As a global law firm with a rich history spanning almost 200 years, we’ve established ourselves as a leading adviser to corporates, financial institutions and governments, on all areas of the law including finance, M&A, disputes and competition. 

We’re renowned for helping our clients navigate through a complex and constantly evolving global landscape. With 28 offices across the world’s leading financial and resource centres, we offer the reach and insight of a global network combined with deep local market knowledge.

Our people are our greatest asset. We bring together lawyers of the highest calibre with the expertise, industry experience and regional know-how to provide the incisive advice our clients need. As a global team we have a reputation for successfully managing large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions, disputes and projects, and for delivering outstanding outcomes for clients.

Every year, we offers clerkships to give you an intensive experience of our culture and the kind of work we do. You’ll spend time in two departments, where you’ll work with a supervising partner, a lawyer and a buddy who’ll get you involved in real work. You’ll also attend workshops and department training, as well as get a chance to take part in team social events.

The work undertaken by clerks is varied and depends on the team you are in. Tasks include case law research, drafting legal expertise updates, note-taking during meetings and contract review. You could also be involved in attending court, drafting advice to clients. You can also attend a one week client secondment or accompany a lawyer to a pro bono clinic.

A national graduate induction will kick off your career with Ashurst., introducing you to all the resources you need. You'll be supervised by a partner and lawyer who will work closely with you and provide guidance and feedback. In collaboration with you we will plan three rotations of four months each. You will have an opportunity (travel permitted) in your last rotation to apply for an overseas secondment.

Ashurst recognises the importance of balancing work with your life outside of the office and our firm offers a number of initiatives to support you with this. You may be interested in joining one of our many social sporting teams, access our corporate gym memberships or take the opportunity to participate in a fun run event on behalf of the firm to ensure that you are getting the time you need outside of the office as well as having the chance to build your networks and friendships within the firm. We also recognise the way we work and how we work has changed dramatically over the years and to address these changes and recognise the role that flexibility plays in work life balance, we are pleased to launch our new initiative ‘Smarter Working’ which redefines our approach to flexibility. 

There’s absolutely no Ashurst “type”. We want to actively involve a broad range of minds with a broad range of backgrounds, all united by a common set of strengths:

• Excellent academic record and a passion to develop a career in an elite international law firm
• Outstanding communication skills
• Analytical ability, motivation, determination and drive
• Commercial awareness
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills
• Graduate positions are offered to successful clerks and offer dates vary depending on the state you are applying to.

Our Early Careers team will work closely with you to plan your three rotations, and we’ll review this regularly over the 12 month programme.

Induction & Activate Programme

The Graduate programme kicks off with an induction and learning opportunities where you’ll meet your peers in one location. This gives you the chance to build your networks across the nation and learn the skills required to hit the ground running once you commence your first rotation.

Back in your home office, you’ll benefit from a local induction plus an in-house Practical Legal Training (PLT) course. It's tailored to our firm and so, as you might expect, some modules are chosen for you. We cover all course costs.

As part of your Graduate year, you will take part in the Activate Programme. The programme is specifically designed for graduates and incorporates technical legal and business skills training. It provides the platform for you to create the extraordinary and build capability across the key areas in which the firm practices, to ensure you have a holistic view of the legal markets in which we operate. Sessions are conducted by subject matter experts, including Partners.

Practice Team Training

Throughout your rotations you will undertake tailored sessions delivered by your practice groups. This includes graduate rotator inductions and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programmes on legal topics relevant to each team's work, to ensure you stay ahead of the future of law.

Graduates will develop technical legal skills specific to each practice group during their rotations, which will build on the fundamental legal content delivered in the Activate Programme.

Embark

To support you in the next phase of your career after your graduate year, you will take part in one of our milestone career transition programmes, Embark. Embark is designed to provide capability development as you make the transition to a newly qualified lawyer, to allow you perform at your best and thrive in your career, together. This is one of many career transition programmes and other learning opportunities that you will experience over your career at Ashurst.

Please see below a high level overview of your learning journey during the graduate programme.

Every year, we hold clerkships in each of our offices to give you an intensive experience of our culture and the kind of work we do.

We work hard to make sure they’re as useful and as stimulating as possible. You’ll spend time in one or two practice areas (depending on which office you’re in), where you’ll work with a supervising partner, lawyer and a buddy who’ll get you involved in real work. You’ll also attend workshops, learning opportunities and participate in team social events.

