Recruitment agencies join Ashurst in championing change in the legal profession

The Commitment will see Ashurst initially work with eight recruitment agencies across the UK to take proactive steps to ensure that candidates are representative of the widest talent pools, including but not limited to social mobility, gender, disability and LGBTIQ+.

The initiative builds on the firms commitment to the Recruitment Agency Race Fairness Commitment, launched by RARE recruitment, which promotes equally opportunities for people of all ethnic backgrounds.

By signing up to the Commitment, recruitment agencies commit to a number of measures including:

• Ensuring that shortlists and/or speculative introductions represent a diverse candidate pool;
• Annually undertaking analysis of quantitative data of the diversity of candidates in order to provide an overview of the market; and
• Encouraging open and honest communication, both in terms of feedback and in regards to any adjustments needed to support candidates to ensure each individuals needs are being met and to promote equal access and opportunities for all.

Furthermore, as signatories, the agencies also agree to present the diversity breakdown of their own teams as part of their commitment to building a diverse workforce.

The agencies that have signed up to the Commitment are Montresor Legal Recruitment, Hydrogen Group, Montgomery Advisory, Astral Legal, Marsden, Red Law, G2 Legal and Lusona Consultancy.

Commenting on the partnership, Rebecca Owen, Resourcing Manager at Ashurst, said:

"As a firm we are focused on increasing diversity in the legal industry and are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are open and accessible to all. It is of the utmost importance to partner with recruitment agencies whose culture and values align with our own, and we are delighted to be working with these recruiters to drive change and create an environment in which people from all backgrounds can succeed."

Glenn Johnston, Associate Director at Montgomery Advisory, added:

"We are delighted to partner with Ashurst, a firm who share our values of diversity & inclusion in recruitment, to ensure all our candidates have an equal, unbiased chance to reach their maximum potential.”

Becky Morgan, Director – Legal at Hydrogen Group, said:

“Here at Hydrogen, we’re incredibly excited and proud to sign up to Ashurst's D&I Recruitment Agency Commitment. We recognise that, as an industry, we have much more work to do to ensure equal opportunities for all. We commit to holding ourselves and Ashurst accountable, and in doing so, helping to improve the legal industry and the experiences of all those who work in it.”