Pinsent Masons

Diversity at Pinsent Masons:

• FREE (Faith, Race, Ethnicity and Equality) Network

   

  

  At Pinsent Masons, our aim is to promote the idea that a career in professional services is open to everyone. Specifically, we want to widen access to the legal profession by encouraging candidates from diverse backgrounds. One of our key aims is to raise career aspirations amongst 15-18 year olds. We visit partner schools in inner-city areas near our offices, talk to the students about their future plans, offering practical help with CVs and college applications as well as providing them with encouragement and guidance.

  The network plays an important role in driving forwards our Inclusion and Belonging agenda at the firm. It allows us to share experiences, develop best practice and to bring colleagues from diverse backgrounds together. We are keen for applicants to get involved in the Group and, if they go on to join the firm, for the Group to support their careers at the firm like it already does for so many others.

  It’s encouraging to see more black and Asian lawyers are coming through now compared to twenty years ago – we’re clearly going in the right direction. We have introduced our Real Role Models publication, which highlights stories and experiences of the inspiring people from across our business from minority ethnic backgrounds.

• Disability & Wellbeing Group

   

  

  The Disability & Wellbeing Group is one of our five inclusion groups, and our over-riding aim is to support candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions being recruited into the firm as well as ensuring that any colleague with a disability has the support they need from the firm. We are particularly keen that employees do not face any barriers in carrying out their role, or when considering a new role or promotion.

  Over the last few years we’ve focused on raising awareness of particular topics through support groups. We’ve won People In Law Awards for our Neurodiversity Network and Menopause support work. And we’re tackling topics like autoimmune disease, dementia, cancer, fertility, bereavement and grief and carers. Our support groups not only offer a voice and support to colleagues living with various conditions, but actively raise awareness of topics throughout the firm and beyond. This approach seems to be working and is something we’ll continue to explore.

• Female Futures

   

  

  The aim of the group is to make Pinsent Masons the best place for women to work at all levels. We are looking to create a law firm which, as well as being a market-leader, is a place where women really want to work because they can develop successful careers and have an enjoyable working life. We encourage involvement from all members of the firm, and are delighted to have our male colleagues join the group and/or attend our events. The idea, after all, is to create an inclusive culture where every employee is encouraged, supported and treated fairly, and without bias.

  We focus on topics such as recruitment, retention, career progression and job satisfaction for women. Progress has already been made through mentoring, maternity and parental support groups as well as delivery of training on unconscious bias and diversity issues, which is now widely available.

• LGBT+ Network

   

  

  The network is in place to support the welfare and interests of LGBT+ people throughout the firm and promote diversity and greater understanding of the LGBT+ perspective on issues such as marriage and parenting. We also work with clients to help them develop their own policies, diversity networks and employee champions.

  The network is made up of lawyers at all levels, members from our business operations teams, and includes senior people who are very willing to mentor new trainees. It offers you a really good network of contacts, right across the firm. If ever you have a question, there’s always someone you can go to for advice.

  As a multinational firm, we are keen that we continue to develop LGBT+ inclusion not only in the UK, but across the regions in which we operate. As a result, we are currently exploring a number of potential partnerships which will allow us to support people not only in the workplace, but within  also the communities we serve around the world, to use our position to drive positive change and improve the lives and conditions of LGBT+ people everywhere.

• Family Support Network

   

  

  Our Family Support Network was established to provide support to people in the firm around all aspects of family life. We have a wide focus; including promoting the balance of work and family life, supporting working parents/step-parents (of any gender), raising awareness of elder care and supporting those who are caring for vulnerable, elderly or disabled relatives.

  As part of our commitment to the wellbeing and personal development of our people, we have memberships with a number of organisations to ensure we are following best practice. We run regular events to raise awareness and to educate ourselves on issues faced by modern families. We also seek the views of our network in order to ensure that the firm’s policies and procedures follow best practice, and support those trying to balance work and family commitments. Our members join regular calls to discuss relevant issues, plan events and share information and ideas.