HFW Reinforces Longstanding Social Mobility Commitment By Signing Industry Pledge

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has reinforced its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion by signing the Social Mobility Pledge.

The Pledge, which was set up by the UK’s former Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women & Equalities, brings together “truly purpose-led organisations [that are] committed to social mobility”.

HFW has consistently been ranked by the Social Mobility Foundation as one of the UK’s top social mobility employers, in recognition of its efforts across each of the Pledge’s three key areas: outreach, access and recruitment.

Some of the firm’s existing social mobility initiatives include:

• Targeting outreach work at schools with above average levels of Free School Meals.
• Tracking educational and career outcomes for the students it works with, alongside gathering feedback that indicates that the firm’s outreach work is having a real impact.
• Operating a contextual recruitment system, which uses big data to help identify candidates with the greatest potential.
• Conducting ongoing monitoring of the firm’s trainee recruitment process, and removing barriers as they are identified.
• Taking part in a research project, along with other law firms, that looks at the impact of socio-economic background on progression and retention.

Jeremy Shebson, Managing Partner, HFW:

“At HFW, we believe that success should be determined by talent and application – not socio-economic background. We remain committed to improving social mobility within the legal industry, for the benefit of our colleagues, clients and everyone within the HFW community.”

To find out more about the Pledge, visit: https://www.socialmobilitypledge.org/