Our Culture
Creating the best law firm experiences for both our clients and our people
We want to create the right culture and conditions so that people get the most out of their work. The excellence in training, standards and opportunities. Being surrounded by the brightest minds and the best projects. Getting treated with respect for who you are and what motivates you, and a fair culture that rewards talent.
This means clients get the benefit of joined-up, commercially astute thinking and advice. With the highest service levels, truly focused on delivery and unrivalled added value. That represents all-round excellence in their experience too. Our purpose captures that balance and partnership between our internal and external experiences. With the emphasis on excellence for each other and for our clients.
What has been one unexpected thing you have experienced in this career?
"People take their work very seriously but don’t take themselves too seriously (the latter being the slightly unexpected part!). This lends itself to a very enjoyable (and often fun) experience!"
Shane O'Neill, Partner
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) has been a business imperative here at Arthur Cox for a number of years. It is central to the culture and ethos of the firm.
Our mission is to be a firm where our differences are supported and embraced and where all of our people feel like they belong and can fulfil their potential. We have made much progress on this important work over the years but recognise that there is still a considerable amount to do to build on these foundations. Our EDI sponsoring partners are Louise O’Byrne and Patrick Horan, who lead the firm’s efforts in implementing an inclusive work environment.
We recognise that making progress in this area is not just about being diverse, it is also about including everyone and making everyone feel that they belong. What it boils down to is giving everyone equality of opportunity in the firm.
EDI is important to us because:
- It encourages and inspires our people to reach their full potential
- It makes our firm stronger and better
- It creates a safe space for innovation by having different viewpoints
- It is the right thing to do.
In recent years, we have further developed our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, and have focused our efforts on making meaningful progress on our objectives and priorities through four pillars:
- Gender
- LGBTQ+
- Race and ethnicity
- Disability and neurodiversity
Exceptional Training
Our Knowledge, Learning and Development group works closely with the Trainee group to ensure the firm is providing trainees with exceptional training and development, in line with the Trainee Competency Framework, during the course of their traineeship. The programme equips trainees with the knowledge and skills they need and helps them understand the work of the firm so that they can develop a broad-based career. The programme develops a number of core skills areas, including:
- Practice management skills
- Technical skills
- Self and time management skills
The Trainee Knowledge, Learning and Development Programme comprises of approximately 80 hours of skills sessions. Your development is maximised through a combination of face-to-face or virtual training and workshops, goal-setting, on the job experience, supervision and feedback, and one-on- one support.
In addition we also have a wealth of on-line training available to you, supporting our culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Pro Bono
As a firm we are committed to contributing to the communities in which we operate in a manner that is both impactful and sustainable. We work hard to achieve the same levels of excellence in our pro bono work as in everything else we do.
Pro bono work is an integral part of our sustainable business strategy. We believe that universal access to justice is essential to the rule of law. We are proud to provide free legal services to a wide range of clients, from individual refugees and people at risk of homelessness to not-for-profit organisations and charities. Providing high-quality legal services to those without the means to pay has long been a part of the firm’s culture and part of our commitment to give back to the communities where we live and work.
Sustainable Business
Being a sustainable business is one of the key focuses of our strategy for the future. We have a proud history of engaging in meaningful activities that benefit our people, communities and other stakeholders.
As a forward-thinking firm, we are keen stay ahead. In 2020 we took the decision to evolve our CSR programme into something more. We want to voluntarily integrate social and environmental concerns into our decision making and our mainstream operations. We strive to continue to take responsibility for our impact on society and to integrate sustainable and responsible business practices into all of our decision making as a firm.
