Our internal diversity networks

These are our internal networks and groups we have established, click to view more information.

Alice D

Trainee Solicitor
Bird & Bird
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Ben L

Future Trainee
Bird & Bird
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Elizabeth L

Partner
Bird & Bird
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Hibaat A

Future Trainee
Bird & Bird
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Megan H

Associate
Bird & Bird
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Mohinder N

Trainee Solicitor
Bird & Bird
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Neely M

Associate
Bird & Bird
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Neely M

Associate
Bird & Bird
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Sana M

Trainee Solicitor
Bird & Bird
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Stephenie O

Trainee Solicitor
Bird & Bird
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Vruksha P

Trainee Solicitor
Bird & Bird
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Diversity at Bird & Bird:

We know an inclusive culture, alongside a diverse workforce, makes us more innovative and agile.

Diversity and inclusion in all that we do: our ambition is to have a culture built on empathy and respect, where identity is never a barrier to success, and we all have the freedom to be ourselves. To be inspired by the possibilities that diversity offers our people, our clients, and our firm. To reflect the diversity of the communities and societies we operate in and to be inclusive in all that we do. With this in mind, we have established 10 diversity pillars: gender balance; racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity; social mobility; LGBTQ+; wellbeing and mental health; age and generations; faith; neurodiversity; disability; family and carers.

Embrace is a network that welcomes employees of all cultural and racial backgrounds. StandOUT provides a supportive framework for our LGBTQ+ staff and allies, by representing their views and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion. NeuroNetwork celebrates neurodiverse minds and all ways of thinking in the workplace. Beyond Backgrounds is our social mobility network to increase awareness and visibility of our efforts within the social mobility space and provide a launchpad to build on these efforts.

External Diversity Initiatives:

  • 10,000 Black Interns
  • Black Solicitors Network
  • Breaking Barriers
  • Bright Network
  • City Parents
  • GROW Mentoring
  • Halo Hair Code
  • Law Society Diversity & Inclusion Charter
  • Lawyers in Schools
  • IP Inclusive by Chartered Institute of Parent Attorneys
  • Mansfield Rule
  • Mindful Business Charter
  • PRIME
  • Race Fairness Commitment
  • Race at Work Charter
  • Rare Contextual Recruitment System
  • Reignite Academy
  • Real Estate Balance
  • Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP)
  • Stonewall Diversity Champion
  • The Citizenship Foundation
  • Vantage
  • Windsor Fellowship
  • Working Families
  • Young Professionals

Awards & Recognition:

  • Our Global Women’s Development Programme has been awarded ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programme of the Year’ 2022 at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards, Legal Week’s ‘Diversity Innovation Award’ 2018, and ‘Best Leadership Programme Award’ at Managing Partners’ Forum 2018.
  • Our employee network, Embrace, has been rewarded ‘Outstanding BAME Employee Network’ at the UK Diversity Awards 2019.
  • Our Early Bird Pathway & Scholarship was nominated for ‘Best Talent and Inclusion Initiative’ at The Lawyer Awards 2023 and ‘CSR/Diversity Initiative of the Year at the British Legal Awards 2019.
  • ’Best Diversity and Inclusion Strategy’ finalist at the Target Jobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2023.
  • Achieved Mansfield Certification in the UK following our successful participation in the UK pilot programme.

Inclusivity is integral to us.

We know an inclusive culture, alongside a diverse workforce, makes us more innovative and agile. We are keen to create a recruitment process where everyone feels supported to succeed, to ensure that we recruit the top candidates onto our programmes, no matter their background or circumstance. It’s also the right thing to do.

Our highlights:

  • To minimise bias, we operate blind screening and blind interviewing, so all identification details and previous assessments are hidden from our assessors and
    interviewers.
  • To increase support, we offer confidential advice and adjustments to disabled and neurodiverse candidates to ensure they have a barrier-free recruitment experience.
  • To increase accessibility, we’re recruiting the majority of our candidates online, with online application forms, Watson-Glaser tests, video interviews, and (some) virtual assessment
    centres. Our Flying Start Programme, Virtual Experience Programme and Open Days are entirely online.
  • To increase diversity in underrepresented groups, we introduced the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) into our recruitment process. Since August 2018, we’ve used contextual data to help us identify candidates with the greatest potential despite their significant academic, personal or socio-economic disadvantage. We can recognise the achievements of candidates in the context in which they were gained.
  • To increase diversity in the legal professional, we partner with a number of platforms, networks and initiatives to educate and equip aspiring lawyers with the knowledge and skills
    they need to succeed.

Bird & Bird is an international law firm with 32 offices across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. We are a firm built on a sense of connection and collaboration, where the culture helps us to grow as a firm and develop as individuals and teams.

Our vision is to be the number one law firm in the world for organisations being changed by the digital world or those leading that change. We have a stellar, global reputation for providing sophisticated, pragmatic advice to companies which are carving the world’s digital future. We are interested in the world, current issues, and emerging trends. We are an outward-looking, sector-focussed firm, specialising in Automotive, Aviation & Aerospace, Defence & Security, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Media, Entertainment & Sport, Retail & Consumer, and Technology & Communications. We use our sector understanding and legal expertise to unlock the issues and we take a commercial approach when applying the law.

Start your career at an international, sector-focused, and innovative law firm.

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