Page 22 - Prime - Marking Ten Years

Voice of the client
The business case for diversity is clear. Creating an inclusive and supportive culture is not only the right thing to do, but also what is best for our business - it makes us better at understanding the needs of our customers and clients, and
it creates a sense of belonging and value that enables our colleagues to perform at their best.
For many years, Barclays has been pushing for an increase in diversity in the legal profession. Issues with gender diversity, particularly at senior levels, have been well documented, and more
recently there has been a focus on race and ethnicity, as well as on social mobility.
We are very proud of the work that Barclays Legal does, often in partnership with our legal services providers, with diversity organisations and also with our corporate peers. We have supported several PRIME
law firm members in delivering on their PRIME commitments, and we partner with other organisations who support PRIME, such as Aspiring Solicitors and the Sutton Trust, to give opportunity and valuable experience and assistance to their members and participants. There is real quality, drive and ambition in young people from diverse backgrounds who
are looking to become the legal leaders of tomorrow. We know because we have seen it. And so have our law firms, who are now competing for talent in a bigger, more diverse talent pool.
Progress has been made, but it has been too slow. Those from socio-economically disadvantaged and other diverse backgrounds are starting to break into the legal profession in increasing numbers, but not fast enough, and the diversity of those rising to the top is also not keeping pace. We, as clients of law firms, have a big role to play in driving change at all levels. We will do this by asking our law firms to show their commitments around diversity, and by holding them to account. We will insist that they field diverse teams to advise us, and will encourage them to create inclusive cultures where diverse talent can thrive, and to sponsor that talent into senior positions.
But it doesn’t stop with our external law firms. We must make more progress within our own organisations. In September last year, Stephen, as Barclays Group General Counsel, was one of the 12 GCs from financial institutions who made a series of commitments to take internal action in our companies to hire and develop diverse talent and to take action to support those from under-represented communities in achieving their goals.
Our challenge now, in partnership with our external law firms, is to accelerate this change.
Stephen Shapiro, Barclays Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
David Jackson, Barclays Europe General Counsel and Accountable Executive for Legal Citizenship
Phil Aiken, Managing Director, Barclays UK Legal and Accountable Executive for Legal Diversity & Inclusion