Corporate social responsibility
To make a CSR programme meaningful and vital it is important that we do not simply pay lip service to a series of well-intended policies. For this reason we link our policies to developing our people and our business. We hope in doing so we will make our CSR programme something which, over time, becomes embedded within the very ethos of the firm. John Cahill, Managing Partner.
Objectives
Through our CSR programme we hope to develop our people by creating an environment which promotes a culture that helps unlock talent and allows potential, both inside and outside our firm, to flourish. We also intend that our business should engage in and care about the important wider concerns of society that go beyond our normal day to day business and professional issues.
The Environment
The focus of our environmental policy is how we as a business can take steps to reduce our negative impact on the environment. Our current focus includes:
- Creation of new working environments in London and Leeds which respect our carbon-neutral philosophy
- Adopting office recycling policies
- Using recycled materials wherever possible
- Minimising waste
Stewarts Law has entered into an agreement with Land Securities to improve the sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint of the offices at New Street Square, London. This agreement has been developed from best practice guidance set out by the Green Lease Working Group formed by the Better Building Partnership to drive improvement in the environmental performance of commercial properties.
Charitable Causes
In addition to the work of the Stewarts Law Foundation, we actively support a range of charities, including the SIA (Spinal Injuries Association), Back-Up, Headway, the Child Brain Injury Trust and Wheelpower. We participate in numerous sponsored events annually, including the London Triathlon, the London Marathon and the Great North Run.
Community Support
Our community support is substantially based around our provision of lawyer volunteers and trustees to local charities, helping community based brain and spinal injury rehabilitation.
Pro Bono
Our pro bono advice covers a broad range of legal areas including debt, pension, insurance and human rights issues. In 2008 we estimate that we provided some 3,500 hours of free legal advice and assistance.