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From a high-level stance, UK environmental compliance considers how businesses manage their waste, energy and carbon emissions; a main goal for many companies is to be carbon neutral.
Every client will have to ensure that it is compliant with certain national and international environmental regulations. Law firms may win this work by showing they have exceptional environmental practices such as operating from a highly sustainable, Grade A commercial building and minimising the use of paper. Laws can then utilise the knowledge they have gained when operating as a business to assist their clients.
Law firms that fulfil the definition of large company under the Companies Act 2006 must include “the impact of the company’s business on the environment, the company’s employees and social, community, and human rights issues; and including information about any policies of the company in relation to those matters and the effectiveness of those policies”.
Additionally, in terms of a reputational point of view, firms are ranked for their sustainability, an example being Chambers. It looks good to potential clients and future employees for that particular law firm to score highly on these indexes as it will attract business and clients
When thinking about social and community issues, empowering social mobility is a way that law firms can make a positive difference.
Law firms have the power to give back to the communities they operate in by offering work experience opportunities to those from disadvantaged backgrounds to increase diversity within the profession. Outreach programs equip these individuals with commercial knowledge, professional networks and confidence, but ultimately is a way to boost their CV as for many students, work experience at large law firms is without of their reach without these initiatives.
When looking at the hiring process, it is important that law firms contextualise candidates applications by looking at the disadvantages certain candidates faced.
Again, from a reputational perspective, law firms are ranked in terms of their social mobility, examples being the Lawyer Portal and the Social Mobility Foundation.
This is where law firms complete legal work for free. Some firms specialise in certain pro bono projects such as the environment and biodiversity where other firms focus on the social aspect such as asylum applications, domestic violence cases and housing issues.
Unfortunately, the legal system is reliant on pro bono as following the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, civil legal aid was dramatically cut and vast areas of law became ineligible for legal aid. Additionally, charities and NGOs do not have the resources to bridge the gap, which is where law firms can dramatically help provide competent legal representation to clients who could not otherwise afford it.
Pro bono highlights the firm is taking their ethical responsibility seriously, therefore strengthening the firms reputation. Again, firms can be ranked by the pro bono initiatives they offer, an example of this is Chambers.
Also from a reputation perspective, pro bono is also an element that can be used to attract talent. According to the Pro Bono Institution, 64% of millennials would refuse a job from a company that does not have strong Corporate Social Responsibility practices, 75% would take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company, and 88% said they would find their jobs more fulfilling if provided opportunities to make a positive impact on social and environmental issues. These statistics are thought to be higher for Gen Z who are actively looking for purpose and job satisfaction – pro bono is a good way firms can offer purpose to its employees.
Whilst representing clients in a pro bono capacity, lawyers also improve their legal skills, especially advocacy. This is particularly important to junior lawyers who may struggle to find this level of responsibility and advocacy at such an early point of their career.
Complimentary to pro bono, law firms offer volunteering opportunities that employees of the firm can participate in. It is becoming industry standard for firms to give its employees 1-2 days a year to volunteer. This usually has a more focused benefit on the local community as volunteering opportunities usually involve helping a local charity or the wider local community through litter picks or gardening for example.
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