Old tie hires

Firms need to improve their recruitment procedures to avoid limiting their intake by hiring only in their own image, a new guide warns.

The “old school tie network” or policies of choosing graduates from certain universities can stifle the progress of talented people, it warns.

The Law Society guide, Diversity and inclusion in law firms—the business case, shows how poor procedures can reduce a firm’s competitiveness and is aimed at large and small firms.

Desmond Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society, says: “If a firm has a good reputation for equality and fairness, it is more likely to attract good calibre candidates from diverse backgrounds when recruiting. And with the ever expanding international market, it makes sense for law firms to have a wide understanding of language, cultural and religious influences.”