Working with us

Marie Bates Diversity & Inclusion Partner

Diversity & Inclusion

Here at Farrer & Co we recognise the importance of creating an inclusive environment in which people can progress and fulfil their potential. We are committed to ensuring that all our people are employed, trained, compensated and promoted solely on the strength of their ability, qualifications, experience and merit.

We value the wellbeing of our people and pride ourselves on being a supportive employer, taking reasonable and practical steps to help them to balance their careers with other aspects of their lives. We think this is reflected in the fact that we have an exceptionally low staff turnover.

Diversity and inclusion enriches the culture of the firm and means that we are better positioned to continue to provide a first-class service to our clients.

Outlined below are some of our internal diversity and inclusion networks.

Employee Impact Groups (EIGs)

We have introduced employee impact groups which gives employees the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and collaborate on initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within our firm. The five EIGs are: Race, ethnicity, and culture; LGBTQ+; Gender equity; Working parents and carers; and Health, wellbeing, and disability.

FarrerReach aims to create a workplace culture that celebrates the rich tapestry of races, ethnicities and cultures within the firm and cultivate a community where every individual's unique background is not only respected but embraced.

The mission of FarrerPride is threefold: community, education, and visibility. It aims to provide a community of like-minded employees from across the firm who identify along the LGBTQ+ spectrum or which to join as allies to the community.

FarrerThrive’s objective is to foster an environment which enables all individuals to flourish by ensuring that our workplace is a positive force for health, wellbeing and dignity and everyone receives support, assistance and understanding.

FarrerRISE’s vision is to embrace and empower all genders, giving everybody the opportunity to thrive, contribute, and lead in an intentionally inclusive environment. It aims to dismantle barriers and challenge the biases and stereotypes that hinder gender equity, and will do so in a collaborative and deliberate way.

FarrerBALANCE's vision is to create an inclusive and supportive community within our organisation, where working parents and carers thrive. It aims to champion their unique needs, advocate for policies that promote work-life balance, and foster an environment where all employees can excel professionally while fulfilling their responsibilities outside of work.

Lifestyle at Farrers

We have a selection of enrichment activities you can get involved in. Sports: Football, Cricket and Netball Leisure: Choir, Pilates, Language lessons Volunteering: All employees can use their volunteering day to help local causes.

Affiliations

Farrer & Co is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in relation to its members, clients and the community. Through being participating members of the following networks, it enables us to create an inclusive culture by also making the firm more accessible to those interested in the legal profession. We have also pledged to be part of The Sustainable Recruitment Alliance as part of our continued contribution to a better world. You can find out more about our approach and how we are helping clients navigate the changing economy here.

Responsible Business

"For us, responsible business is a true reflection of our personal values and appreciation of our place within society."

Our ethos

We take seriously our responsibilities for our staff, our local environment and the communities in which we live and work. Active corporate responsibility is integral to the welfare and ethos of the firm, making it the kind of place we all wish to work for and represent. To achieve this we encourage charitable and pro bono activity by:

  • encouraging pro bono work, including our support of the Impact Investing Institute and our partnership with the Mary Ward free legal advice centre,
  • supporting volunteering through events and challenges, encouraging staff to use their annual volunteering day and by regular firm donations through the firm's charitable trust to charities,
  • hosting and participating in charitable activities, from bake sales to hosting an evening on behalf of JUSTICE on the challenges to the legal system in the 21st century,
  • actively taking steps to reduce our environmental footprint - we were one of the first firms to be ESOS compliant, and
  • being a signatory to The Law Society's Pro Bono Charter.

Reflecting our culture and business, most of our external corporate responsibility projects are created and maintained through personal initiatives and relationships. From trainee solicitors all the way up to the senior partner, every member of staff is encouraged to get involved in projects that have a positive impact for the benefit of charities in our local community and in their own.

Our local community

We support our people who are active in their own local communities. Some of our recent activities include:

  • donations of gift boxes to St Mungo’s shelter for the homeless in Holborn at Christmas, and Easter gifts to the patients of St Barts and Great Ormond street hospital at Easter,
  • improving the literacy of children by reading with pupils at local schools since 2008 as a corporate sponsor of the reading scheme charity Beanstalk,
  • volunteering at a number of local food banks, charity shops, older people's lunch clubs and employability centres,
  • fundraising by completing the London Legal Walk, marathons and Three Peaks, and
  • providing support at free legal advice clinics and training others in our community to do the same.

Janet Martin

Project Manager, St Mungo's

"It really is hugely encouraging for the team to know that you have chosen to continue to support us over such a long period of time and that enthusiasm amongst your colleagues continues to grow. The gifts that you bring are not only the presents themselves, but thought and care they demonstrate shows our clients that they are held in mind as people deserving of your kindness."

Benefits

Your Benefits - Your Choice

The firm provides a range of core and voluntary flexible benefits.

Core benefits

  • Group life assurance
  • Group income protection
  • Employee assistance programme
  • Group personal pension
  • Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

  • Dependent private medical insurance cover
  • Employee / spouse critical illness cover
  • Holiday buy / sell scheme for employees
  • Spouse / partner life assurance
  • Individual / dependents dental insurance
  • Cycle scheme
  • Individual / dependents travel insurance
  • Give as you earn for employees
  • Tastecard

Other benefits

  • Wellperson screening
  • Firm doctor
  • In-house counselling
  • Eye care vouchers
  • Independent mortgage advice
  • Retail vouchers and discounts
  • Enhanced long-term and short-term family leave pay
  • Further education and training
  • Holiday (between 25 to 30 days per year)
  • Professional subscriptions
  • Volunteer day
  • Discounted gym membership
  • Sports teams
  • Season ticket loan
  • Bonus scheme