Linklaters is an inclusive organization in which people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures have the opportunity to contribute to the success of the firm. As a truly international firm, we boast partners, associates and business support staff of many different nationalities and cultures. So diversity is inherent in our structure and our strategy. Of course, diversity is about more than multiculturalism. It is also about characteristics such as age, gender, race, religion and sexual orientation. Linklaters believes that those individual differences are to be respected and valued.
Most importantly, Linklaters is committed to promoting a fair and nondiscriminatory working environment, providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate what they are capable of, and advancing individuals on merit.
Our diversity policy is driven by our International Board, chaired by our Senior Partner, through a sub-committee responsible for leading and monitoring all aspects of our corporate responsibilities to our people including the diversity of our workforce and the inclusiveness of our culture. We have a number of diversity working groups in our different offices around the world, including New York, that are responsible for developing and implementing action plans in each jurisdiction in line with our policies and procedures.
Linklaters is a signatory to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York's "Statement of Diversity Principles". We work with external organizations to benchmark our race and gender diversity plans and introduce best practices within the Firm. We are proud to sponsor significant outreach efforts to minority university, undergraduate, and high school students to encourage their interest in law through mentorship and other programs.
This is not only a big priority for Linklaters, but a necessary one given its global structure. We also believe it is the right thing to do.
A final note: We believe that the environment at Linklaters is strengthened not only by what makes each of us different, but what unites us. We believe in hard work and constant effort to achieve excellence. We like working together as friends as well as colleagues. We enjoy solving problems. We are externally competitive but internally collegial. Anyone who shares these values has the opportunity to thrive here.