How would you rate the inclusiveness of your workplace environment?

Inclusiveness continues to be at the forefront of law firms’ agendas, and rightly so. An inclusive firm encourages a culture where people can be themselves at work, regardless of factors such as gender, ethnicity, social, educational or economic backgrounds. A working environment which values and respects individual differences gives everyone the opportunity to excel. Moreover, having proper diversity and inclusion policies in place not only allows law firms to meet their legal and regulatory duties, it also ensures a more responsive and loyal workforce, which can in turn lead to better staff attraction and retention. Champion Baker McKenzie’s ‘emphasis on diversity’ does not go unnoticed by trainees and the same rings true at Latham & Watkins. At Goodwin Procter, a ‘collegiate atmosphere’ pervades, whilst at Morrison and Foerster, one of the best things about the firm is ‘being supported in an inclusive and friendly culture’. That Osborne Clarke ‘felt like a really great and inclusive environment’ was evident even from just a pre- application presentation evening. Trainees at Kirkland & Ellis appreciate the feeling ‘that the whole firm is driving forward in the same direction’ and that there is room for everyone on the journey. One Mills & Reeve recruit said: ‘having been a paralegal here, I was very aware that the inclusive and personable culture the firm presents in external communications truly exists within the firm’. And at Squire Patton Boggs, ‘the unique inclusive nature of all staff members was a stand-out feature’ for applicants, who ‘immediately warmed’ to colleagues during the interview process.