At the end of your clerkship, you will be considered for a place on our graduate program.

• The work undertaken by clerks is varied and depends on the team you are in. Tasks include case law research, drafting legal expertise updates, note-taking during meetings and contract review. There will also be opportunities to be involved in attending court, drafting advice to clients, client secondments and accompanying lawyers to a pro bono clinic.
• Clerkship applications open in June and July across our five offices. 
• Sydney and Canberra offer a 10 week clerkship programme over summer. Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne offer a multiple three week clerkship programme over summer, winter and autumn, dates vary please check our careers website for details.

Top Tips:

• Be genuine, we are really keen to get to know you better. We want you to be able to be yourself at work and during the recruitment process
• Take your time to research the firms and prepare a tailored cover letter that clearly articulates why you are a good fit and why you want to join that firm
• During interviews listen carefully to the questions asked and taking your time before responding this will show thoughtfulness and you're more likely to give a considered response
• Have well researched questions to ask the interviewers which will demonstrate motivation and being well prepared.
• Attend as many virtual or face to face events as possible to get a better sense of the firms and their culture
• Visit our Emerging Talent Hub to get an insight into the world of commercial law. You can access one or all of our open access virtual internships which focus on the legal work we do as well as delivering programmes that focus on your employability skills. Our hub also has a number of resources which will give you further information on the work we do as well as our people and culture.
• Imposter Syndrome and Personal Brand Tab 

Application and assessment experience:

Tips for Legal Clerkships - What Makes a Clerk Stand Out for Being Hired as a Grad

Find out more.

We reached out to the current group of Graduates in the Ashurst Grad Programme from their varying degree disciplines and within different rotations, to ask them some burning questions, as requested by students.  Thank you to the Ashurst Grads for their time and effort.  Let’s see what they have to say!

Rediete
University of Melbourne
Juris Doctor
Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance double major)

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in? 

Ashurst, Graduate Lawyer, Transport and Infrastructure

What was the first 6 months like?  What have you really enjoyed? 

I loved the first 6 months of my graduate program. There was a lot to learn but the firm put together a great induction program so that when we started with our teams we were ready to go.

The two highlights of the first 6 months were getting to know the other graduates in my cohort and people in the wider firm and learning new skills.

Was your position with the Ashurst Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

I understood the basics of what my position would be - I knew there would be rotations, you would have a buddy, supervising lawyer and partner etc. However, I was pleasantly surprised about how much client contact graduates can get in some teams and also how invested and engaged everyone is in your development, regardless of their seniority.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

I have certainly finished late before and have worked on a Saturday, which can happen in this kind of environment when you have client deadlines to meet. However, the team I was with made sure to lighten my load after busy periods and I was able to finish earlier afterwards.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

The kind of work that you do varies from team to team. For instance when I was in Global Loans (banking and finance) my main tasks were managing conditions precedents (what needs to be done before a bank funds a loan), corresponding with clients, assisting with execution of documents and having a first go at drafting banking documents.

In my second rotation, Planning Access and Environment, my main tasks were assisting with preparation for tribunal and court hearings, preparing presentations for clients and internal training and preparing research memos.

I have just started in Transport and Infrastructure and I am really excited to see what tasks come my way.

Have you worked on any projects at Ashurst?

In the Global Loans team, I worked on various types of financing projects. Many of these were residential finance matters, but I also assisted on corporate finance matters as well.

In Planning Access and Environment, I have worked on a number of VCAT matters and also a couple of Supreme Court matters. A really interesting project I worked on was helping to prepare an update for the new offshore renewable energy legislation which the
Commonwealth recently introduced. It was such a great learning experience working with a number of Partners and another graduate from our Sydney office on the article. It was also really exciting to see the steps that the Government is taking to encourage renewable energy in Australia.

My current team, Transport and Infrastructure work on a real mix of projects, with both private and public sector clients. I am looking forward to getting a great mix of exciting work with the team as my rotation progresses.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

A few of the key systems we use are iManage (document management system); 3e (time recording) and Contract Companion (assists with proofreading documents)

What sort of support are you provided at Ashurst?

