At Arthur Cox, we have worked very hard on the design and implementation of our Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) policy. The CSR aspect of our practice is one of the key components of the way we do business.
Our CSR policy is made up of four main pillars - pro bono work, volunteering/charitable activities, our employees and the environment. The policy is overseen and implemented by our CSR Committee.
The founder of our firm, Arthur Cox, was a well-known philanthropist, who had a strong social conscience.
From our beginnings, over 90 years ago, we have always incorporated this ethos into the running of our business.
Our Employees
As part of our CSR policy, the firm has adopted a number of initiatives within the workplace in relation to our employees.
We run an Equilibrium Programme for our employees. The Programme involves a series of seminars and events on health and lifework balance. Topics have included:
- Communicating with your Child
- Creative Thinking
- Personal Finance advice
- Relaxation and Calming Techniques
- Individual Health Checks
The firm has also organised health and fitness programmes, firmwide donations of blood to the BloodBank, artistic events including tours of the National Gallery and free tickets to lunchtime concerts in the National Concert Hall.
Diversity
Our human resources policies and work practices have been shaped around promoting a culture of equal opportunities, diversity and inclusivity. Some members of staff take advantage of family-friendly flexible working arrangements.
Pro Bono Work
Arthur Cox is committed to pro bono work and to developing and maintaining a co-ordinated, focussed, well-balanced and meaningful pro bono scheme. The CSR policy sets out a framework to encourage and promote the pro bono culture within the firm and recognises that certain situations may need to be addressed with a degree of flexibility.
Pro bono work at Arthur Cox is defined as the exercise of professional skills free of charge or for a substantially reduced fee for (i) disadvantaged or marginalised people who cannot afford legal services; and/or (ii) certain non-profit, charitable or community organisations. Participation in pro bono work is encouraged by the firm but is not mandatory.
From time to time the CSR Committee selects partner organisations to whom the firm will provide pro bono services. Part of the pro bono capacity will be retained for projects which come from within the firm or from other external sources.
We have actively supported the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation: http://www.lexmundiprobono.org/lexmundiprobono/.
Volunteering and Charitable Activities
We have a number of initiatives in the community, the principal ones of which are listed below:
Volunteering
Our volunteering policy aims to promote and encourage all staff to contribute to the community. During the year, staff at the firm have volunteered and managed Special Olympic Ireland training events for athletes with intellectual disabilities. We also volunteer with the St Vincent de Paul “Sunshine Hols” and “Teen Hols” Programmes during the summer months.
Trainee Mwandi Project
Last July a group of trainee solicitors from Arthur Cox headed off to Southern Zambia as part of the Arthur Cox Mwandi Project which was set up in 2008 to support rural communities in the impoverished region. Now in its fourth year, the Project has grown from strength to strength, and in summer 2011, 21 trainees travelled to undertake projects in the remote villages of Masese, Limpumpu and Lutaba.
The Project focuses on building for the future and is driven by the needs of the local people, who work side by side the trainees. This interaction empowers the community and creates an impetus to maintain and preserve the work done.
For information on the Arthur Cox Mwandi Project can be found on the Trainee Section of the website at http://www.arthurcox.com/recruitment/trainee-programme/all-work-no-play.html.
Boardmatch
Boardmatch Ireland aims to support the development of the voluntary and community sector (the nonprofit sector) by strengthening boards and management committees. It has developed a web-based model which recruits skilled, talented and diverse people willing to volunteer on the boards of nonprofit organisations of their choice, and matches them with openings on nonprofit boards. This matching between people and organisations happens on Boardmatch’s website.
Once introduced, candidates and boards each follow their own procedures to see if a successful match can be made.
We worked with Boardmatch on their first 'Sharing Knowledge' guide. We drafted a guide which gives an overview of directors’ roles and responsibilities and good governance practice within charitable companies. The guide is intended primarily for people either thinking about joining, or already volunteering on the boards of charitable companies. http://www.boardmatch.ie/.
Trinity Access Programme
The firm is an active supporter of the Trinity College Dublin Pathways to Law programme which is part of the Trinity Access Programme.
Dublin City University Access Programme
Arthur Cox supports the DCU Access Programme, a ground-breaking initiative that co-ordinates a range of programmes aimed at increasing participation in higher education by students who, for a variety of financial or social reasons, do not view going to university as a viable or attractive option.
The DCU Educational Trust, DCU’s charitable foundation, supports students who receive a place on the Access Programme with scholarships funded entirely by the private sector, through philanthropic contributions by corporations, individuals, alumni and friends of the university. These awards are vital to the students during their years at the university.
Charities
We support a large number of charities throughout the year including the Irish Cancer Society, the Hospice Coffee Morning and the Lucilla Lollipop Appeal.
In addition, employees, on behalf of the firm, have participated in numerous events during the year which have raised funds for various charities. Some good examples were the Arthur Cox relay team who took part in the Cork Marathon to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society and the personnel who completed the Musgrave Triathlon in support of Our Lady’s Childrens Hospital, Crumlin and the Irish Cancer Society.
The Environment
We try to run our business in as environmentally friendly a manner possible. We strive to raise environmental awareness amongst our staff and our suppliers. Actions that we have taken include:
- Recycling of all waste paper, cartridges and computers (we give our cartridges to the Jack & Jill Foundation);
- We donate our old mobile phones, batteries and chargers to Alone;
- Encouragement of everyone to turn of all lights, computers and photocopiers at the end of the day;
- We separate out and recycle as much of our waste as possible;
- We are active participants in the Cycle to Work campaign;
- Printing on both sides of the paper and presenting bibles in double-sided A5 format; and
- Electronic storage of documents.
This year our focus was on a feasibility study on harvesting rainwater, assessing and analysing our carbon footprint and collection of our waste statistics.
