Apply now!Gowling WLG Diversity
Hear, in their own words, what diversity means to Gowling WLG...
Diversity and Inclusion at Gowling WLG
The diversity and inclusion (D&I) of our workplace is hugely important to our firm and is reflected in one of our global core values 'we all bring something different'. Diversity is a word that means different things to different people. And that's the point. Different people.
At Gowling WLG we celebrate the diversity of our people - different backgrounds; different cultures; different experiences; different interests; different ages; different needs. We want to create a workplace where our people can be themselves, celebrating the fact that we're all individuals. We are committed to attracting and retaining talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
We want to enable, encourage and support everyone to be themselves and realise their potential. We understand the power that diverse perspectives and experiences bring to the firm and are taking actions to increase representation of underrepresented groups and to build a continued culture of inclusion.
Our Strategy
Inclusion for All is our five year strategy that aims to ensure that all of our people feel included and that they belong at Gowling WLG but, importantly, recognising that everyone has a part to play in making the firm truly diverse and inclusive.
Our Inclusion for All strategy covers key firm-wide initiatives, our five employee networks and ensuring that each team at Gowling WLG is enforcing positive change and contributing to our diversity and inclusion goals by delivering and implementing annual action plans.
Our ambitions for 2026 are:
• Diverse teams are the norm;
• Attract, retain and develop diverse talent;
• Collective and individual accountability for D&I;
• Empower our people to be inclusive; and
• Aligning with client expectations.
Our Employee Networks
Our employee networks are open to everyone and provide education and awareness as well as the opportunity for our people to network and support each other. Each network is led by two co-chairs who are employees from the firm and supported by two board sponsors who provide active allyship to the network. Each network focuses on key issues relevant to their members and run events, roundtables and provide feedback to the firm. Our networks are:
• EmbRACE – our race and ethnicity network
• Enable – our disability, mental health and wellbeing network
• Family Matters – our family and carers network
• OpenHouse – our LGBT+ network
• Thrive – our gender network
Initiatives
• Thriving in Partnership - Our Thriving in Partnership project was our biggest research to date on accelerating progress to achieving gender parity in the partnership. Actions are being implemented to address key barriers.
• Black Lives Matter Action Plan – the plan was developed in 2020 and puts in place actions to address the underrepresentation of black talent in our firm and the wider legal sector.
• Black Talent in Law Bursary Scheme - launched the scheme in partnership with The University of Birmingham to offer three students a financial contribution to their studies, a Gowling WLG mentor and work experience.
• Mental Health Support - We have 30 fully trained Mental Health Champions and 8 Domestic Violence Champions across the firm whose role is to listen and provide effective signposting to our people.
• Menopause Support - Support is offered to those experiencing symptoms of menopause via our monthly menopause cafes, our support network and online resources. In addition we have provided educational training to our people including specific sessions aimed at line managers and men.
We are proud to partner with some amazing organisations to help us reach our D&I ambitions, these include; Black Solicitors Network, Working Families, PurpleSpace, Business Disability Forum, ENEI and Stonewall.
We have also made clear commitments to progressing diversity and inclusion in the legal sector by formally signing up for; Rare Race Fairness Commitment, BITC Race at Work Charter, Disability Confident, UN Women's Empowerment Principles, UN Global Compact, Halo Hair Code, Mental Health at Work Commitment and the Menopause Workplace Pledge.
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