Diversity & inclusion at MinterEllison

 

Our goal is to create an inclusive, high performing culture that attracts diverse, talented people and enables them to thrive. We believe diversity is a strategic capability and a critical enabler of delivering the best and most innovative solutions to our clients.

“We are focused on ensuring we harness the power of diversity – in all its forms – as the cornerstone of how we build teams and collaborate to deliver transformative impact for our clients, our community partners and our people.”
Annette Kimmitt, CEO and Managing Partner, MinterEllison

 

 

Building an inclusive workplace

During the past financial year we continued our relentless focus on fostering an environment that enables our people to bring their whole selves to work, to feel at their best and work to their strengths. Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion is core to this focus.

In FY19, we introduced new policies and targets, formalised new inclusion programs and built on our partnerships with external providers to support our people. To ensure we're accountable for achieving our goals, we've also built Diversity and Inclusion metrics into our CEO & Managing Partner's KPIs.

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Gender Equality Employer of Choice 10 years running

This past financial year, we were recognised for our efforts to drive Gender Equality as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice for the 10th consecutive year. We introduced new gender targets, exceeded others, and were proud to see our CEO and Managing Partner appointed as a WGEA Pay Equity Ambassador.

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Gender Equality Employer of Choice 10 years running 

Our workforce is 65% women and we're seeing women enter the legal profession in greater numbers to men year-on-year. This past financial year, we were proud to be recognised for our collective efforts to drive Gender Equality as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice for the 10th consecutive year.  

In FY19, our key milestones included:

  • Exceeding our target of 40% women Board members – 50% of our Board members are women
  • Introducing new 2025 Partnership gender targets of 40:40:20 – 40% women, 40% men, 20% any gender
  • The firm's CEO and Managing Partner Annette Kimmitt being appointed a WGEA Pay Equity Ambassador
  • Introducing new Agile Working Guidelines to promote flexible and agile working across the firm to enhance productivity and work life balance, and to strengthen client relationships.
  • Launching a new working and parenting program with specialist provider Karitane to strengthen our support of working parents and carers
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AWEI Gold Employer for LGBTQ+ Inclusion

Being named an AWEI Gold Employer and recognised as a Top 3 Employer in Australia at the LGBTI Inclusion Awards, was the culmination of the fantastic work of our PRiME Committee over a number of years to promote inclusion across the firm. We also launched new policies, delivered new development sessions and celebrated key dates of significance.

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AWEI Gold Employer for LGBTQ+ Inclusion

Our LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts are led by our PRiME (Pride, Respect and Inclusion at MinterEllison) Committee and our Diversity and Inclusion team. In May 2019, we were proud to be named an AWEI Gold Employer and recognised as Top 3 Employer in Australia at the LGBTI Inclusion Awards.

In FY19, we: 

  • Partnered with Pride in Diversity to deliver face-to-face LGBTQ+ Awareness & Engaging Allies development sessions (available to all of our people)
  • Launched our new Transitioning in the Workplace Policy, which supports our gender diverse and transgender colleagues who are affirming their gender identity. The policy provides 5 additional days of paid leave, as well as other vital support and resources
  • Celebrated LGBTQ+ dates of significance with national events across the firm including IDAHOBIT Day, Mardi Gras and Wear it Purple Day
  • Provided pro bono legal advice to our long-standing client Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras
  • Raised funds for LGBTQ+ charities including The Pinnacle Foundation and Minus18

MinterEllison pays tribute to the late Simon Cooper, a co-Founder of InterBuild, founding member of PRiME, and relationship manager for our pro bono client Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Simon’s passion for LGBTQ+ inclusion and contributions were key to the firm being recognised as an AWEI Gold Employer in 2019.

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Progressing Reconciliation and Cultural Inclusion at MinterEllison

We're committed to the Legal Profession Cultural Diversity Principles and we're measuring the impact of initiatives to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work. We also delivered on the objectives set out in our first Reconciliation Action Plan, further progressing reconciliation and cultural inclusion in FY19.

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Progressing Reconciliation and Cultural Inclusion at MinterEllison

We launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2018 and have now delivered on all of the objectives set out in the Plan, ahead of schedule.  

Throughout FY19, we:

  • Built significant relationships with indigenous communities in rural, remote and urban locations with the aim of partnering to increase economic participation 
  • Developed employment pathways for Indigenous tertiary students which resulted in an increase in indigenous employment at the Firm
  • Recognised Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week with events across all offices with 600 people in attendance
  • Delivered Cultural Awareness Training workshops in our offices across Australia

Through the Firm's Pro Bono and Community Investment Program we delivered more than 1000 hours of pro bono support to Indigenous organisations, and have procured approximately $400k worth of Indigenous goods and services, consistent with our RAP objectives. Work is underway to develop our next Reconciliation Action Plan which will be launched in 2020.

MinterEllison has committed to the Legal Profession Cultural Diversity Principles and we're measuring the impact of initiatives to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work. We celebrated dates of significance for our culturally diverse workforce and developed our 2019 MinterEllison Engagement Survey to obtain baseline data about the diversity of our people and their experience at MinterEllison.

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Disability Inclusion

In FY19, we launched our first Disability Inclusion program, including an Accessibility Action Plan focused on providing more universal access and support for our people and clients in our workplaces, our technology and in the community.

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Disability Inclusion

In FY19, we launched our first Disability Inclusion program which includes an Accessibility Action Plan focused on providing more universal access and support for our people and clients in our workplaces, our technology and in the community. Our Accessibility Action Plan contains committed goals and actions, and through the commitment of our people we're working together to create a more accessible and inclusive workplace at MinterEllison.

At present, the firm has in place:

  • Policies to support an inclusive workplace for people with disability
  • Relationships with JobSupport and other external providers to support in the recruitment, onboarding and continued success of our people with disability to ensure long-term, rewarding careers
  • External partnerships to deliver greater impact in the community, including partnering with Cushman and Wakefield to sponsor the VIVID Tumbalong Lights and Invictus Games as their Official Lawyers and an Official Supporter
  • Flexible working arrangements and technology support

Diversity by numbers

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