Everyone at Bartier Perry is provided with the chance to make a difference in our workplace and community. Staff get involved at many levels to champion or be part of important initiatives:
- Improving access to justice for people in need by working within the community providing compassionate pro bono legal services. We are also a Pro Bono Scheme Supporter for the Law Society of NSW.
- Our first dedicated pro bono Senior Associate, Kamran Khalid, oversees the firm’s engagement with our pro bono partners and ensures those needing pro bono services are connected to the right lawyers in the right teams. Kamran also does some of the legal work himself, acting for charities and disadvantaged members of the community on a wide range of matters.
- Aiding the vulnerable in our community through being involved with Dress for Success, Indigenous Literacy Foundation and The Smith Family to name a few
- Supporting The Haven – Nepean Women’s Shelter, a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting women experiencing domestic violence and homelessness. Our Bartier Perry Partner, Sharon Levy, is both founder and Chair
- Working with industry bodies to improve environmental sustainability internally and industry-wide
- Raising social awareness by participation in community fundraisers
- Promoting International Women’s Day through storytelling by women and men who understand and have lived the barriers contributing to inequality
- Working in regional NSW to help refugees access higher education.
Our focus on gender diversity is about empowering all our people by actively addressing barriers to gender equity. Our gender diversity initiatives bring us all together to participate in the gender conversation. Our aim is to create an inclusive culture for everyone. We want all our people to excel, be equal in the workplace and to have career progression at a pace that suits all life situations. Our strategy is simply to provide equality where we work and to influence change within the legal profession.
The firm is committed to supporting women having the same opportunities as men in progressing into partnership and senior management roles, and ensuring representation at Board level.
Currently we are:
- Successful in eliminating the gender pay gap in like-for-like roles
- Providing a 20-week gender-neutral parental leave policy which can be taken any time within the first 24 months from birth
- Making sure employees on extended leave are not disadvantaged in long-term career and remuneration opportunities
- Designing jobs for all roles that allow for flexible working arrangements. There is no ‘one size fits all’. We offer genuine flexible working arrangements.
- Providing scholarships for female law and business students and Indigenous students in partnership with Western Sydney University
- Signatory to the Australian Law Council’s Equitable Briefing Policy.
- WGEA FY23 Report - Gender Gap Employer Statement
Our CEO, Riana Steyn, is an advocate for women in leadership. She is often invited to speak on women’s issues across industries. Riana is a Pay Ambassador for the Women’s Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), a signatory to the Law Society’s Charter for the Advancement of Women and a signatory to the Diversity Council of Australia’s #iStandForRespect pledge.
We know diverse businesses are better businesses.
We welcome all that diverse backgrounds and lived experiences bring to our firm. Both our differences and our similarities are embraced. It is through diversity that collaboration thrives, providing the best outcomes for our people and our clients.
Being a diverse and inclusive workplace is one of our firm values and is embedded in our culture. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee oversees our activities, ensuring that everyone is welcomed and valued.
LGBTIQ+ inclusion is a focus – we know that for real engagement to prosper we need to be ourselves. Pride@Bartier is our internal network for LGBTIQ+ employees and allies, an additional avenue for providing feedback to the business, learning about the resources available, and connecting with colleagues.
Through a workplace culture that celebrates genuine inclusion and diversity, we attract, engage and keep bright and talented people. This includes Recruiting for inclusion.
Some of the activities that bring us together:
- Raising funds and awareness for rainbow young people for Wear it Purple
- Celebrating Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
- Cultural awareness training
- Providing professional ongoing needs-based assistance for people with disabilities
- Celebrating different international backgrounds during Harmony Week
- Member and actively involved with the Diversity Council Australia and Pride in Diversity.
Bartier Perry’s focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is not only from a social perspective, but also from a professional perspective noting their vast underrepresentation in Australian lawyers.
We combat the social and professional disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by:
- Increasing cultural awareness
- Celebrating cultural diversity
- Supporting cultural opportunity
- Committing to recognition and permanent change.
Actions we have taken:
- We published our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan with thanks to Paul Paulson of the Nahri Institute and Jasmine Sarin of KS Koori Designs
- Donating to Aboriginal community controlled health organisation Maari Ma to provide aid and assist in the management of the COVID outbreak in badly affected NSW regional towns where vaccination rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are very low and COVID infections are high
- We have committed to increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples we employ each year
- Providing pro bono legal services to First Nations businesses
- Incorporating First Nations procurement through our supply chain
- Providing internship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Partnering with clients to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander causes
- Assisting First Nations businesses
- As part of our celebration of NAIDOC week, we commissioned a bespoke artwork by First Nations artist, Jasmine Sarin of JS Koori Designs, titled “Unity Abound” which now hangs proudly in our Sydney office.
