Trio of firms recognised as top employers for women

Addleshaw Goddard, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Hogan Lovells have made it into the Times' Top 50 Employers for Women list. The ranking - compiled by Opportunity Now - recognises businesses which provide positive working environments for women and externally promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion.

Magic circle firm Freshfields has its range of diversity initiatives - which includes unconscious bias training, mentoring for women associates, and free emergency childcare and eldercare for all London employees - to thank for its inclusion in the list. HR partner Caroline Stroud told The Lawyer: "Like many organisations, and law firms in particular, we still have plenty more to do. There's still an unacceptable gap between the number of women we're recruiting at trainee level and the number who make it into our partnership ranks. However, we're confident that our initiatives and commitment to changing this picture are starting to make a real difference and that we're laying the foundations to produce results in the long term."

However, a recent Law Gazette survey paints a rather different picture of the situation for women solicitors, revealing that many feel unable to progress within the profession. According to the survey - completed by 244 lawyers, including 192 women - 64% of female respondents felt that their gender had put them at a disadvantage during their legal career, compared with only 19% of men.

Respondents also drew attention to a lack of support within the legal profession for working mothers. One former partner who now works in-house told the Law Gazette: "More flexible working is needed - the scheme [at a magic circle firm where I was a partner] offering an occasional fortnight to partners was ludicrous. As an employment lawyer, I have to advise on flexible working and maternity rights, only to see them flouted in law firms and companies all the time."