Each graduate is matched up with a Supervising Partner, Supervising Lawyer and a Buddy. These are your direct supports in your team who offer mentoring and feedback  throughout your rotation both in a structured (e.g. end of rotation appraisal) and informal way (e.g. I have weekly meetings booked in with my Supervising Partner to discuss feedback, to hear about what is happening in the team etc).

Aside from the supports in your team, graduates have a dedicated Human Resources coordinator both at a state and national level, who we can reach out to with any concerns and who regularly check in with us.

More generally, the firm has an Employee Assistance Program available and provides a lot of activities to promote wellness including gym memberships and we have had online yoga and Pilates this year during lock down which has been great.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

Technical skills are definitely important, including attention to detail. People skills are also very important to succeed in this role. I have seen the importance of client relationships and being able to deal with the 'other side' of a matter in an efficient and meaningful way.

I did not anticipate how much of an important role lawyers played in project management.  I have seen how great personal project  management skills translate to great external project management skills with clients who are often reliant on their lawyers to facilitate a transaction. This is definitely something that is important to succeed in this profession.

What are the best perks or benefits at Ashurst?

As mentioned before, all employees have access to gym memberships. During Covid, the firm has organised both yoga and Pilates classes which have been excellent and a great way to break up a busy day.

Ashurst also runs social events which have continued, despite the lock down. For instance, one of the social committees have organised online painting classes and cooking classes.

There are deals available to employees with certain companies including banking and health insurance services which comes in handy too!

Ben
University of Tasmania
Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in? 

Ashurst Australia - Currently rotating through the Dispute Resolution team as a graduate lawyer

What was the first 6 months like?  What have you really enjoyed? 

The first six months were an incredible learning opportunity filled with exciting and interesting work.

I spent the first four months in the Employment law team.  While in the Employment law team I enjoyed working on work health and safety matters, workplace investigations and public service compensation appeals.

Following that I was in the Transport and Infrastructure team where I enjoyed working on large scale projects for the Department of Defence.

Was your position with the Ashurst Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

It was not what I had expected before starting with the firm.  The thing I found most surprising was the level of responsibility that I was given by senior members of the firm quite early on.  This high level of responsibility allowed me to get involved in substantial legal work on complex matters, which was an invaluable learning experience.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

My longest day has probably been 14 hours. However, I very rarely work on the weekend.  The only time I work on the weekend is when I feel like I do not have enough time to complete my required tasks in the following week.  However, this has happened only a handful of times and is not expected/asked of me.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

Every day is vastly different and depends entirely on what matters I am working on.  However, at a general level, the sort of work I would do in a day would include drafting correspondence to clients, drafting advices, conducting research and reviewing evidence/documents.

Have you worked on any projects at Ashurst?

I have worked on a variety of projects for Commonwealth agencies.

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

Windows applications, imanage (electronic storage of documents), Skype, Microsoft Teams and 3E (application to record time).

What sort of support are you provided at Ashurst?

On a day to day basis, if I need support on anything I am able to (and encouraged) to reach out to any member of my team, or the office as a whole.  This may be something simple like having someone sense check an email before it is sent, all the way through to having a coffee with someone to ask for career advice.

From a broader firm perspective, all employees have access to the employee assistance program if they need to talk to someone confidentiality.  Additionally, the firm grants study leave so that you can take days off to sit PLT exams or submit assignments if you fall behind on the course work.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

I think the most important skills to have are a positive attitude and time management succeed in my role.  Before I began in my role, I thought legal knowledge would be the most important skill, but as you are exposed to many areas of law not taught in law school, there is lots of learning on the job.

While this can be tricky at times, a positive attitude combined with good time management skills will assist greatly in the overall learning process.

What are the best perks or benefits at Ashurst?

The firm will pay your PLT, admission and practising certificate fees.  The firm also offers a variety of other perks such as a very generous 26 week parental leave plan that covers a wide variety of paths that people may take when trying to start a family. Additionally, the firm offers free corporate gym memberships, amongst other things.

Izzy
UWA
Bachelor of Arts (Law & Society and Political Science and International Relations)Juris Doctor

Can you let us know what company you are working for and which area of the business you work in or which rotation you are currently in? 

I am a Graduate at Ashurst, and I am currently completing my final rotation in the Employment team

What was the first 6 months like?  What have you really enjoyed? 

