At Farrer & Co, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive.
Our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) is built on ‘Conscious Inclusion’, creating an environment where everyone belongs, is valued, and has fair access to opportunities for growth and support.
Our Conscious Inclusion strategy is driven by three core aims:
Creating true equity in policy, process, and practice
Promoting diversity of people and perspective
Advancing inclusion through language, behaviour, and culture
Our ED&I team is supported in delivering these aims by the firm’s Management Board, ED&I committee, Employee Impact Groups (EIGs), and external partners.
We believe inclusion is a conscious act — one that requires commitment, integrity, and accountability from us all."
FarrerBALANCE – Working parents and carers
FarrerBALANCE fosters a supportive community where working parents and carers can thrive. The group champions their unique needs, advocate for policies that promote work-life balance, and foster an environment where all employees can excel professionally while managing their responsibilities outside of work.
FarrerPRIDE – LGBTQ+
FarrerPRIDE focuses on community, education, and visibility, bringing together LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies to create a community of support, rapport, and friendship through social activities and discussions. The group hosts talks and events to educate colleagues on LGBTQ+ topics and works to ensure visibility within the firm, to clients, and in wider society.
FarrerREACH – Race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage
FarrerREACH is committed to celebrating the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural identities within our firm. Through education, dialogue and advocacy, the group challenges biases, promotes understanding, and fosters an environment where every individual’s background is valued.
FarrerRISE – Gender equity
FarrerRISE is dedicated to empowering all genders, ensuring everyone has opportunities to thrive, contribute, and lead in an inclusive environment. The group actively challenges stereotypes, advocates for gender equity, and creates opportunities for education to drive meaningful progress within the firm.
FarrerTHRIVE – Health, wellbeing, and disability
FarrerTHRIVE champions a workplace that prioritises health, wellbeing and dignity. The group hosts talks and events, actively seeks and listens to feedback, and advocates for enhancements to wellbeing, employee support, and our physical environment. Its mission is to ensure that wellbeing and accessibility are integral to daily life at Farrer & Co.
I used to believe hard work alone guaranteed success. While it's vital and worth celebrating, it's not the whole story. Many talented people still face systemic barriers. Ignoring this isn't just unfair - it risks losing talent and opportunity. That’s why I’m committed to creating a fair path to success for everyone."
Our External Partnerships
10,000 Black Interns - championing under-represented talent
Since 2023, we have been proud supporters of the 10,000 Black Interns programme, which champions underrepresented talent by providing paid internship opportunities across various industries.
Each summer, we welcome four interns (two legal, two business services) for a six-week paid internship. We align our legal internship to our vacation scheme programme, ensuring that our interns are afforded the same fast-track opportunity to training contract interviews as our vacation scheme candidates.
In 2024, we were delighted to offer one of our legal interns a year-long paralegal contract immediately after her internship, followed by a training contract starting in 2026.
We partner with PearnKandola, a leading business and ED&I consultancy, to deliver our firmwide mandatory Inclusive Teams training programme. This is supplemented by year-round webinars, seminars, and workshops across a range of ED&I topics, led by industry experts.
We work with extense to deliver the firm’s Race Fluency training programme, which is now in its second year. This programme was first rolled out to the firm’s partnership and business services directors and will now be cascaded throughout the firm.
Hemisphere Education - removing bias from education
We have used the Rare contextual recruitment system for many years, and in 2024 we expanded our commitment by funding Hemisphere’s race fluency training in schools across the UK.
We are supporting three schools in the Greater London area over three years, focusing on institutions with a high proportion of global majority students, a higher-than-average proportion of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, or both.
Alongside funding, our partners and employees also volunteer their time, attending careers fairs, leading practical workshops with the students (eg application writing, interview skills), and speaking at panel events about their different career paths. We also host an annual Open Day for students from each of the schools interested in pursuing a career in law.
PRIME / IntoUniversity - improving socio-economic diversity in the legal profession
As proud members of PRIME, we are committed to improving socio-economic diversity in the legal profession. Each February, we partner with IntoUniversity to run a week-long paid work experience for six students, helping them develop their knowledge of the legal industry and practical skills in communication and interviewing, public speaking, and application writing. A highlight of the week is always the private tour of the Royal Courts of Justice with a member of Farrer & Co’s Family team.
Farrer & Co is one of the founding firms of LeGalBesT, a network of law firms that encourages members of staff to engage with LGBTQ+ issues. The network provides a platform to share best practices, promote workplace inclusivity, and offer networking opportunities. LeGalBesT also works to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and highlight the opportunities available at LGBTQ+ friendly firms and their clients.
