For what they’re worth – Links, 2Birds and Pinsents among law firms disclosing chunky gender pay gaps

For what they’re worth – Links, 2Birds and Pinsents among law firms disclosing chunky gender pay gaps

The UK’s top law firms have begun disclosing figures on gender pay gaps, with an initial round of numbers showing City giant Linklaters has the biggest gulf between male and female earnings.

The Magic Circle firm on Wednesday (7 February) published its figures for gender pay bands, as required under legislation introduced last year, which showed Linklaters paid its male staff members nearly 60% more in bonuses than women. The firm’s female employees were paid on average 23.2% less than male colleagues. The gap widened to 39.1% when the median figure was considered. Continue reading “For what they’re worth – Links, 2Birds and Pinsents among law firms disclosing chunky gender pay gaps”

#MeToo: Dentons launches investigation and puts partner on leave amid reports of sexual misconduct

#MeToo: Dentons launches investigation and puts partner on leave amid reports of sexual misconduct

With the recent #MeToo campaign shining a light on sexual harassment and misogyny across every industry, a Dentons partner has been put on leave of absence while the firm investigates reports of sexual misconduct made against him.

The firm confirmed one of 62 partners who joined Dentons from Maclay Murray & Spens after the firms merged in October last year ‘will not be attending the office while the investigation is ongoing’. Continue reading “#MeToo: Dentons launches investigation and puts partner on leave amid reports of sexual misconduct”

The last word: Speaking out

The last word: Speaking out

With the recent Weinstein revelations shining a light on sexual harassment and misogyny across every industry, we ask senior lawyers for their views

Call it out

‘Sexual harassment of anybody in any circumstance is outrageous. It must be called out at every opportunity and condemned for what it is – an insidious abuse of power.’

David Morley, member, Mayor of London’s International Business Advisory Council Continue reading “The last word: Speaking out”

A retrograde step as Bar Council ends nursery scheme after four years

Despite launching in 2013 after a six-year campaign effort to support working parents, the Bar Council has this week discontinued its Bar nursery service.

The facility was launched in April 2013 in conjunction with Smithfield House Children’s Nursery, and was open 7am to 7pm five days a week, available to children aged between eight weeks and five years. It offered special rates to members of the Bar, chambers staff and Bar Council employees. Continue reading “A retrograde step as Bar Council ends nursery scheme after four years”

Comment: The answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table

Have we reached peak aspirational employer league table yet? From the perspective of the legal industry we certainly should have, given the trend in recent years for the profession to turn up with improbably high rankings in a proliferating range of ‘best employers for…’ tables.

Were an alien to descend to earth and judge the industry on the basis of these rankings they would conclude that the profession had cracked social mobility, gender diversity, gay-empowerment and quality of life… all the while generating a tonne of money. Continue reading “Comment: The answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table”

Answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table

Answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table

Have we reached peak aspirational employer league table yet? From the perspective of the legal industry we certainly should have, given the trend in recent years for the profession to turn up with improbably high rankings in a proliferating range of ‘best employers for…’ tables.

Were an alien to descend to earth and judge the industry on the basis of these rankings they would conclude that the profession had cracked social mobility, gender diversity, gay-empowerment and quality of life… all the while generating a tonne of money.

Continue reading “Answer to law firms’ social ills is not another league table”

Legal profession lacks diversity in partnership despite changing demographic of profession

Legal profession lacks diversity in partnership despite changing demographic of profession

The number of female practice certificate (PC) holders increased yet again by 3% to 67,393 from 65,147 as at July 2016, yet number of female partners remained relatively stagnant increasing only by seven to 8,105, according to the latest Annual Statistics Report from the Law Society, a trend echoing last year’s report. 

Continue reading “Legal profession lacks diversity in partnership despite changing demographic of profession”

‘Enhancing our approach to development’: A&O drops annual appraisals in performance pilot scheme

‘Enhancing our approach to development’: A&O drops annual appraisals in performance pilot scheme

Allen & Overy (A&O) confirmed today (4 May) that it has been running a performance pilot scheme for the last six months, dropping traditional annual appraisals in a new approach to performance management. Continue reading “‘Enhancing our approach to development’: A&O drops annual appraisals in performance pilot scheme”