The first 6 months of the Ashurst Graduate Program has been exciting.  I've most enjoyed getting to know more about the firm's diverse practice areas and gaining valuable experience and support from senior supervisors.

Was your position with the Ashurst Grad Programme as you expected it to be? Did anything take you by surprise?

My experience as Graduate aligns with my initial expectations (in that there were no nasty surprises).  However, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of responsibility given to Graduates, as this has given me the opportunity to learn and develop my skills.

Everyone is keen on maintaining work/life balance, with that in mind what is the longest day you have put it and have you worked weekends at all?

I have been fortunate to enjoy predictable and reasonable work hours for most of my Graduate year.  However, there have been rare instances were I am required to work especially late and on weekends.

On a day to day basis, what do you work on?

My day to day work is diverse and rarely repetitive.  It can range from conducting legal research and preparing agreements or court documents to reviewing and drafting internal and external correspondence.

Have you worked on any projects at Ashurst?

Examples of the types of matters I have worked on include mergers, schemes of arrangement (front and back-end), court hearings for breach of contract claims and unfair dismissal applications

What systems do you use for your role in the graduate programme?

The key systems I use concern time recording and document management

What sort of support are you provided at Ashurst?

I receive extensive support from direct supervisors as well as informal "buddies".  The office is also very collaborative and I feel comfortable asking superiors for help, if required.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in your role and do they differ from what you envisioned?

To succeed as a Graduate Lawyer, I believe you need strong problem solving and analytical skills as well as oral and written communication skills.  One of the most important skills (which I did not initially expect) is the ability to remain enthusiastic about the role.   This skill is important to building rapport with team members and staying motivated.

What are the best perks or benefits at Ashurst?

Ashurst offers a number of perks, including firm-wide social events (such as Friday night drinks, Paint & Sip and trivia nights), gym membership, sporting activities and health and wellness initiatives

At Ashurst you have the opportunity to start developing your career from day one. You'll work alongside industry experts for leading international clients, solving problems using your creativity and diligence. We strive to be the best trusted advisor. We have a unique culture that shapes the way we work with one another: we think differently; we are supportive and inclusive; and we are passionate about quality.

Tom Darling

Senior Associate – Transport and Infrastructure

2016 Graduate

University of NSW – Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Social Science and Policy, Philosophy

What does your current role entail?

Advising clients on the procurement, negotiation and delivery of market-leading infrastructure projects. As a Senior Associate, I liaise directly with clients, coordinate lawyers within the team, and assist partners in running the matters. In addition to being a work provider for more junior members, there is also a broader mentoring role.

Why did you choose Ashurst?

It was a right place at the right time. I was a lateral grad hire, I didn’t come through the clerkship program.  By the time I completed my Juris Doctor, Ashurst were looking to increase their 2016 graduate intake. Ashurst was also recommended by word of mouth, that was back in 2015.

What is your favourite thing about your role / the firm?

As a recently promoted Senior Associate, I'm very much enjoying the responsibility of overseeing and mentoring the juniors, being responsible for the professional development of my junior colleagues is really rewarding.  Additionally, the increased levels of contact with the clients provides a larger view of the matters and a better sense of how the clients operate and how Ashurst can help them achieve their goals.

In acting largely for large government agencies, there is also a great deal of satisfaction associated with contributing towards the construction of public goods; it really appeals to my sense of civic duty.

The Transport and Infrastructure practice group is quite large, and there is necessarily a lot of collaboration with my colleagues.  Their enthusiasm and desire to assist other colleagues really makes Ashurst a great place to work.  Whether it's a part-time paralegal or partner, it's something I really want to emphasise. It makes my job easier but  the workplace much more enjoyable

What advice or tips do you have for applicants applying for clerkship roles?

I think the questions you ask are more important than the answers you give.

It is important to do your research and understand what the prospective employer is looking for in a candidate. Being able to demonstrate through your questions how that business operates or what their goals are really gives the employer a far greater insight into who you are more so than any answers you may provide to them.

Interviewers may ask clerks some relatively general questions to let them demonstrate their communications skill etc., but if you can demonstrate your understanding of the business and a desire to be a part of and contribute to that business, that would really impress any interviewers.

How are you supported in your current role?

In an informal sense, supported by the culture of collaboration; by the direct assistance of my colleagues, as above, from part-time paralegals to partners – all are very keen and go out of their way to assist with any matter at hand.

