Lewis Silkin named winner of Accentures Outside Counsel Diversity Award

LONDON – Lewis Silkin has been named by Accenture as a winner in its Outside Counsel Diversity Awards. Now in its second year, the awards recognise and celebrate the tangible progress on diversity and inclusion (D&I) made by law firms and their efforts to increase equality and inclusion within the profession.

Among the firm’s numerous internal and external initiatives, Accenture particularly highlighted Lewis Silkin’s six-year solicitor apprenticeship program which combines work experience with formal education.

This has created a non-traditional path to achieving a law degree, opening up the opportunity to practice law to all, particularly those who may face financial or other barriers to entering the profession.

Accenture also praised Lewis Silkin’s role as a founding member of LeGalBesT, a London-based LGBT network for small and mid-sized law firms.

In selecting its five winners for 2022, Accenture reviewed the diversity initiatives of more than 70 small, medium and large outside counsel law firms with whom it works, measuring their progress in diversity, D&I activities and advancing diversity commitments across the legal industry.

Jo Evans, Chair of the partnership at Lewis Silkin, commented:

“It is very encouraging that we have been recognised for our efforts in seeking to make our firm, and the industry, a more inclusive place where individuals’ backgrounds and characteristics do not have an adverse effect on their career prospects or potential. My congratulations, also, to the other firms recognised today, and to Accenture for shining a spotlight on this critical issue for our industry.  

“As a firm we are committed to continuing to increase representation and supporting the development of talent from diverse backgrounds, including through our solicitor apprenticeship scheme. But much more of course needs to be done to open the profession up. Social mobility and diversity – whether in terms of ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability, faith or age – is a critical challenge for our profession and one which we are determined to play our part in addressing alongside our peers and colleagues across the industry.”  

Find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at Lewis Silkin here.