Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to creating a dynamic, diverse, inclusive workplace, where everyone is empowered to be the happiest, healthiest and best they can be regardless of gender, race, background, sexual orientation, disability, family situation, religious beliefs or any other factor.
Diversity & Inclusion Pledge
The Freeths Diversity & Inclusion Pledge lets colleagues sign up to show solidarity and pledge their time to activities or training. That can be anything from listening to TED talks on disability, to sharing experiences in school outreach programmes. For every signature received we planted a tree in partnership with the Tree Council, meaning 500 new trees are now spreading their Freeths roots.
Championing women
57% of Freeths lawyers are female, compared to 53% for the sector.
We recognise that our industry has traditionally been male dominated, and we do everything we can to change this at Freeths. We put in place policies that break down barriers to women’s career progression, offering generous incentives to ensure women access fair and equitable opportunities.
- Promotion targets to ensure gender and diversity equality.
- Generous family leave entitlements.
- Policy to support breastfeeding mothers.
- Extended flexible working policy.
- Support for women returning to work after a career break.
We report annually on our gender pay gap, and have a strategy in place to reduce, and eventually eliminate, it.
NEW women
Our women’s network NEW (Networking events for Women) has over 1,000 members inspiring and encouraging each other through regular networking and events that deal with all aspects of female leadership, life and business. Through the NEW network, we sponsor the Women of the Year Awards.
We are proud to have been key sponsor of the Women of the Year Awards for a number of years.
Balance network
We also host the Balance network, which provides a safe space where gender issues and experiences of any kind can be discussed. Balance was piloted in our Nottingham office, and will be rolled out company-wide in 2024.
A multicultural company
“As a person of colour, I feel included in the Freeths community and safe to be myself with my colleagues.” Pulse survey respondent 2023.
We are proud to be a multicultural firm – we employ talented people no matter their race, culture or identity. We stand against all forms of racism and discrimination.
We report annually on our ethnicity pay gap, going beyond statutory reporting requirements to voluntarily publish our data relating to equity partners and ethnicity pay.
Diverse talent welcome
We are members of NOTICED – a group of law firms working together to further race inclusion in the workplace – and have offered around 50 mentorships through Young Diverse World Changers, a charity aimed at dismantling the obstacles preventing marginalised young professionals from succeeding.
We place paid summer internships in our London and Nottingham offices through the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation, and our Black Lawyers Network provides opportunities for our black and black heritage employees to drive change and influence business decisions, including expanding our graduate recruitment outreach to specifically reach out to black heritage students.
Birmingham Black Lawyers
We support Birmingham Black Lawyers, which aims to increase the proportion of black and ethnic minority students successfully entering and progressing within the profession, through activities including sponsorship and hosting work experience students.
“Freeths have partnered with us over a number of years, and we deeply appreciate the consistent support, dedication and enthusiasm they bring to our collaboration. Their unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity resonates seamlessly with our own values, fostering a natural and sincere relationship.” - Kishma Bolaji and Tamina Greaves, Co-Chairs, Birmingham Black Lawyers.
We were proud to sponsor a table at the Birmingham Black Lawyer Awards, where Legal Assistant Lasharna Barnett was nominated as a BBL Diversity Champion.
LGBTQ+
We are proud Stonewall Diversity Champions, supporting the organisation with advisory and policy support.
Our Shine network brings together members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies, creating an inclusive environment where all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer professionals can progress and develop. For example, as a result of our D&I Pledge, 53% of colleagues chose to include their pronouns on their email signature.
Our London and Nottingham offices hold annual pre-Pride breakfasts for the legal sector. In fact, our Nottingham office started the practice in the city, hosting colleagues from dozens of other firms over the course of many years.
In 2023 we set out our Trans and Non-Binary Policy, outlining responsibilities and respectful behaviour in the workplace, and ensuring the right support is in place for trans and non-binary colleagues.
Disability
To help increase understanding and awareness of non-visible conditions such as chronic pain, diabetes and autism, we take part in the Hidden Disability Sunflower initiative. Colleagues can choose to wear a sunflower lanyard to subtly share that they have a condition that requires extra support, understanding or time.
Our Disability Network is committed to bettering the everyday working lives of employees with disabilities and/or long-term conditions. That includes advising on processes and policies to make them fairer and more inclusive of people living with disabilities, and removing assumptions, barriers or challenges.
To ensure inclusivity in our recruitment processes, we’ve put in place an adjusted application process for students with disabilities, and worked with the Business Disability Forum to ensure our Early Careers Hub is accessible and attractive to disabled students.
In the past year, we are pleased to have partnered with The Law Society’s Disabled Solicitors’ Network on Project Rise, which supports people with disabilities by offering part-time training contracts.
Our accreditations and partnerships
We are celebrating another year of accreditations, rankings and partnerships
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