Diversity and inclusion
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
0%
of partners and directors are female
We celebrate diversity, fostering a culture that supports equality.
We want to ensure all individuals can thrive, regardless of background, gender or race.
Diversity and inclusion sits at the heart of our firmwide strategy. We publish our action plans and data to ensure we are accountable in our approach.
We prioritise inclusion through celebrating cultural events, engaging and empowering our people-led networks and offering opportunities to our people to upskill themselves on key diversity topics.
This ensures we have a culture that is open, collaborative and inclusive that means we attract and retain the best talent, delivering innovative and excellent client service.
Beyond the workplace, we recognise the societal benefits of inclusivity, supporting social mobility, wellbeing, family life, and creating a fairer society. We also believe all our people deserve fair pay and are proud to be an accredited Living Wage Employer.
In numbers
0%
of our of chiefs are female
0%
of our junior legal talent are ethnically diverse
0%
of our people agree that we have an open and inclusive culture
A supportive environment
In our most recent survey, 98% of our people agreed that we have an open and inclusive culture. Their feedback highlights the firm’s commitment to creating a supportive environment.
This dedication has also earned us recognition as the RollOnFriday ‘Best Law Firm to Work at’ for four years in a row, from 2022 to 2025, an accolade based entirely on employee feedback.
By advocating for equality and fairness and building an environment where people can be themselves, we create a workplace where everyone can succeed. Learn more about our culture and opportunities on our Join Us page.
Learn more about our culture and opportunities
BBalanced
Our gender network aims to create gender balance across the firm.
Open to all genders, BBalanced focusses on raising awareness on topics, such as career development and fatherhood.
BCultured
Our Race and Ethnicity network aims to promote ethnic diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the firm.
Members come together to celebrate cultural events, provide a social space and advocate for change across the firm.
BEnabled
Open to anyone who identifies as disabled, BEnabled provides for someone with a disability or an ally supporting the Firm in being an accessible and inclusive place to work.
The aim of the forum is to ensure that our working environment is supportive, accessible and suitable for all our people.
BProud
Our well-established LGBT+ network, welcoming both LGBT+ members and allies. The network promotes a culture where everyone can be open about their sexual orientation.
BProud members celebrate key events, such as Pride and LGBT+ History Month.
Family Matters
Established for those with caring responsibilities in the firm, Family Matters aims to provide a space for people to discuss and share experiences openly and hold regular information events.
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Wellbeing
Our commitment
At Burges Salmon, the health, safety and wellbeing of our people are paramount. We are committed to supporting both physical and mental health, ensuring our people thrive in a balanced work environment.
Our people are our main asset and the key to delivering the excellent client service for which we are recognised. Their health and wellbeing brings additional benefits in terms of family life, reducing potential burdens placed on public services and supporting the welfare of the communities in which we live and work.
Health and safety in our workplace
Our structured approach to health and safety is led by a qualified professional who conducts risk assessments and enables a structured approach to managing health and safety, including near-miss reporting, with on-the-ground support from our internal network of BSafe Champions.
Our approach
Our approach to wellbeing is focused on four key areas and promoted through a variety of internal channels including our BWell network.
- Physical
- Mental
- Financial
- Emotional
Support
We provide a range of support, including private healthcare assessments, flu vaccinations, flexible working, and subsidised sports clubs. An on-site GP, employee assistance programme, and trained mental health first aiders ensure comprehensive care.
These measures not only benefit our people but also support the wider communities we serve.
Our priorities
Our Diversity Taskforce supports the creation of strategic action plans and supports key decisions making to improve our diversity and inclusion at the firm.
We are committed to increasing gender balance in our partnership with our target to reach 30% female partnership by 2026.
We are actively reviewing our processes to ensure our roles and processes are family-friendly and raising awareness of gender-focussed topics, such as menopause and fatherhood.
Ethnic diversity is essential to our inclusive culture and we are committed to increasing ethnic diversity across the firm. We continue to deliver training to our people on race, ethnicity, culture and unconscious bias and the role they play in creating an anti-racist firm.
Through our Working with Schools programme, we are engaging with ethnically diverse university students through the Diversity Mentoring Scheme in collaboration with University of Bristol and the UWE Futures scheme. Our aim is to improve accessibility to the wider legal sector and build a diverse talent pipeline.
We are proud sponsors of Bristol and Edinburgh Pride where we annually march in the parades. We are also Stonewall Diversity Champions and regularly reviewing our policies to ensure they are LGBT+ inclusive.
Our BProud network regularly celebrates key events throughout the year, such as LGBT+ History Month and World Aids Day.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we work with partners like WECIL (West of England Centre for Inclusive Living) to improve workplace accessibility and to better accommodate diverse needs.
By fostering understanding and offering tailored support, we aim to play an active role in building understanding around disability, and to create a workplace where individuals with disabilities can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.
We are dedicated to improving social inclusion and access to the legal profession through initiatives like Bright Sparks, Bristol Future Talent Partnership and the Social Mobility Business Partnership.
Using Rare Recruitment’s Contextual Recruitment System allows us to consider candidates’ achievements within the socioeconomic context in which they were achieved.
Additionally, we offer legal and business professional apprenticeships, engage with local schools, and hold open evenings to raise aspirations and widen access to the profession.
The Power of Inclusion
A video series of our people talking about their experiences of flexible working, of being in an inclusive workplace, the LGBT+ perspective, and as an apprentice or trainee.
