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Birketts elevates EDI commitment with double shortlisting at Legal 500 ESG Awards

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Law
firm Birketts is reinforcing its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
by being shortlisted in two categories for the Legal 500 ESG awards. 

The
law firm has seen Senior Partner, Chris Schwer make the shortlist for Social
Mobility Champion, while the whole firm has made the shortlist for the Women in
Law: Best Initiative to Improve Female Representation within Senior Ranks. 

Chris
has made social mobility a central tenet of his tenure as senior partner.
Together with the leadership team at Birketts, he has been instrumental in
supporting up and coming lawyers to deliver the project. This initiative,
originally conceived and put into action by our junior lawyers, highlights
their innovative thinking and dedication to making a positive impact 

The
firm’s Social Mobility Insight into Law Experience (SMILE) initiative sees Year
12 students, who are interested in a career in law and meet the PRIME social
mobility criteria, spend a week at Birketts. Students are buddied with trainees
and NQ solicitors, and gain experience in several seats in addition to
workshops relating to legal based tasks and how the business services arm of
the firm work together. 

The
SMILE initiative, though only introduced in the firm’s Ipswich and Chelmsford
offices in 2024, was such a success that it will be rolled out to other
offices, including Birketts’ new Bristol office, in 2025. 

Thanks
to Birketts dedicated female representation development programmes, including
‘Clearing the pathway to leadership’ and ‘Pathway to Partner’ 41% of Birketts’
Partnership are now women, up 14% since 2020, with ambitions to increase this
to 45% by 2026 and 50% by 2030 

Clearing
the Pathway to Leadership and Pathway to Partner initiatives involve workshops
designed to significantly enhance female representation in senior roles. These
workshops provide targeted training and mentorship, equipping women with the
skills, confidence, and networks necessary to advance their careers. By the end
of the workshop, participants will have their own roadmap to progress their
career on their terms and the resources to be more confident in their
day-to-day role. 

Bernadette
Baker, Chair of Birketts People and Culture Committee, stated: “Amidst the
discourse on scaling back diversity and inclusion efforts, Birketts proudly
takes a divergent path. Our exemplary record of women in leadership inspires us
to set even loftier goals. 

“Social
mobility is also a critical focus for us. We are committed to creating an
initiative that goes beyond superficial gestures, providing young individuals
considering a legal career with an authentic insight into the profession and
the inner workings of a law firm. We hope this experience will ignite their
passion and instil the confidence needed to advance. 

“By
embracing a wider talent pool and promoting more women to leadership roles, we
enhance our collective expertise and send a powerful message that Birketts is a
place where careers can flourish, irrespective of background or gender.” 

Birketts
will join other shortlisted firms and individuals at Park Plaza Westminster
Bridge, London on 25 March 2025 for the Legal 500 ESG UK Awards ceremony. 

About
Birketts 

Birketts
is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we
have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge,
Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich, Sevenoaks. We advise businesses,
government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and
internationally across four principal practice groups: real estate, corporate
services, litigation, and private client advisory.