Olswang is urging all of its partners to attend unconscious bias training as part of a push to increase its proportion of female partners, as the firm looks to ramp up the use of flexible working.

The UK top 30 firm has introduced training sessions to raise awareness of unconscious bias across all of its offices, with the scheme coming as part of a wider overhaul of its flexible working policy, which is now being made more readily available. 

Currently, 22% of lawyers and staff in its London and Thames Valley offices work flexibly, while internationally the figure is 20%, a quarter of whom are male.

Global HR director Ffion Griffith (pictured), who has overseen the changes, said: "Our previous flexible working policy was a framework for requests, but was probably tailored around the opportunity to work reduced hours on return from maternity leave.

"Our new policy makes it clear that flexible working includes any working pattern outside of standard office hours, either on a regular or occasional basis and not just to tackle childcare, but also to pursue personal interests, such as training for triathlons. 

"Now that the policy has been introduced, we're working with partners to challenge preconceptions and to educate them to have better conversations about the realities of flexible working."

Across all its offices, 22% of Olswang's partnership is made up of women, with Griffith outlining a personal hope to see this increase to at least 30%.

The firm has also formalised a maternity coaching scheme for senior and mid-level fee earners and staff, which was piloted late last year.

Olswang also recently became the first UK firm to sign up to Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's non-profit organisation Lean In, which offers support to women in business aiming to reach leadership roles. 

A number of other major law firms have rolled out unconscious bias training for partners, including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Herbert Smith Freehills.