture.

Networking

AG is a founding member of NOTICED, an inter-firm diversity network which encourages diversity in the legal profession and raises awareness about issues faced by ethnic minorities in accessing the profession and career progression. It believes strongly that diversity and inclusion add value to an organisation by attracting and retaining the very best talent, fostering innovation and meeting the needs of a very varied clients in today's global environment.

We are also members of the Black Solicitors Network, a not-for-profit organisation with a 25-year record of promoting the interests of black solicitors, providing members with vital support networks and training, mentoring the next generation of black lawyers, and leading the conversation on diversity and inclusion.

Memberships

Key contacts

Our Inclusion Partners are responsible for engaging the business, setting the inclusion strategy and spearheading our efforts in each of their respective areas of inclusion.