Diversity
Potter Rees Dolan values diversity and is fully committed to treating all persons equally. Our culture and ethos is communicated through sound leadership, clear policies and integration of common goals. We ensure diversity is embraced and valued in all our objectives, in the work we do and the clients we serve, as well as in the staff we employ. We recruit, promote, retain and develop the best person for the role, on merit, without any form of discrimination or prejudice. We instruct barristers, experts and other third-party professionals on reputation and ability alone. Our clear Equality and Diversity policy is reviewed and monitored for effectiveness at Board level and is communicated through training, supervision and guidance regularly.
CSR
We are fully aware of our responsibility as individuals and as a firm for the impact we have on the environment and the communities in which we operate. We have several initiatives in place to ensure we minimise this impact, reduce our carbon footprint and give something back to the local and wider community. Our modern, energy efficient offices have motion sensor lighting and timed air conditioning/heating controls throughout open plan, reducing the need of individual offices requiring additional heating and lighting. We now have more members of staff working from home which has also decreased our energy consumption. We encourage cycling to work, provide a cycle store and subscribe to the government ‘Bike2Work Scheme’ offering subsidised cycle costs. The firm has long-standing relationships with local and national charities and many members of staff are actively involved in supporting them. We also help with local community projects such as sponsoring football and cricket teams. We recycle all our confidential wastepaper and use FSC certified paper throughout the office, including our letterhead paper. Our in-house kitchen facilities provide a recycling point where staff are encouraged to recycle cardboard, cans and plastic items. We stock promotional materials using recycled plastic, we use eco-friendly cleaning products, we have recycling bins in the office and use glass milk bottles.
Pro-Bono
It is frequently the case that those in need of advice and support the most are often those who are least able to afford it. It is extremely important to Potter Rees Dolan that we redress some of that balance. The firm has an established policy that around 5% of work the firm does annually will be pro-bono and we have two pro-bono schemes. The first sees our welfare benefits solicitor providing free advice and representation to those in the community who need it, usually via local charities, but we are just as happy to take enquiries from any client in need of this increasingly complex and specialist advice. We also run a free legal surgery through a local hospital trauma unit giving free, impartial advice to those who have suffered a head or spinal injury and may be unsure as to what they need to do next in order to move on with their lives. Advice and signposting on matters such as employment, welfare benefits, insurance and other financial help is given completely free.