Equality, Diversion, Inclusivity and Belonging at Barcan and Kirby

At Barcan and Kirby, we are committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and encouraging equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDI&B). This applies to our policies, practices and procedures, and our colleagues, clients and connections.

What you can expect from us

Our aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for every employee to feel respected and able to bring their true selves to work.

Whether you are a member of staff, a client or a connection of the firm, we intend to treat everyone equally and with the same attention, courtesy and respect, regardless of your disability, gender, age, marital status, race, racial group, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

To ensure fairness in recruitment processes, hiring managers are offered regular training on unconscious bias, systematically integrating diversity and inclusion into all aspects of the hiring process.

Identifying needs

All applicants, employees and clients are encouraged to communicate their needs and requirements, be that reasonable adjustments as part of a job application, a translator for clients who are unable to communicate effectively in English, or flexible arrangements for working parents.

ED&I initiatives at Barcan and Kirby

At Barcan and Kirby, we have an active Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, which provides a platform for discussion for employees and works with HR to implement initiatives.

The EDI&B Committee’s purpose is to:

  • Address ways to improve our policies in these areas
  • Make sure our processes, i.e. recruitment/promotion, are fair, consistent and non-discriminatory
  • Build a truly inclusive environment, focusing on skills and attributes, and providing a level playing field for all

Employees are encouraged to share their challenges or ideas with the committee. In fact, we have implemented several ED&I initiatives as a result of staff feedback and involvement.

Our EDI&B initiatives include:

Social mobility at Barcan and Kirby

In 2023, we recruited our first Graduate Apprentice and Solicitor Apprentice, thereby expanding opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds who may not have considered a career in law via the traditional academic pathways.

Legal apprenticeships provide a route to qualification for those who may previously have thought the legal profession was beyond their reach.

This inclusive route to qualification helps foster a legal profession that better reflects the people it serves.

We are proud to employ eight legal apprentices (as at July 2025), who work across our family and business legal teams, supported by senior lawyers and gaining invaluable legal experience.

Barcan and Kirby also offers other apprenticeships and routes to qualification. We encourage anyone interested in starting their career in law to consider our early careers programmes, such as our Spring Vacation Scheme, Paralegal Apprenticeship and CPQ Apprenticeship.

Wellbeing at Barcan and Kirby

Our long-running Wellbeing and Mental Health Committee also works to foster a culture that supports the physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing of every employee.

Every member of our committee is professionally trained as a Mental Health First Aider by Mental Health England, and we have representatives in each office to support anyone in need and who can signpost them if necessary.

Statistics we’re proud of

As of July 2025, females account for:

  • 85% of employees
  • 54% of Partners
  • 60% of the Management team
  • 60% of the Board

In terms of flexible working:

  • 60% work flexibly
  • 45% work part-time
  • 67% work in a hybrid way

Regulation and legislation

We take ED&I seriously and are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to conduct a regular Diversity Survey. The results from this survey (which is voluntary for staff to complete) are reported back to the SRA.

We take all reasonable steps to ensure that we and our staff do not unlawfully discriminate. To reinforce this, all staff have regular, mandatory training to ensure we comply with the relevant legislation and to ensure everyone has the same understanding of what is expected of them. Managers also receive training about their rights and responsibilities under the firm’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Further information

If you have any questions about Barcan and Kirby’s ED&I initiatives or approach, please contact us using this form. If you are interested in joining us, check out our latest vacancies here.

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