News / TLT
Law firm hits female partner target two years early
A national law firm is celebrating after achieving its 33 per cent female partner representation target two years early.
Women now account for a third of positions in senior roles at TLT and have accounted for 50 per cent of partner hires and promotions in the last three years.
The Bristol-headquartered firm says it has significantly improved the gender balance since implementing a gender equality strategy in 2019 in collaboration with its Women’s Equality Network.
The firm has also established an internal taskforce that monitors progress in diversity and is responsible for implementing key decisions such as gender balanced shortlists and hiring panels.
Other steps the firm has taken include:
- A new enhanced menopause provision for employees.
- A dedicated pregnancy loss policy, which sets out new paid absence provisions specifically for early-stage pregnancy loss.
- A boost to the firm’s maternity and shared parental leave policy to offer enhanced pay as a day one provision and increasing the duration of both full and half pay.
- A ‘ramp up, ramp down’ programme for expectant and returning parents to support them during a critical transition period.
- A paternity and non-birthing parent leave provision consisting of four weeks full pay to empower partners to be active caregivers through greater flexibility.
- A flexible working policy allowing colleagues to choose when and where to work.
Esther Smith, inclusion champion and employment partner at TLT, commented: “Gender equality is one of my top priorities as the ED&I champion at TLT and I’m exceptionally proud that we have reached this milestone target in 2023.
“But the work doesn’t stop here. It’s imperative we keep the momentum going on ED&I and continue to diversify further to support both women and working parents, irrespective of gender.
“I look forward to continuing this important work at TLT, working closely with the Women’s Equality Network to support and empower our women to reach for the top.”
Main photo: New Design Group
Read next:
- ‘TLT is very much a firm of opportunity’
- Two Bristol businesswomen named among UK’s top female-led firms
- Campaign launched to inspire more female-led businesses to become B Corps
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