International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8th, is a global day honouring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. For law firms, it’s an opportunity to reflect and take action on how they can promote gender equality within their businesses.
While diversity within the legal profession is slowly improving, there is still a gender pay gap of nearly 12% and women continue to be under-represented in senior roles, particularly at larger firms.
Here are some things law firms can do to inspire inclusion and help make the legal profession better for women:
Focus on performance rather than length of service when determining pay and promotion
Focusing on the length of time someone has worked at your firm, rather than their ability to do the job, disproportionately impacts women, who often take parental leave and then reduce their hours to allow them to fit their work around their family life. Putting a greater emphasis on a person’s skills and knowledge when making decisions on pay and promotion enables a more level playing field for women.
Foster a culture of inclusion
Work to create an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and respected. By promoting respectful communication, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering a sense of belonging among all employees, law firms can foster an inclusive culture that supports and empowers all employees (not just women) to be themselves at work and reach their full potential.
Be transparent about career paths and pay
Openly sharing pay grading structures and progression paths will empower employees with the knowledge they need to properly understand where they’re at and where they should (and could) be in terms of their position and pay.
Provide a range of flexible working options
Remote working arrangements can stop those with caregiving responsibilities – which, research shows, is more likely to be women – from missing out on opportunities, feeling like they have no choice but to reduce their hours or dropping out of the workforce altogether.
Law firms that provide flexible working options will not attract a broader range of talented lawyers but will help ensure that those lawyers can continue to succeed at work no matter who they are and what responsibilities they might have away from the office.
Provide mentorship and sponsorship opportunities
Mentorship and sponsorship can play a crucial role in advancing women’s careers. Pairing junior female lawyers with more experienced senior mentors who can provide guidance and support is a great way of inspiring and encouraging those junior lawyers early on in their careers. Sponsorship programs can help women get the visibility and opportunities they need to advance to leadership roles.
Celebrate women’s achievements
While you shouldn’t just celebrate female achievements on International Women’s Day, it is an excellent opportunity to give a shout-out to the fantastic women within your firm. You might host an event or panel featuring female leaders from within the business, share success stories on social media, or recognise the contributions of women in internal communications within your firm.
Are you looking to improve your Employer Value Proposition from a diversity point of view?
International Women’s Day is a reminder of the importance of diversity within the legal profession. Leaders within law firms can inspire inclusion and make a meaningful impact on gender equality, which will ultimately, not only help their female lawyers to reach their full potential but also result in continued commercial success for their business.
If you’re looking for help or advice on how to implement any of the steps mentioned above as part of your recruitment and retention strategy, our specialist team are here for you. Give us a call on 03300 245 606 or get in touch via this website.
