A blueprint for progress on social mobility – law firm Shoosmiths blazes a trail
Shoosmiths has today published a report in partnership with the Purpose Coalition, which highlights the extensive progress the law firm has made in the area of social mobility.
In October 2020, the firm became the first signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge and agreed to develop a Social Mobility Action Plan in partnership with the Purpose Coalition.
The second Social Mobility Impact Report was launched this week at an event in the Houses of Parliament, bringing together senior MPs including Shadow Secretary of State Jo Stevens MP, former Shadow Legal Aid Minister Afzal Khan MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP, Stephen McPartland MP, Mark Fletcher MP, Rupa Huq MP,and more.
Education, career pathways and mentorship with the transformation of its recruitment processes and recognition of the value of alternative career pathways beyond traditional academic routes;
Community engagement including the Shoosmiths Foundation which provides grants to UK-registered charities like EveryYouth, Street League, and Jericho, complementing its wider community investment strategy by supporting the most vulnerable people and families;
Championing wellbeing by offering flexible working arrangements and family-first policies, including remote work and part-time roles, to meet the diverse needs of its workforce, enabling them to balance work and personal responsibilities;
Diversity and inclusion through the collection and evaluation of socioeconomic data of its staff , the depth, detail and breadth of which has helped facilitate a constructive dialogue with employees about the challenges they face.
The report also makes recommendations where Shoosmiths can develop its work further.
Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Education Secretary, Rt Hon Justine Greening, said:
“It’s a privilege to work with Shoosmiths, our very first signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge. The firm has always had a very clear sense of its potential to make a positive social impact, especially for those with the talent, but not necessarily the opportunity, to fulfill their potential. This Social Mobility Impact Report features fantastic examples of how the firm is making a difference through its collaboration with local partners, demonstrating the firm’s understanding of the communities it operates in and the ways in which they can be supported most effectively.
“The recommendations the report contains show how a purpose-led organisation can develop its social impact pathway, based on its own experience and expertise, to ever greater effect. I hope Shoosmiths will serve as a blueprint for other law firms, and indeed other professional services businesses, who are at earlier stages of their social mobility journeys.
“With its geographic reach and proven social mobility track record, Shoosmiths can play an important part in making a career in the legal sector accessible to anyone with the potential to work in it. It can also undoubtedly play a broader role in shaping a place-based approach to social mobility opportunity.”
CEO at Shoosmiths, David Jackson, said:
“At Shoosmiths we believe that talent can come from anywhere and in equality of opportunity. As a major law firm, we are very well placed to lead Diversity, Equity and Inclusion progress in the sector and our overall ESG approach is an important component of our ambitious strategy.
“While we have made excellent progress so far, this report and our partnership with the Purpose Coalition is a reflection of our continued firm-wide commitment to driving social mobility through a transparent reflection of current best practice. It is an acknowledgement of where we could go even further to deliver for our colleagues and the communities we serve enabling us to make an even bigger impact.”
