Browne Jacobson Ireland LLP

Browne Jacobson recognises the power of diversity, equity and inclusion and the importance of reflecting the clients it serves and the communities in which it operates. The firm’s recognition as the number one UK Law firm employer in the Social Mobility Employer Index is testament to its commitment to creating an inclusive workforce. The firm actively uses its position to help drive positive change in the legal sector and wider society.

Browne Jacobson makes sure it offers fair opportunities for all, promoting openness and knowledge-sharing between colleagues for inspiration and collaboration. Employees are genuinely committed to understanding each other’s lived experiences through the firm’s internal DEI networks: Gender, REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), LGBTQ+ and Disability & Conditions and Working Families – and through DEI training such as Conscious Inclusion & Anti- Racism which has been rolled out across the firm and forms part of its mandatory training.

An inclusive workplace values all employees for their strengths and unique abilities, which is why Browne Jacobson builds true inclusion by celebrating difference. The firm takes a broad view disability, so its strategy addresses physical disability in addition to non-visible, neurodiversity, mental health, long-term and chronic conditions to help foster a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive.

Taking a data-driven approach enables the firm to understand the challenges that certain under-represented groups face and tailors its approach. The firm focuses on ensuring that its approach to diversity and inclusion continues to make an impact across all the lenses of diversity, including gender, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social economic status and carer/dependants.

This enables them to investigate possible inequalities, implement programmes to tackle any disparities, and measure the success of its DEI strategy. The firm has signed up to The Law Society’s Women in Law pledge and the Business in the Community Race at Work charter to publicly advance its commitment to D&I with clear measurable actions to ensure impact. It is also a Disability Confident Level 3 Leader.

The firm is dedicated to social mobility through its FAIRE (Fairer Access Into Real Experience) initiative and reports that:

• 90% of employees attended a UK state school.
• 46% were first generation in their family to attend university.
• 58% in its junior lawyer community are first generation in their families to go to university; this figure has risen from just 23% in 2019.

Through the FAIRE programme, Browne Jacobson offers 80 paid in-person work experience places each year, with a minimum of 50% of those places going to students of low socio-economic background and located within social mobility cold spots. The firm partners with clients, either through virtual presentations, where clients can share their knowledge with students, or by ring-fencing work experience opportunities that help support clients’ own supply-chain social mobility agendas.

Its REACH Mentoring Programme, now in its third year continues to be industry leading programme for aspiring Black lawyers designed to bring more diversity into the legal sector.

The transparent approach, dedication to fairness and investment in its people reflects the real and lasting change the firm wants to instigate. The firm understands that the power of diversity can only be unlocked by creating an inclusive culture for all that is authentic.