Apply now!Diversity at Addleshaw Goddard
What Diversity means to Addleshaw Goddard...
Addleshaw Goddard has created a high-performance culture that is inclusive, supportive and which thrives on individuality, personality and team spirit. People at the firm expect the best of each other and want everyone to succeed, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived difference.
Addleshaw Goddard's diversity programme is represented at the most senior level of the business by the board sponsor. It is run by a dedicated Human Resources (HR) team, partner sponsors and volunteers from across the business. The firm has organised their approach around five key strands of diversity focusing on: disability, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+ and social mobility, and also provide comprehensive support for parents and carers and run an ongoing mental health and wellbeing awareness campaigns. In addition, Addleshaw Goddard also has people networks that not only support and help inform the firm's inclusion strategy but also provide an opportunity for people to learn more about specific subject matter, network and share their lived experience. Networks include:
AG Embrace – race and ethnicity network
OpenAG – LGBTQ+ network
The Disability Network – disability and carers network
The Vine – women's network
Addleshaw Goddard has been consistently recognised for their commitment to diversity over the years. In the firm’s sector’s recent awards season, their diversity programme has achieved the following external recognition:
- The Times, Top 50 Employers for Women for the 14th time;
- People in Law Awards, Excellence in Learning and Development (2022)
- Legal Week Innovation Awards, Mindful Business Charter (recognition) and HR Innovation (winner 2019)
- Listed as a Top 75 Employer in the Social Mobility Index 2021 and 2022
- Achieved "Employer" status as part of the Disability Confident Scheme
The firm are also:
- active members of Stonewall and the Business Disability Forum
- signatories to the Valuable 500
- founding members of PRIME
- partners with the Black Solicitor's Network
Removing barriers so that talent can shine
A key focus for Addleshaw Goddard is diversifying their trainee talent. To do this, the firm has partnered with an external organisation, Rare, to introduce contextual recruitment and accountability into their graduate hiring process.
Contextual recruitment looks at the context of academic achievement, and identifies students who have surpassed expectations or performed excellently in conditions of adversity.
Addleshaw Goddard have also removed their minimum A-level requirement to allow a more diverse pool of candidates to apply for training contracts there.
The firm's external recruitment partner helps them to screen your application without personal information to ensure they do not allow bias of any kind to affect the process.
Addleshaw Goddard are also increasing their training for everyone involved in the recruitment process to ensure that they select people based on their ability, potential and nothing else.
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Diversity Access Schemes
Addleshaw Goddard nurtures strong links with reputable social mobility schemes and professional diversity networks such as the Aspiring Solicitors, Black Solicitors Network, Urban Lawyers, , Lawyers in Schools, Pathways to Law, PRIME and AllAboutLaw Events. The firm value their support and expertise when reaching out to untapped talent from non-traditional backgrounds.
The firm are signatories of the Social Mobility Business Compact: a government-led initiative which aims to reduce elitism and improve social mobility by encouraging businesses to open opportunities to everyone.
Furthermore, they have always invested and partnered with local communities, schools and networks who are keen to raise the aspirations of young people – and will continue to do so by offering young talent opportunities to take part in quality work experience programmes and internships.
PRIME
Addleshaw Goddard is a founding member of PRIME, an initiative through which law firms provide quality work experience placements to marginalised school-age students. The firm works with local primary and secondary schools across London, Leeds, Manchester and Edinburgh to inspire young people to fulfil their potential. Each year, around 50 students from years 12 and 13 take part in the firm’s Legal Access Week Programme.
Legal Explorers
In 2023, Addleshaw Goddard launched the AG Legal Explorer programme – a year-long programme offering mentoring, a laptop and work shadowing opportunities for socially mobile students. The programme will run across offices in Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester and will focus on preparing students to take the next step in their careers, such as applying for university or apprenticeship.
Sonia McMahon Award
This award was establish following the death of a colleague, Sonia McMahon. Sonia was a champion of inclusion and was passionate about providing greater opportunities for those from less privileged background. The award is open to current law students and awards the two winners a £5,000 bursary (each), 12 months of mention and a week of work experience at the firm.
Legal Access Scheme
Addleshaw Goddard’s award-winning Legal Access Scheme offers bright BPP University Law School students from unconventional or less privileged backgrounds a place on their summer placement programme. 24 students from this scheme have secured training contracts with the firm since its creation in 2007.
Lawscot Foundation
The firm has partnered with LawScot Foundation to provide an opportunity for students from unconventional or less privileged backgrounds a place on their Summer placement scheme.
Legal Apprenticeship Scheme
There’s no blueprint for bright. In fact, the opposite is true. That’s why Addleshaw Goddard offers an alternative path into law for those who do not wish to go down the traditional university route.
The firm’s Legal Apprenticeship Scheme, developed in Manchester and Leeds, is at the forefront of apprenticeships in the legal profession.
They have been recognised by the All About Group as a Top 100 Employer for School Leavers.
City Solicitors Horizons
City Solicitors Horizons (CSH) is a social mobility initiative designed to improve access to the legal profession for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. It was created by the City of London Solicitors’ Company, City Solicitors’ Educational Trust (CSET) and The Legal Education Foundation (TLEF), and is supported by the City of London Law Society (CLLS) and leading law firms – including Addleshaw Goddard.
Students attending universities across London and southeast England are selected to take part in this three-year social mobility programme, alongside their undergraduate degrees, connecting with law firms who provide access to mentoring lawyers and practical work experience.
Talent Tap
In 2023, Addleshaw Goddard started working with Talent Tap, which provides high quality work experience opportunities and to social mobility students in 'cold spots'. Residential accommodation is provided to the students, allowing them to take part in opportunities and work experience that might not have been able to otherwise.
Street Law
Addleshaw Goddard's new programme Street Law involves working with young people in schools to provide information about law and their rights and responsibilities. The Firm work with low progression secondary schools to help raise aspirations and encourage young people to think about law as a possible career option, as well as providing useful legal information using interactive methods.
Diversity Data
- UK female partners31%
- UK female fee earners69%
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