More broadly, 2 years ago the pandemic forced us into flexible working arrangements, Ashurst has adopted a flexible working policy out of necessity but has now really become a central part of the business. This makes balancing a professional career with family and friends much easier.

Transitioning from a clerkship to a graduate program

Social Impact at Ashurst encompasses our community involvement, place-to-work and environmental initiatives. Pro bono is considered a stand-alone legal practice and we regard pro bono legal work as an integral part of our professional responsibility. Both the Social Impact program and pro bono practice are led by a fulltime partner.

We recognise that lawyers have a moral obligation and a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those who would otherwise be without. At Ashurst we actively support you to give and develop your legal skill through our pro bono practice.

You quickly get involved by supporting communities experiencing marginalisation and disadvantage, and the organisations that have taken up their cause. Our global pro bono practice has a number of priority areas including: Citizenship & Global Displacement; Climate Crises & Resilience; Death Row & the Criminal Justice System; Financial Inclusion & Social Finance; First Nations Peoples; Gender Rights; LGBTI+ Rights; Modern Slavery; and Rural, Regional & Remote Australians.

You can get involved from day one by, making sandwiches for Eat Up, volunteering at a soup kitchen, and completing pro bono work.

Financial

[email protected]

Employees can take advantage of an exclusive package of benefits offered by ANZ including discounted mortgage rates and a range of other premium banking products from everyday banking to credit cards and financial planning.

Salary Packaging Options

Salary packaging allows eligible employees to change the structure of their remuneration package to best suit their individual financial and personal needs.  Options include:

• Novated Leasing
• Salary sacrifice of earnings or bonus to superannuation
• Salary sacrifice of charitable contributions
• Simply ask your MyHRAustralia team or refer to the Intranet for further information. 

Health & Wellbeing

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Lifeworks is a confidential, fully subsidised professional counselling service available to you and your immediate family members. Counsellors are fully qualified and are available to talk through personal, family or work issues.

Call: 1300 361 008 (available 24/7) 

nib Corporate Health Plan

Save money on your nib health cover with a corporate discount of up to 10% discount and unlimited Australia-wide emergency ambulance cover.  To unlock your corporate benefits Call 1800 131 463 and ask for the Ashurst Corporate Health plan or go to nib.com.au/corp/ashurst

Gym Memberships

In recognising the importance of your health and fitness, each office provides fully subsidised corporate gym memberships (only applicable for permanent full time or part time employees).

• Fitness First – Canberra and Sydney
• Goodlife – Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.

Annual Flu Vaccinations

In preparation for the winter season, you can take advantage of a free on-site flu vaccination program which is provided during March/April each year.

Skin Cancer Checks

Each year you can access free onsite skin checks conducted by a qualified practitioner.

Sleep Clinics 

Annually Ashurst provides free onsite Sleep Clinics to educate on sleep architecture, fatigue, rest patterns etc.

Insurance

Salary Continuance Insurance

Ashurst provides a disablement benefit under a Group Salary Continuance Plan. The purpose of this insurance is to provide benefits for eligible employees in the event of protracted sickness or injury. The firm currently pays the premium for this insurance on an employee's behalf.

Life and Total Permanent Disablement Insurance

For members of the Ashurst default superannuation fund, Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) provides cover if an employee is totally and permanently disabled.

Personal Insurances

Through our global insurance broker,  employees can access insurance advice and products on a range of personal insurances via the link below:

https://business-insurance.aon.com.au/Personal-Insurance

Family & Caring 

Parenting

The Global Parental Leave Principles introduces a globally consistent framework and entitlements across all our offices, which include:

• 26 weeks fully paid leave – available to any eligible staff member irrespective of gender identity;
• No distinction between primary/secondary and maternity/paternity - no gendered language with a strong focus on gender equality;
• Enhanced leave options including more flexibility within the first two years after the child's birth/adoption, where leave can be taken in one consecutive block, two blocks or may incorporate a fixed term part time arrangement;
• Inclusion of surrogacy, foster and kinship care;
• Pregnancy Loss Provisions which includes two weeks paid leave plus an additional five days for related appointments; 
• Inclusion of five days paid leave per year for anyone needing to access fertility treatments; and
• Legal staff to have a reduction in their chargeable hours targets to 4.0 for a three month period upon their return from extended parental leave to support their transition back to work.

