16 October 20242 minute read

DLA Piper recognised in Social Mobility Employer Index for seventh year

DLA Piper today announces that it has been ranked 27th in the Social Mobility Foundation’s annual Social Mobility Employer Index.

The Index is the leading authority on employer-led social mobility, and this year reviewed data from 150 organisations, and this is the seventh year the firm has been recognised.

Socioeconomic diversity in the workplace and in broader society is a strategic priority and the firm is continuing close the gap through contextual recruitment, outreach and structural changes. In the past year, these changes have included expanding its Head Start UK and Solicitor Apprenticeship programmes.

The firm works with local, community-based partners including The Sutton Trust, PRIME, Social Mobility Business Partnership, City Century, Uptree and the 93% Club to widen access to the legal profession. This has resulted in 11 Head Start alumni joining DLA Piper as trainees or apprentices.

Inclusion in this Index follows winning at the targetjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2024 in the Best Social Mobility Strategy category, and shortlisting in the Organisation of the Year category at the 2024 Social Mobility Awards.

The firm continues its commitment to social mobility and is working hard to accelerate its impact, including by implementing a new Social Mobility Action Plan and a working group led by senior leaders in its business.

Sandra Wallace CBE, Joint Managing Director, UK and Europe, DLA Piper commented: "We're proud to have continued our longstanding work in the social mobility space this year, including formally launching our newest people network dedicated to social mobility, Horizons, alongside experts from The Sutton Trust. We know there's even more we can do to continue to make DLA Piper an even better, and more inclusive, place to work for our colleagues."