Hat Trick Of Recognition for Firm’s Work On Gender Equality

National law firm Irwin Mitchell has been named in the prestigious Times Top 50 Employers for Women list thanks to its ongoing push for gender equality. 

It’s the third accolade the firm have received this month in recognition of its work to support gender equality in the workplace.

Kick-starting July the firm was named as a Top 20 Employer for Women in the Super Large category by the Great Place to Work Institute.  Just a fortnight later, Irwin Mitchell also came number one in Legal Week’s legal industry ranking by having the most female partners of any UK law firm. 

Expert Opinion

“The recognition we have received this month is something to really celebrate and demonstrates our capability to drive change through inclusion.

“I’d like to thank everyone in the Irwin Mitchell family who’s engaged with our diversity agenda and networking groups over the years and who continue to help us carry out this important work.” Susana Berlevy - Group Chief People Officer

The recognition comes after decades of work by the firm to improve representation of women at senior levels.

As of 2020 women now make up:

• 40% of Irwin Mitchell’s executive board
• 44% of Partners
• 62% of Associates
• 65% or Senior Associates
• 9 out of 13 of Regional Managing Partners

The firm also has one of the lowest gender pay gaps within the legal industry. Their latest pay gap report published in 2020 amid the early stages of lockdown shows that the firm saw a decrease in its mean gender pay gap (the difference in average hourly pay for women compared to men) to 10.3% in 2019. This is lower than the 12.8% reported in 2018, when the firm had the 6th lowest pay gap across reporting law firms. Last year’s average gap in the Top 50 UK law firms was 19.5%.

Other initiatives the firm has put in place to support gender equality includes a ‘family portal’ to support colleagues taking career breaks to start families, inclusive career development and wellbeing programmes, and updated flexible and agile working policies.

As well as success in gender equality the firm also rose an incredible 73 places in this year’s Stonewall Top 100 Employers for LGBT+ colleagues.

Most recently Irwin Mitchell signed up to Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter to use their experience from success in gender equality and sexual orientation, to drive inclusion for the BAME colleagues.