Diversity and Inclusion Report: UK

Being uncomfortable | GC diversity and inclusion

Any kind of change is a hard and often emotional process. In this month’s blog, Baker McKenzie Inclusion and Diversity partner, Sarah Gregory, shares why firms have a duty to become more comfortable with talking about issues that have previously been swept under the carpet.

Quantitative research analysis | GC Diversity and Inclusion Report 2016

The purpose of this section is to analyse the state of diversity within the legal market by summarising the opinions of both in-house lawyers and outside professionals, whilst also evaluating how legal teams are contributing to diversity initiatives within their organisations. It is based on an online survey completed by 248 UK respondents.

Shaping diversity: part one |

To start at the beginning, why bother about diversity and inclusion? What does this actually have to do with the main business of most corporations in modern capitalism – making money?

Shaping diversity: part two |

A key challenge around initiatives is making them an integral part of the culture; not just window-dressing or box-ticking. There is a perception among those active in the field that initiatives without depth can actually have a detrimental effect as these ghettoise the activities of diversity and inclusion.

A CEO’s perspective on diversity and inclusion | GC Diversity and Inclusion Report UK 2016

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, makes the strategic case for the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, in particular its gender balance plans.

Shaping diversity: part three | GC Diversity and Inclusion Report UK 2016

In the interviews we conducted for this report much of the strategic engagement or the initiatives undertaken were done at a company- wide level. However, some initiatives were specific to legal teams and were often engaged in addressing inequalities in legal education and hiring practices, particularly at law firms as we discussed in regards to the pipeline.

Diversity – the external counsel perspective | GC Diversity and Inclusion Report UK 2016

Diversity toolkit | GC Diversity and Inclusion editorial

Diversity levels across the legal sector – from partnership in private firms, through to new recruits fresh out of law school or even in-house legal functions – suggest that there are still barriers to entering and progressing through the industry for certain groups and demographics of people.