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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility
McInnes Cooper is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values and supports the perspectives, cultures and experiences of all firm members, clients and community partners.
We recognize that our individual differences make McInnes Cooper a stronger, more adaptable firm, rich in skills and knowledge that enhance the firm’s ability to serve our clients and our communities.
To foster a truly inclusive culture, we commit to ensuring all members of McInnes Cooper feel heard, valued, supported and respected.
Beyond our internal culture, we acknowledge our responsibility to break down systemic barriers that affect underrepresented groups, and we embrace opportunities to collaborate with community partners and law schools to help resolve those historic impediments to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.
We aim to ensure professionals from all underrepresented communities view McInnes Cooper as a firm where they can learn and thrive. This is important to us because we know that inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility contribute to the betterment of our profession and our community at large.
Our Goal
Our goal is for everyone who interacts with McInnes Cooper to feel their differences are recognized, understood, valued, and celebrated. We integrate our IDEA values into the fabric of our firm by reducing barriers that may prevent our people from reaching their full potential. We believe that our members and clients are better served by firms that reflect the diversity of our communities and our profession.
Our Successes
2019
- We renewed our commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and appointed a new Working Group and rolled out a new IDEA Strategy.
- We adopted an IDEA Policy and conducted a firm-wide IDEA census and survey.
2021
- Forty-six members of our leadership teams engaged in approximately 290 hours of IDEA education.
- We established a BIPOC Committee for members who identify as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Colour.
2022
- We supported the creation of a Pride@MC employee resource group (ERG) to bring together and support 2SLGBTQIA+ employees across our regional offices.
- We established a program through with we provide pro bono legal services to people of African descent.
- We have amended our processes and educated all members involved in recruitment to help them recognize and mitigate biases.
- We engaged a certified expert to conduct an accessibility audit of our largest office.
2023
- The firm hired Angela Simmonds to the position of Senior Advisor, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This role was newly created to reflect the importance of IDEA at McInnes Cooper.
- McInnes Cooper’s members with disabilities organized and formed an employee resource group (“ERG”) for employees with disabilities and accessibility advocates called Access MC.
2024
- Launched our new Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility (IDEA) strategy called MC Belonging with four core pillars: Recruitment, Retention, Education and Mentorship.
BIPoC Committee
In 2021, Halifax McInnes Cooper’s BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) members organized and formed the firm’s BIPoC committee. Since then, the committee has grown and now includes BIPoC members from all offices across the Atlantic Region.
Pride @ MC
At McInnes Cooper, we pledge to establish a work environment in which every individual at our firm feels acknowledged, appreciated and supported. We strive for all members and prospective recruits of McInnes Cooper to sense that their unique qualities are encouraged and embraced.
Access MC
At McInnes Cooper, we strive to create a working environment and community in which the unique qualities of every individual are encouraged and embraced, and all employees feel included, acknowledged, appreciated, and supported. To this end, in 2023, McInnes Cooper’s members with disabilities organized and formed an employee resource group (“ERG”) for employees with disabilities and accessibility advocates called Access MC.
