Responsible Business
– Our Initiatives
Diversity, Inclusion and Social Mobility
Blaser Mills is a firm where we don’t just talk the talk on Diversity and Inclusion; the diversity of our workforce speaks for itself.
Environment
Every business has a different level of impact on the environment. As a firm of lawyers our impact is obviously far less than, say, a manufacturing business; but we all contribute to climate change, pollution and the waste crisis and we are committed to the continual improvement of our environmental performance.
“It’s not easy being green”
KERMIT THE FROG
Kermit the Frog sang “It’s not easy being green” and in a law firm like Blaser Mills Law there isn’t a single obvious big-ticket measure that would immediately and dramatically cut our carbon footprint. But we continue to look at what changes we can make. We have had discussions throughout the firm, engaging with our people and encouraging engagement and ideas.
1. Green your air
Plants do more than just pretty up our workspace. Plants also absorb indoor air pollution, increase the flow of oxygen and can help prevent ‘sick building syndrome’ – a condition where off-gassing office décor, carpeting and furniture can lead to upper-respiratory colds, eye infections and viruses and inflame allergies.
2. Use Green Cleaning Supplies
We are committed to using environmentally-friendly products that are certified for ‘green cleaning’.
3. Drink Smart
We use coffee pods which are recycled, recyclable and organic. Each person in the firm is given a reusable Blaser Mills cup, which they are encouraged to use.
4. Bring your lunch
Bringing your lunch to work in reusable containers helps both the environment and your wallet – it also encourages healthier eating and discourages food waste when eating leftovers from your dinner the night before rather than throwing it away.
5. Don’t be a paper pusher
We are transitioning from a paper-based office to a virtual “paperless” one. While not everything is always available or able to be conducted digitally, this is always encouraged. The use of SharePoint to upload documents securely, allows colleagues and clients to work in collaboration with one another whilst lessening paper wastage. For the times when documents are required to be printed and sent out, the paper used is ecological recycled paper and the ink used for the printing comes in reusable/refillable ink cartridges and black and white printing is always favoured and encouraged over coloured.
6. Paperclips over staples
Paper clips are sustainable by design. When made of the tradition plain aluminium, they are readily recyclable and can be reused. Here at BM we make sure to recycle our paper clips when we have exhausted their use and reuse then if people leave them in meetings.
7. Screensavers are out
We removed our screensavers. Screensavers use excessive energy when you are away from your desk. Instead we changed our screen settings to ‘hibernate’ or ‘sleep’ when we are aware from our desks/computer for more than 10 mins.
8. Turn off task lighting or overhead lights
Automatic lighting and LED bulbs have been installed where it has been possible and the rule of thumb is last one out ensure the lights are off. Saving energy is important but the benefit gained from establishing good habits and the message it sends to conserve when possible is even more important.
9. Go Electric
We have implemented a policy that all company cars will now be either hybrid or fully electric.
10. Remote Working
Remote working has a range of benefits. It can allow our people to achieve a work-life flexibility and, from an environmental standpoint, can substantially reduce their time commuting. Fewer cars on the road, idling in traffic equates to less carbon dioxide being emitted into the air; further helping to reduce our overall carbon footprint.
Community
We serve our community, we recruit from it and we try to be an increasingly positive force within it.
The firm is constantly involved in numerous charity and community activities and we encourage and empower our people to identify and suggest opportunities to widen these activities wherever possible.
Charities that we fundraise for/support throughout the year.
London Legal Walk
Each year we have enter a team to participate in the London Legal Walk, supporting free legal advice.
Alzheimer’s Society
We regularly raise money for them through cake sales/ raffles etc.
Buck’s Angels
Each year we participate in the Christmas Shoebox Appeal. Whilst Christmas shopping we add extra small items that assist in filling up the shoeboxes which are then donated to the elderly and vulnerable in the community. For those who are unable to donate gifts, then there is also a just giving link for monetary donations.
Poppy Appeal
Every year money is raised for the Royal British Legion through their poppy appeal.
MacMillan Cancer Support
We took part in a Blaser Mills Bake Off – in line with the popular television programme those who participated picked a participant and upon their exit from the show had to bake whatever the show stopper was that week. At the end of the competition the firm voted on the best one.
Pride Month – June
Whilst we embrace Pride all year round, it is especially highlighted throughout Pride month each year.
Tracy is Blaser Mills Law’s first dedicated Responsible Business Director.
Prior to joining Blaser Mills in 2017 Tracy had enjoyed a long career in law; practicing as a property solicitor and partner at several major firms for over twenty years before moving into a role as a senior member of the Business Development team and now leading the firm’s Responsible Business programme.
Tracy has always had a great interest in societal and environmental issues and now works actively with the firm’s stakeholders to create and implement responsible business initiatives for the firm. These range from developing inclusion strategies and setting sustainability goals through to engaging the firm in community projects. Tracy is driven by the challenge to learn, educate and grow.
Tracy heads up the firm’s Inclusion Forum and is also a committee member of The City of London’s Lawtech Innovation Ambassadors Sounding Board, an organisation committed to bringing all members of the legal community together with a view to making positive changes across the profession.
Her long experience of being a solicitor and partner in law firms gives Tracy an ability to engage with lawyers on all aspects of Responsible Business while having a deep understanding of the pressures and issues that are always present in their working lives.
Tracy reports directly to Blaser Mills Law’s CEO and management executive.
Tracy Jones
Responsible Business Director