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Global firm to foster diversity with new initiative
A new scholarship will be offered to law students who identify as LGBTIQ with a BigLaw firm entering into a multi-year partnership with The Pinnacle Foundation.
Tony Zhang
The Allens scholarship will provide educational and mentoring support to a young adult – between the ages of 17 and 26 – interested in a career in the legal profession.
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“The multi-year partnership demonstrates the firm’s ongoing commitment to providing an inclusive workplace, where diversity is fostered and the contribution of different backgrounds is valued,” Allens partner Robert Walker said.
“At Allens, providing an inclusive workplace where diversity – including identifying as LGBTIQ – is celebrated is important to who we are as a firm. Our new multi-year partnership with The Pinnacle Foundation is an exciting milestone for Allens and our LGBTIQ network, ALLin.”
The Pinnacle Foundation will provide educational and vocational support to young adults across Australia where their gender identity, sexual orientation or sexual characteristics have prevented or hindered achievement of their career aspirations or personal development.
This will seek to also boost the efforts of Allens’ LGBTIQ network ALLin which aims to provide opportunities for members to build relationships with each other, clients and the wider community through mentorship, events and pro bono legal assistance on matters of interest to the LGBTIQ community.
Managing director and chief executive officer of The Pinnacle Foundation, Andrew Staite, said the Allens partnership and scholarship will help transform the lives of young adults who identify as LGBTIQ.
“By partnering with The Pinnacle Foundation and launching a scholarship, Allens is demonstrating genuine support for young adults in the LGBTIQ community,” Mr Staite said.
“The Allens scholarship presents unique opportunities for students interested in a career in law.
“Allens is a leader in the diversity space and we’re delighted to be partnering with them.”
Recently a scholarship in tribute of the Honourable Michael Kirby was also launched with The Pinnacle Foundation which seeks to pave the way for students to study law and break out of unequal social constructs.
Eight Australian law firms came together to fund The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG Scholarship. They are Ashurst, Arnold Bloch Leibler, Clayton Utz, Gilbert + Tobin, Herbert Smith Freehills, Maddocks, MinterEllison and Piper Alderman.
