Clifford Chance

Careers

Where Diverse
minds meet

United Kingdom

Inclusion and diversity

Our inclusion & diversity strategy

At Clifford Chance we see inclusion as a core value of the firm and also of the law. To be the global law firm of choice in this area we need to be the leaders in this area, so our global strategy focusses on three pillars: In our firm, With our clients, and In the world. We believe that if you have a commitment to inclusion you must be prepared to use your skills and influence to champion, campaign and work to deliver on your values. Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience.

Supporting, developing, and retaining diverse talent

We have a number of flourishing employee networks and a mental health advocate initiative championed by senior leaders, which help to engage our colleagues in diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Accelerate>>>

Our global gender parity group, Accelerate>>>, is committed to taking bold actions to accelerate the pace of change towards gender parity and drive forward an inclusive and diverse culture. It's about all of us contributing to a culture where everybody has the opportunity to succeed.

REACH

The REACH Network is the firm’s network for advancing race equality and celebrating heritage. In doing so, we aim to increase understanding of the value of our cultural differences and achieve equality of opportunity for all so that at all levels, the firm will reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of its employees.

Arcus

Arcus is Clifford Chance's global LGBT network open to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans+, Intersex, Queer and diverse people and their Allies. Arcus aims to encourage an inclusive and integrated culture within Clifford Chance that gives colleagues the choice to be open and out, with a strong belief that it is such a culture that allows everyone to develop to their maximum potential.

Enable

At Clifford Chance, we believe everyone is entitled to the same equality of opportunity and experience. No one should ever feel they can’t be a full and equal member of the firm or society because of a disability, long term injury or condition. Our global Enable network seeks to support colleagues with a disability, long term injury or condition or workplace adjustment to thrive at Clifford Chance and provide a safe, inclusive, and open environment for colleagues to discuss their lived experience.

In addition to our four Global Affinity networks, we also have smaller special interest groups including the Social Mobility Inclusion Action Group, Armed Forces Network, CC Islamic Community, CC Christian Fellowship, and CC Jewish Society.

Our commitments

The Armed Forces Covenant

We welcome applications from former members of the Armed Forces, regular and reserve, and their families.

In 2017, Clifford Chance was the first magic circle law firm to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and, in 2021, received the Gold award in the Ministry of Defence's Employer Recognition Scheme. Our Armed Forces Network in London supports ex-military, reservists and those with friends and family with military connections. We collaborate with other organisations that support veterans and we are working with law firms across London to create a legal industry network to share ideas and to attract talent to the sector. If you are a reservist, or thinking about becoming a reservist, we will support you.

WeThe15

We are proud to have signed up to #WeThe15, sport's largest human rights campaign to raise awareness for the 15% of the global population who have a disability. Launched by the International Paralympics Committee, the campaign aims to transform the lives of persons with disabilities through tackling discrimination and putting disability right at the heart of the inclusion agenda.

Stonewall

At Clifford Chance we welcome applications from people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, and we have developed a global program of initiatives designed to help deliver greater equality for LGBTQ+ people in our firm. Our goal is to be the global law firm of choice for LGBT+ people and for LGBT+ causes. Clifford Chance was ranked 3rd in the 2022 UK Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and achieved Gold status in the Global Workplace Equality Index. The firm has also introduced a LGBT global partner level target of 3% by 2025.

Race Fairness Commitment and Mansfield Rule Certification

We are committed to building a working environment that is equitable and values people of all ethnic backgrounds. There is zero tolerance of racism.

In line with our commitments to race equity, Clifford Chance is one of the five founding member law firms of the Recruitment Agency Race Fairness Commitment (RFC). As part of our commitment to the RFC, our recruitment team works with external agencies to maximise opportunities for Black and Ethnic Minority candidates at all career stages through a range of measures such as: creating ethnically diverse candidate pools, exploring contextual backgrounds and experiences of Black and Ethnic Minority candidates, and providing factual feedback.

Clifford Chance is also one of the inaugural participants of the Mansfield Rule Certification Process (both in the UK & North America). The Mansfield Rule is a 12-month certification process that measures whether law firms have considered at least 30% women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. The Mansfield Rule is helping to provide focus and clear measurement data on our approaches to improving the diversity of associate talent, partner promotions and lateral hiring.