Inclusion & Diversity
At Simmons & Simmons we seek to integrate diversity into all of our activities and create an inclusive environment where everyone can fulfil their potential. Our aim is to go above and beyond our legal obligations and manage diversity effectively for the benefit of each individual and the firm.
Governance
Since 2004, the firm has had an international diversity forum comprised of partners from a number of offices and chaired by our senior partner. A London diversity committee was established in January 2008 to guide our UK activity.
We recently became a signatory to The Law Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Charter. The charter is a public commitment by its signatories to developing and implementing best practice in equality, diversity and inclusion.
Policies and practices
In London we have policies on equal opportunities and diversity and non harassment, which cover all the six strands of diversity including gender, race, sexual orientation, age, disability and religion or belief. We also have a flexible working policy which is open to all.
We regularly monitor our policies to ensure that they comply with equalities legislation and reflect current best practice.
Our facilities
Our CityPoint office complies with the UK Government’s regulations on access for the disabled and since 2000 has had a quiet room for all denominations to use for prayer and reflection.
Recruitment and selection
We are involved in a number of initiatives aimed at opening up the legal profession to a broader talent pool. Accordingly, Simmons & Simmons supports the Sutton Trust’s and the College of Law’s ‘Pathways to Law’ programme and has set up a mentoring and sponsorship scheme with talented students from Tower Hamlets College.
We also work closely with organisations which help us tap into diverse talent pools at graduate level including SEO London, the Black Solicitors Network, Race for Opportunity, the Employer's Forum on Disability, Working Families, Stonewall and the City Solicitors’ Educational Trust.
On the qualified lawyer recruitment side, we are involved in the Legal Sector Alliance where a number of law firms are working with some of the legal recruiters to ensure that diversity is taken very seriously throughout the recruitment process.
Development and promotion
At Simmons & Simmons, people are supported throughout their careers with mentoring, coaching programmes and a wide variety of skills training, all focused on an individual’s unique development needs.
Workplace culture
Education plays a key role in creating and maintaining an open and inclusive workplace where everyone can meet their full potential. Consequently all London partners and employees attend mandatory diversity training.
Employee network groups play a key part in shaping our workplace culture. They provide members of the firm with support and guidance and a forum to meet others in the business community with common interests. We support a number of international employee network groups: women’s network, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) network, Jewish network, international Islamic community, Christians in Simmons.
Monitoring and measurement
In London, we monitor the age and gender, ethnicity, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation of our employees and partners.
We are proud to have been named by Stonewall (a UK-based LGBT charity) as the highest ranking law firm and most improved employer in its Workplace Equality Index 2009.
In October 2009 we won the Excellence in Equality and Diversity award at The Law Society Excellence Awards.