Family & Domestic Violence

In support of employees experiencing domestic violence, Ashurst provides for 10 days of paid domestic violence leave.  

Child & Elder Care referrals

Ashurst can provide employees with resources and practical advice on how and where to seek assistance on how to balance work and caring responsibilities

Flexible working

Flexible Working Options Policy

Our Flex Work Policy provides options for all employees including job-share, part-time, sabbaticals, varied hours and working from home arrangements. 

Leave Purchase Scheme

The Ashurst scheme allows employees to purchase additional leave (supplementary to other forms of leave) to a maximum of 3 weeks per year.

Technology

Microsoft 

Ashurst's licence agreement with Microsoft allows employees to purchase a full copy of Office Professional Plus 2016 or Office Home and Business 2016 for Mac, for $15.

Hewlett Packard

HP offers Ashurst employees the opportunity to purchase HP’s award winning PCs, notebooks, printers and much more at up to 40% off RRP. Access via the below link: http://www.hpshopping.com.au/cepp

Vehicles

BMW and Mini

Through our Gold Membership Program, employees can access a range of exclusive benefits associated with the purchase and ownership of BMW and Mini vehicles.

• BMW Website: https://www.bmw.com.au/en/topics/offers-and-services/corporate-direct-sales/bmw-corporate.html
• Mini Website: https://www.mini.com.au/corporatebenefits/

Corporate Login: C00013 | Password: EL14886

Mazda

Employees can access the Ashurst Corporate Select Program when purchasing a new Mazda vehicle which entitles employees to 4 years or 40,000 km free servicing.

Recognition

Recognition Awards

Ashurst recognition awards aim to reward individuals for significant contribution, exceptional performance and for living the Ashurst values.  Rewards may Include:

• Universal Gift Cards or Vouchers
• Time off in Lieu
• Weekend away for two
• Movie tickets
• Dinner or lunch with team or spouse

Service Awards

Ashurst recognises the length of employee service at designated intervals, with the presentation of a personal gift voucher and letter in recognition of our appreciation for your loyalty to the firm. 

Recruitment Incentive Bonus

This scheme encourages and financially rewards employees who refer candidates appointed to a permanent or fixed-term capacity. Bonus paid varies between $5000 and $10,000 dependent on the role and contingent of completion of the probationary period. Graduate and Clerk are not eligible for referral bonus.

Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging

Fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging is key to Ashurst’s vision of being the most progressive global law firm. It allows us to offer exceptional service to our clients and create an extraordinary place for our people to work.

Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging are an integral part of who we are as a firm and why our culture is unique. By valuing differences and creating a safe space for colleagues to be themselves and thrive in their careers, we ensure our people experience a sense of belonging.

We are proud employers of LGBTI+ staff and aim to foster a supportive and inclusive culture where our people can bring their whole self to work, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our LGBTI+ network "Spectrum" supports the firm's LGBTI+ population and works to raise awareness of issues relevant to and affecting the wider LGBTI+ community. The network actively welcome LGBTI+ members and allies from across the firm.

We celebrate LGBTI+ days of significance such as Wear It Purple Day, Pride Month and IDAHOBIT, adopted a Gender Affirmation policy, have launched a LGBTI+ Inclusive Language Glossary, participate in annual benchmarking through Australian Workplace Equality Index and deliver regular LGBTI+ Workplace Awareness and Ally training.

Disability & Wellbeing

It is critical that we ensure that our premises and work environment are inclusive and accessible to all our people. We know that not all disabilities are visible, as a firm we continue to raise awareness to promote a culture that is supportive with regards to both physical and mental health. We have a number of initiatives that support the delivery of this approach through the following:

• A global network of Wellbeing Allies that have been trained in mental health first aid to support colleagues who may be struggling. 
• Workplace Adjustments Passports available to anyone at the firm who may require adjustments to ensure they are supported to be at their best.
• We offer all of our people globally with an ongoing corporate subscription to Headspace, mindfulness and wellbeing experts.
• Various learning opportunities through the disABILITY network for allies to learn how they can support colleagues living with a disability. 
• We are founding signatories to the Mindful Business Charter and The Valuable 500.
• We are proud members of the Australian Network on Disability and the UK Business Disability Forum.

