The legal profession has turned in a respectable performance in the UK’s first-ever Social Mobility Employer Index.
The Top 50 employers included a remarkable 16 national and international law firms. The Index ranks employers on the actions they are taking to improve social mobility, and to recruit and progress talented employees from all backgrounds. It is a joint initiative between the Social Mobility Foundation and Social Mobility Commission, in partnership with the City of London Corporation.
Berwin Leighton Paisner led the charge, ranking eighth, followed by Baker McKenzie at number 11. The Ministry of Justice attained place number 14, while Pinsent Masons was ranked 15th overall. Burges Salmon ranked 17th while legal giants Clifford Chance and Linklaters took 19th and 20th place, respectively. Herbert Smith Freehills appeared at number 25, Hogan Lovells ranked 26th and Simmons & Simmons 27th. Eversheds Sutherland were ranked 29th, Freeths appeared at number 32, the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple at 35, Scottish firm Brodies at 39, HFW (Holman Fenwick Willan) at 43, DLA Piper at 46, Charles Russell Speechlys at 48 and Stephenson Harwood at 50.
The Index’s top ranking law firm, Berwin Leighton Paisner, has a dedicated social inclusion group leading efforts such as outreach to schools, work experience, mentoring and other activities for school leavers. Last year, it ran a work experience programme for 25 16-17 year-olds from non-advantaged backgrounds in London, and it offers an apprenticeship scheme for school leavers in Manchester.
Partner Tim Smith said: ‘Diverse teams are more innovative and perform better. We are in the people business the broader the experiences and backgrounds of your staff you can present to clients and potential clients, the more clients we can relate to. They are looking for people who share their values, so I don’t understand why you would narrow focus and background.’
The Rt Hon Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility Commission, said: ‘Research has shown that people from working class backgrounds – even if they are high educational attainers – are less likely to secure professional jobs because they have less access to the networks and knowledge to navigate the system.
‘The Top 50 firms are paving the way by changing their workforce strategies to ensure they get don’t lose out on talented people from less privileged backgrounds. We want the index to herald a step change towards improving social mobility by encouraging many more employers to compete to recruit, and keep, the best and brightest candidates – regardless of background.’
Catherine McGuinness, policy chairman for the City of London Corporation, said: ‘These firms are leading the way in removing the barriers which are holding back the best and brightest candidates in our society. Statistics show that people from more prosperous backgrounds, who attend private schools and elite universities, often take a disproportionate number of the best jobs.’
