Marking a significant step in its ongoing journey towards fostering an inclusive workplace, Osborne Clarke is proud to announce it has achieved the government's Disability Confident Employer Accreditation, committing to break down employment barriers for people living with disabilities.
"We never rest in our ambition to create a more inclusive working environment and have a number of initiatives that reflect our dedication to supporting our teams. We recognise that conditions such as physical disabilities, hidden disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions, and neurodivergence affect people in many different ways. We also acknowledge that many people may not identify as "disabled", but could benefit from adjustments.
"As part of the accreditation, we've implemented a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates with disabilities, reflecting our commitment to promoting diversity in our recruitment. We want to be as inclusive as possible so no one gets left behind," commented Angharad Jenkins, Recruitment Manager and a member of the firm's Mind and Body employee network.
As part of the Disability Confident Employer Accreditation, Osborne Clarke is launching its new Guaranteed Interview Scheme which is aimed at breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive workplace for experienced candidates living with disabilities.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
The scheme is open to experienced lawyer and business services candidates who self-identify as having a disability on their application. Candidates are guaranteed an interview provided they meet the basic job requirements listed on the advert and full details can be found on osborneclarke.com.
The recruitment then works with the candidate to offer support on any adjustments they may need in their recruitment journey, never asking what their condition is, just how the firm can help them perform to their best.
Additional actions Osborne Clarke has taken to achieve Disability Confident Employer Accreditation:
- Introduced a comprehensive Workplace Adjustments Policy, which standardises the process, making adjustments easily accessible for people with all types of disabilities.
- Published "Not All Disabilities Are Visible" signage on the toilet doors across all UK offices, a small yet impactful change aiming to promote understanding and empathy among colleagues.
- HR Team participated in training with MyPlus, a specialist disability consultancy, equipping them with enhanced knowledge and understanding of disability inclusion.
- Hosted Disability Confidence event to encourage open dialogue, helping the firm's people feel more comfortable talking about disability in their teams.
- Collaborated with events team to ensure Summer Party was accessible to all colleagues, regardless of disability.
In addition to the Accreditation, in 2021 Osborne Clarke signed to the Law Society's initiative – Project Rise – which encourages more part-time qualifying opportunities to be offered in the legal sector. Project Rise was created as a direct result of the findings in the Legally Disabled? – The career experiences of disabled people in the legal profession research, which found clear evidence that disability has been largely overlooked when it comes to improving diversity and inclusion in the legal sector.
Being a responsible and ethical business and employer underpins Osborne Clarke's business strategy. The Osborne Clarke For Good framework is the firm's way of ensuring it's a good corporate citizen, a good employer and a good business.