Creating a workplace that is committed to improving gender equality and balance within the firm is important to us. Women make up over half of our business and it is critical we retain and nurture this talent by providing opportunities to develop and thrive. Our Women's Networks organise a range of events and discussions related to gender equality issues, and provide mentoring and sponsorship opportunities. Our Global Chief Executive Officer, Paul Jenkins is personally committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture and is a member of the Champions of Change Coalition.

Ashurst have set new gender targets, which were determined by the Board in consultation with the Executive Team and the Committed to Change Advisory Group. The following targets are to be achieved by 2026:

• 40% women, 40% men and 20% flexible (women, men or non-binary persons) representation at partnership and senior leader level.

These targets will help continue to drive change within the firm and marks our clear commitment to inclusion, diversity and belonging and improving gender equality.

Caring Responsibilities

We know that our partners and employees can be their best when they are supported both professionally and personally, we are focused on empowering our people to find the flexibility they need to accommodate their varied responsibilities. Many people assume multiple caring responsibilities over the course of a lifetime and these responsibilities may vary as personal circumstances change.

Parental Leave, Pregnancy Loss & Fertility

We have established a Global Parental Leave Policy that applies consistent entitlements to all of our people across all offices which include:

• 26 weeks fully paid leave – available to any eligible staff member irrespective of gender identity;
• No distinction between primary/secondary and maternity/paternity - no gendered language with a strong focus on gender equality;
• Enhanced leave options including more flexibility within the first two years after the child's birth/adoption, where leave can be taken in one consecutive block, two blocks or may incorporate a fixed term part time arrangement;
• Inclusion of surrogacy, foster and kinship care;
• Pregnancy Loss Provisions which includes two weeks paid leave plus an additional five days for related appointments;
• Inclusion of five days paid leave per year for anyone needing to access fertility treatments; and
• Legal staff to have a three-month reduction in chargeable hours targets when they return from extended parental leave to support their transition back to work.
• We also offer all staff the opportunity to participate in 1:1 parental leave coaching.

As a firm, we have worked with First Nations Peoples since the 1970's, having assisted with the establishment of the Aboriginal Legal Service, in collaboration with community advocates in Redfern and other key figures. 

Our Global Pro Bono and Social Impact Partner, Sarah Morton-Ramwell, currently sits on the Business Council of Australia (BCA)'s Indigenous Engagement Task Force, and we also sit on the BCA's Business Indigenous Network. Trent Wallace is the First Nations Lead, Pro Bono and Social Impact, based in our Brisbane Offices. Joining the firm in 2020 in Sydney, Trent is the first Aboriginal lawyer to sit in such a role within a global law firm. As an Aboriginal person, he brings lived experience to his role and provides a strong First Nations voice to the work. Trent is also Co-Chair of the Legal Profession Reconciliation Network and regularly advocates for First Nations law students and First Nations Peoples in the legal profession. 

We launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2014 and this sets out our four key objectives in the areas of capacity building, legal assistance, employment, and cultural recognition and awareness. 

Our commitment to working to achieve reconciliation has been set out in our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which was launched in 2014. Our stated goals published in our first RAP are to:

• work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations using our skills and resources (legal and non-legal) to help build capacity within these communities and organisations;
• provide legal assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations and contribute to the development of the law to reduce disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
• increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly in the law; and
• increase the awareness and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, achievements and challenges among partners and staff.

In 2018 we  launched our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at Stretch level. This document is our public statement of our commitment to support reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians, and it sets out the actions we will take over the next two years to drive reconciliation in Australia. As a firm, we have been deeply committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the provision of pro bono legal assistance since the early 1970s. Our vision for reconciliation is that, through listening to each other and working together, we will all create a more united and equitable Australia, with respectful relationships at the centre of the way we all interact and work with one another.

We have been offering a First Nations paid internship in Brisbane since 2016. In 2020, Sarah Morton-Ramwell developed a Pro Bono and Social Impact Cadetship to shadow Trent's role. We have also launched a First Nations clerkship in Perth in 2021. In addition to this, we are currently working with CareerTrackers in Brisbane and Sydney, alongside developing a relationship with Yalari. 

In 2022, we will launch our third RAP that reaffirms our commitment to First Nations Peoples and organisations.