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International Edition

Law Society report reveals partner promotions still fail to reflect rising tide of female lawyers

The latest annual statistical report from The Law Society has confirmed the extent to which law firms have so far failed to react to the increase in women in the profession, with the number of female solicitors nearly doubling over the last 10 years. The report - Trends in the Solicitors Profession - published earlier this month, showed that between 2000 and 2010 the number of women holding practising certificates rose by 80%, although the profession as a whole has grown by only 42%.
4 minute read

International Edition

Freshfields rolls out unconscious bias training in diversity push

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is rolling out unconscious bias training to its partners firmwide in a bid to increase diversity within its ranks. The training, which was first piloted with corporate partners last autumn, is intended to alert partners to bias that could affect decisions regarding recruitment, promotion and attitudes to others at the firm.
2 minute read

International Edition

A&O becomes first law firm on board Government social mobility initiative

Allen & Overy (A&O) has become the first law firm to sign up to the Government's new 'business compact' which will see companies agree to offer internships to young people from deprived backgrounds. The compact is part of the Government's wider social mobility strategy unveiled today (5 April) by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
2 minute read

International Edition

Macfarlanes boost maternity leave pay by 70% in diversity review

Macfarlanes has upped its maternity leave by almost 70% in a bid to retain more female lawyers at the firm and increase the number of women in its partnership. The City firm will now offer all employees 23.5 weeks of maternity leave on full pay, up from just 14 weeks.
2 minute read

International Edition

Bar stats show marginal increase in female barristers over five years

The percentage of women at the bar has increased only marginally over the last five years according to new research compiled by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and Bar Council and issued yesterday (22 March).
3 minute read

International Edition

What women want: bridging the great divide

There is a great divide between the number of women qualifying into the legal profession as either solicitors or barristers (more than 50%) and the number who make it into law firm partnership ranks (in most cases, fewer than 20%) or as Queen's Counsel. Such a disproportionate attrition rate represents a huge waste of talent and money, and the picture is not going to change overnight. Where is the legal profession going wrong?
5 minute read

International Edition

Let's not kid ourselves - does the legal profession really care about diversity?

These days you often hear of social inclusion or diversity "moving up the agenda" of City law firms. But if I'm honest, years of covering the profession has led me to the view that the commercial sector, at least, generally doesn't much care about this stuff. What is usually meant when it is said that things are "moving up the agenda" is that people feel the need to discuss something or take cosmetic steps that will in reality have little impact, not to actually do much substantive. There's a world of difference between the former and the latter.
3 minute read

International Edition

Career Clinic: Miserly maternity pay leaves mum-to-be strapped for cash

When I joined my current firm, I was encouraged to believe that my firm's maternity policy was in line with market standard in the City. Finding myself unexpectedly but happily pregnant, I recently had cause to check the details - and the arrangements are far from generous. Nearly half the additional maternity pay will be held back for a year and paid as a "bonus" only after I have been back at work for six months, which will leave me strapped for cash at the time I need it most.
1 minute read

International Edition

Comac places emphasis on investor relations.

Investor relations activities are becoming even more critical for hedge funds as regulation requirements and greater demand for information by investors propels IR activity into the limelight
7 minute read

New York Law Journal

Judicial Friends Criticizes Cuomo on Presiding Justices Appointment

By virtue of his two appointments of presiding justices, the governor has cemented the complete exclusion of any African American from having a seat at the statewide policy-making table.
1 minute read

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