Engaging our stakeholders

Our 2006/07 corporate social responsibility (CSR) report has been shaped by the opinions of several key groups who influence the success and development of our business. In particular, we have taken into consideration the views of the people who work here through the associate engagement groups, our community and pro bono volunteer surveys and our green teams; the increasing requests from our clients for information on our approach towards the environment, diversity, and our community and pro bono legal advice activities; the opinions of the community-based organisations we work with; and the strategic groups responsible for developing aspects of our CSR programme.

Our stakeholders have an interest in how we conduct our business and how we manage our social, environmental and economic impacts. They want to know how we behave as an international business with offices in 15 countries; as a major employer of nearly 5,500 people worldwide; as a purchaser of goods and services; and as a law firm that sets itself the standard of being a leader in many fields, including CSR.

Associate engagement groups

At our first London associates forum in summer 2007, we invited our London associates to become more engaged in the business of the firm and in the way the London office works, and to discuss what could be done to improve things. We felt consultation with associates, including an open forum, would be the most effective way to engage them in identifying issues of concern and begin the process of dealing with them.

The associates chose to discuss at their first meeting issues such as reward, career path and planning; work/life balance; flexible working; legal and non-legal learning and development; appraisals, feedback and mentoring; work allocation; transaction/case management and team working; communication of strategy and business plans; and associate involvement in business development. As a result, working groups have been set up to explore solutions to these issues. We intend to cover the outcomes in our next CSR report. Similar developments have been introduced in many of our offices, adapting the style and format to local cultures.

Community and pro bono volunteer surveys

We have also undertaken the first surveys of the community and pro bono volunteers in our London office, where 35 per cent of people are actively engaged in our programme. The development of our community programme is also influenced by our membership of Business in the Community, a business-led organisation committed to making a positive impact on society, and several of its leadership groups, including those on homelessness and education and ENGAGE, which aims to encourage and promote more volunteering worldwide. We also asked three teachers working in secondary schools in disadvantaged areas in the UK through the Teach First scheme to review our community programme in 2007.

We want to continue to widen and deepen our dialogue with our stakeholders, especially the people who work here, our clients, our suppliers and wider society.