Our March newsletter covers how our culture campaign has continued with our packed purpose event, exciting nominations at the WDL Awards, the countdown is on for our Legal 5K charity race, and a personal update on a legal challenge to the government’s SEND reforms by our CEO Melissa.
Purpose: on the stage, on the track, and in the courts
One of the things that’s been on my mind a lot recently is purpose. Not the corporate version that sits on a website, but the real one that shapes the choices we make. For me, my purpose has always been about trying to make a positive impact on the legal sector and, where possible, beyond it.
Purpose in practice
Earlier this week we hosted a Question Time–style panel event to discuss purpose in the legal sector, bringing together leaders from inside and outside law to explore whether purpose still exists in law firms and what it actually looks like in practice.
One of the strongest threads in the conversation was that purpose only has meaning if it’s visible in behaviour. When considering your growth plans, it’s important to remember that clients and colleagues are quick to spot the gap between what a firm says and what it actually does. When behaviours are consistent, when people feel able to speak honestly and leaders model the values they talk about, that’s when purpose stops being a statement and starts becoming something real.
We’d like to extend a huge thank you to Matt Meyer, Managing Partner, Kingsley Napley; Jo Farmer, Joint Managing Partner, Lewis Silkin; Mark Evans, President, The Law Society of England and Wales; Kelly Lane, Head of Employer Brand, Unilever; and Chris Macfarlane, General Counsel, Peloton, for joining the panel.
If you’d like to know more about our purpose workshops and employer brand work, contact James Hayhurst.
Legal 5k – register now!
Preparations for our Legal 5K on Thursday 23 April are picking up pace, with firms across the sector signing up to run and raise funds for special needs charity Skylarks.
Join us for a fun and friendly race in Regent’s Park to promote health and wellness in the sector – open to all levels. There’s also a little added spice in the form of a team competition to find the fastest law firm and chambers in the land, as well as prizes for the fastest individuals and fastest managing partner.
Get race ready with our run club
Join an expert running coach (a sub-15 minute 5K runner) alongside our Global Head of Brand and keen runner, James Hayhurst, for five weeks of training, motivation, tips and Q&A support at our run club.
The sessions welcome all abilities and are designed to gently push your fitness while keeping the group together, getting you fighting fit for race day and helping raise vital funds for Skylarks.
Places are limited, so get in touch to secure your spot.
Celebrating the wins
I also had the privilege of speaking at the IFSEA Glass Cliff event in February about leadership, accountability and whether women and minority leaders are held to different standards in moments of crisis.
Then a moment of pride for me and my team as we were shortlisted in two categories at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards – as Business Leader of the Year, and also Supplier of the Year for MD Communications. See you there for the awards ceremony next month.
A personal note: my JR challenge
And on a more personal note, I’ve launched a judicial review challenge on behalf of my daughter Jessica.
This is against the government’s SEND reform consultation, and is supported by Rook Irwin Sweeney and Steve Broach KC of 39 Essex Chambers.
The proposed changes could significantly weaken protections for children with special educational needs and disabilities who rely on enforceable EHCPs and I am proud to use my voice and my network to try and push for change.
Different arenas, but all rooted in the same belief and purpose: that using your voice, whether in business, leadership or advocacy, can help drive positive change.
P.S. Donna’s wellbeing top tip is….
…running!
With the MD Communications Legal 5K coming up in April, Communications Director Donna Black discusses how running has become an important part of her wellbeing toolkit.
