MinterEllison is committed to integrating cultural diversity into all that we do, and in progressing cultural diversity in the wider profession. As part of these commitments our Embrace network focusses on sharing the many ideas and perspectives of culturally and linguistically diverse employees, and on celebrating and progressing cultural diversity both within the firm and in our communities

We offer up to 2 days paid leave per calendar year to recognise a cultural or religious day of significance that matters most to our people.

MinterEllison is a committed corporate member of the Asian Leadership Project, which was launched with the aim to fast-track diverse Asian talent into leadership.

We have an important role to play to make our workplace accessible for clients and colleagues with disabilities, and to encourage greater employment opportunities for all people with disability. Our goal is to move beyond compliance to ensure our people and clients have universal access to our premises and access to information in diverse formats.  

We aim to provide accessible legal and consulting services to our clients with disability and to build strong relationships with key community stakeholders to raise awareness and support people with a disability. We are silver members of the Australian Disability Network.

We celebrate key days of significance and provide education resources and support to employees caring for people with a disability.

At the core of our firm is a commitment to equal treatment of all of our employees. 65% of our total workforce are women.

We have a number of programs in place to address gender imbalance in our leadership, and to remove obstacles to people's full participation and advancement. These include:

• 40:40:20 leadership target – 40% women, 40% men and 20% any gender – represented in our board, partnership and other leadership roles by 2025.
• WISE (Women, Inclusion, Support & Equality) network, focussed on facilitating opportunities for education, awareness and engagement on gender issues within the firm
• Emerging Leaders program to support our high potential female talent on the path to leadership
• Recognition as a Workplace Gender Equality Agency Employer of Choice
• Our CEO's membership participation in the Champions of Change Coalition
• Support for the Law Council of Australia's gender equitable briefing practices.

MinterEllison remains committed to reducing the gender pay gap, both like for like gaps and its firm wide pay gap and continues to take steps to improve gender quality outcomes. Read our Gender Pay Gap Statement

MinterEllison is committed to providing an inclusive and safe workplace for its LGBTQ+ and intersex people, where everyone can develop to their full potential. Our LGBTQ+ inclusion focus is led by the PRIME (Pride, Respect and Inclusion at MinterEllison) Network, whose purpose is to embrace the diversity of our people to foster an inclusive culture in which our LGBTQ+ community can feel safe, proud, connected and inspired.

We are recognised as Australian Workplace Equality Index Platinum Employer for LGBTQ+ inclusion. MinterEllison is the pro bono legal adviser for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for over 25 years, and since 2020 we have marched in the annual Mardi Gras Parade, the first and only law firm to do so.

We celebrate LGBTQ+ key days of significance across the firm, including IDAHOBIT, Wear It Purple and Pride Month. In addition, we have a network specifically for our LGBTQ+ women, with the purpose to provide a safe and respectful supportive space for conversation, feedback and open expression. This network is welcoming of our colleagues who are trans, non-binary and gender diverse.

MinterEllison is committed to supporting all employees who are considering or undertaking gender affirmation, and to ensuring that the process of presenting in line with your gender identity is as smooth, safe, positive and inclusive as possible. Our market leading gender affirmation policy includes:

• Up to 6 weeks paid leave in the first 12 months of gender affirmation, plus an additional 2 weeks paid leave after 12 months
• 5 days paid leave to support a family member affirming their gender
• Ability to take leave flexibly to undergo any aspect of gender affirmation
• $1200 towards work appropriate clothing that reflects a person’s affirmed gender

We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture in which our people feel supported and respected. An important part of achieving this is creating an environment where our people feel safe to speak up. Our policies reflect our commitment to the prevention of unacceptable workplace behaviour. We partner with Griffith University's MATE program to facilitate bystander awareness training to all our people.

We recognise that Domestic & Family Violence is a workplace issue and we are committed to creating an environment that provides support for our people impacted by Domestic & Family Violence. In addition to providing ten days paid special leave, we provide support to our people experiencing domestic and family violence through confidential counselling support services, access to flexible working and information about crisis support options available, as well as regular training for our people.

We recognise the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and 16 Days of Activism. We are the proud founding partner of Darkness to Daylight and partner with Challenge DV to raise awareness for domestic and family violence prevention.

Our aim at MinterEllison is to provide parents and caregivers with support, understanding and flexibility to achieve the right balance and navigate challenges.
Our generous parental leave offering includes paid parental leave of up to 26 weeks and the ability to take this leave flexibly, plus superannuation paid for up to 12 months including while on unpaid parental leave.

We support our people with caregiving responsibilities through:

• information kits and webinars on caring for elderly relatives and people with disability
• emergency childcare support
• support and resources for people impacted by early pregnancy loss and fertility challenges

We work with community and corporate partners such as Karitane, Pink Elephants, Transitioning Well, Osara Health and many more to provide vital programs to our people.