This International Women’s Day (IWD 2025), the theme is “Accelerate Action”—a call to push for faster progress towards gender equality. While the legal profession has made significant strides, more needs to be done to ensure that women in law are fully supported in their careers.
From improving flexible working options to enhancing maternity policies and supporting female entrepreneurs, many of our law firm partners are leading the way by creating inclusive workplaces where women can thrive, progress, and balance their professional and personal lives.
Here’s how some of the firms we work with are taking action and setting the pace for change.
Fletchers Solicitors: Flexibility in Practice, Not Just in Policy
Fletchers Solicitors has gone one step further in making flexibility work for women in law:
The firm has offered condensed hours to help working parents manage their schedules more effectively.
One of our candidates at Fletchers was able to finish early on a specific day each week to accommodate childcare, without losing full-time status.
By offering truly flexible working solutions, Fletchers is pioneering an approach that works for real people, not just ticking a box.
Mills & Reeve: Taking Maternity and Flexibility to the Next Level
One of the biggest barriers to career progression for women in law is balancing work with family life. Mills & Reeve is accelerating change by providing policies that truly support working parents:
The firm offers six months of full maternity pay, setting a high standard for the industry and ensuring that women don’t have to choose between financial stability and taking time off after having a child.
Recognising that one-size-fits-all working patterns don’t work for everyone, many private client lawyers at Mills & Reeve can reduce their hours to a four-day work week or adjust their start and finish times to accommodate childcare needs.
With these policies, Mills & Reeve is actively removing barriers to career progression for women.
Nicholls Solicitors: Flexibility That Works for Women
Flexibility is often talked about, but at Nicholls Solicitors in South Manchester, it’s genuinely embedded in their culture:
Lawyers at Nicholls have the option to adjust their hours around school drop-offs and pick-ups without losing out on career opportunities.
One of their family solicitors works just eight days per month in the office, with the freedom to work from home whenever she needs to.
By truly embracing flexible working, not just talking about it, Nicholls is taking real action to create a supportive and inclusive workplace.
Thorneycroft Solicitors: Putting Family First
Like Nicholls, Thorneycroft Solicitors ensures that women in law can balance career ambitions with personal responsibilities:
Lawyers can adjust their hours around childcare needs and work from home when necessary, ensuring they don’t have to compromise on family time.
The firm’s flexible approach to making up hours means that women with caregiving responsibilities can work in a way that suits their lives without sacrificing progression.
Gordons: Supporting Female Entrepreneurs and Jobseekers
Gordons is accelerating action beyond the legal profession by supporting female business leaders and job seekers:
As a partner of Fund Her North, a collective of over 25 women in venture capital, Gordons is helping female-founded businesses access funding and mentorship, ensuring more women get the investment they deserve.
The firm also works with Smart Works Leeds, a charity dedicated to helping women secure employment, providing volunteer support and fundraising to give women the confidence and tools to re-enter the workforce.
By championing women in business and employment, Gordons is driving meaningful change in and beyond the legal sector.
The Future of Women in Law: Pushing for Faster Progress
While these firms are accelerating action, there’s still more to be done to make the legal profession fully inclusive for women.
- Flexible working should be the norm, not an exception.
- Maternity policies must continue to improve, ensuring women don’t face financial penalties for starting a family.
- More firms should take an active role in supporting women beyond the legal sector
On this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the firms that are driving real change—and keep pushing for progress that ensures all women in law can thrive.
If you’re looking for a law firm that values flexibility, inclusion, and career development, get in touch with us today. We specialise in connecting legal professionals with firms that truly support their people. Give our team a call on 03300 245 606 or get in touch via our website.
