Browne Jacobson has topped the 2024 Social Mobility Employer Index with Slaughter and Might, Linklaters, Lewis Silkin, Norton Rose Fulbright and Freshfields all rating throughout the high 10.
In complete, 25 regulation companies have made it into the Index’s high 75 employers, with different notable inclusions together with Macfarlanes (13), Clifford Likelihood (14), CMS (17), Ashurst (20), DLA Piper (27), Pinsent Masons (33), and Simmons & Simmons (55).
Established by the Social Mobility Basis in 2017, the Index is a benchmarking software that celebrates organisations main the best way in creating inclusive workplaces accessible to people from all social backgrounds.
Browne Jacobson’s first place (which was shared with PwC UK) marks the fourth consecutive yr it has positioned within the high two. Caroline Inexperienced (pictured high), senior companion at Browne Jacobson, who leads on range, inclusion and wellbeing on the agency tells Authorized Enterprise she was ‘thrilled’ to high the desk, including, ‘you possibly can’t win an accolade like this with out plenty of individuals contributing – it’s a complete agency effort’.
The agency, which shares greatest observe with a spread of private and non-private sector shoppers, has acquired reward for an array of social mobility efforts. These embrace its college outreach programme, carried out at non-selective state faculties, and its Fairer Entry to Actual Expertise (FAIRE) programme which gives work expertise alternatives to candidates from decrease socio-economic backgrounds.
It additionally eliminated its minimal grade necessities of two:1 and ABB in 2016 after Inexperienced reveals an inner survey confirmed that ‘a few of our greatest solicitors didn’t have the {qualifications} that the career was insisting on’.
Linklaters positioned sixth within the Index this yr, marking the second yr working the agency has completed within the high ten and the eighth consecutive yr it has featured within the Index.
International head of company and ExCom champion for social mobility at Linklaters, Simon Branigan describes the rating as a ‘testomony to the work we’re doing throughout social affect, recruitment and internally.’
‘We’ve a Social Mobility Community with individuals throughout the agency from all practices and all ranges of seniority – they’re engaged, lively and extremely obsessed with what they do.’
The community, which shares greatest practices with massive companies and monetary companies, runs a spread of initiatives. Branigan highlights espresso drop-ins the place senior companions share their tales as one which has made a huge impact. He has his personal story to inform, as the primary member of his household to do A-Ranges after which attend college, and has seen first-hand how highly effective it may be for members of employees to listen to it.
Linklaters’ social mobility initiatives additionally embrace a nationwide apprenticeship program for varsity leavers and social affect initiatives with a neighborhood college in a deprived London ward. Whereas the agency prioritises social mobility in its recruitment technique, Branigan is obsessed with taking proactive measures earlier on.
‘We goal to interrupt down boundaries as early as attainable in order that kids can see the authorized career is inside their attain and ask themselves: ‘Why not me? Why shouldn’t I be a kind of legal professionals at a agency like Linklaters?’
There may be nonetheless work to be completed: a report launched by the SRA in July 2024 confirmed that 57% of legal professionals come from an expert socio-economic background and that 21% of legal professionals attended an unbiased/fee-paying college, far outstripping the nationwide common of seven.5%.
Nonetheless, the excessive illustration of regulation companies on the Index is proof that the career is taking the problem of social mobility critically.
Branigan believes progress will proceed to be made: ‘I’m optimistic. I see how critically regulation companies take the problem – it’s not tokenism. I can see the eagerness with which regulation companies discuss this.’
Inexperienced is equally hopeful: ‘It’s important to be optimistic with the variety of regulation companies on the Index – it’s encouraging.’
tom.cox@legalease.co.uk
Efforts to enhance social mobility within the authorized career will probably be among the many many regulation agency initiatives recognised on the upcoming UK ESG Awards 2025 in London subsequent yr – for extra particulars and tips on how to submit, click on right here.
