Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has been awarded the Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) status, which is the highest accreditation in the UK Government's Disability Confident scheme. The firm is one of a very small number of law firms which have achieved the Disability Confident Leaders status.

The Disability Confident scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people. It also challenges attitudes and increases the understanding of disability; draws from the widest possible pool of talent; and secures high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working.

"Approximately 15-20% of the population has a disability or neurological difference, therefore a high proportion of our colleagues, prospective colleagues and clients are disabled. The firm's Disability Action Plan focuses on giving everyone the tools, information and adjustments needed to ensure that disabled and neurodiverse colleagues can do their best work," said Liz Cope, head of inclusion and diversity, Stephenson Harwood. "We are delighted to receive this Level 3 status, which recognises Stephenson Harwood as leaders in attracting, recruiting and retaining disabled and neurodiverse talent. It is testament to the wider team's hard work and dedication in ensuring that we are a more disability inclusive organisation. We remain committed to further progress, with the aim of ending disability exclusion".

Stephenson Harwood has taken a number of steps in this area. These include: improvements to the firm's recruitment, onboarding and workplace adjustment processes; the implementation of the UK Government's offer an interview scheme for training contract and apprenticeship roles; raising awareness of disability and neurodiversity to give teams the skills and knowledge they need to be inclusive; ensuring events and technology are inclusive and accessible for all; and incorporating disability inclusion into the firm's procurement process.

Stephenson Harwood is also a member of Valuable 500, the global business partnership of 500 companies working together to end disability exclusion.