17 City law firms have signed a pledge to help BAME lawyers progress fairly in their careers compared to their white peers.

The entire Magic Circle are among 17 law firms to sign up to a new pledge to combat the career obstacles faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers.

The Race Fairness Commitment (RFC), launched by U.K. graduate recruitment company Rare, has been signed by Slaughter and May, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Allen & Overy, Linklaters and Clifford Chance, along with 12 other firms including Herbert Smith Freehills, Macfarlanes, Norton Rose Fulbright, Pinsent Masons, White & Case and Travers Smith.

According to a statement released by Rare on Monday, the new pledge commits the law firms' London offices to several steps designed to improve the career opportunities for ethnic minority lawyers and prevent them from being blocked or dissuaded from senior roles.

The steps include: internally monitoring interview and offer rates, retention rates, pay and promotion rates of ethnic minority lawyers; asking in every exit interview whether the person leaving has experienced or seen racism in the firm; ensuring that at least once a year, the firm tells all its staff that it has zero tolerance of racism and, if appropriate, shares examples of how the firm has dealt with any incidents of racism.

Other commitments include ensuring that every junior ethnic minority member of staff has access to a senior manager, with a view to creating sponsorship, mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes; and that 'all Black, and all ethnic minority, people are as able to be themselves at work as White people – everyone can have authenticity of speech and culture – no more fitting in and no more being "othered".'

Other firms signing up to the pledge include Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Hogan Lovells, Ashurst, RPC, DWF and Dentons.

Ngozie Azu, head of international relations at Slaughter and May, said in a statement: "I've been at Slaughter and May for more than 10 years and I've been fortunate to have a number of senior 'sponsors' who have supported me along the way with advice and mentorship.

But what's changed in the last few months – and what this commitment will institutionalise – is that the focus has shifted to the more personal stories, the human element. How does it actually feel to be Black in a firm like this?

There will always be areas of differences – for example my unusual name, my hair and how I spend my leisure time. The challenge for firms is to ensure that they are creating an environment in which everyone can bring their most authentic selves to work without fear that our differences will mark us out or impact our ability to succeed."

The new pledge is the latest in a refreshed commitment from a number of global law firms, as the issue of racial injustice has swept the globe following protests supporting the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Several law firms have donated to various organizations promoting racial justice and the abolition of systemic racism, and issued strongly-worded statements about their commitment to inward and outward measures.

 

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