Diversity & Inclusion
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to making a difference in the communities in which we operate, means there are opportunities for our people to play a greater role beyond their job title.
A culture of inclusivity and service
At Maddocks, diversity and equality are at the very core of who we are as a firm. We all contribute to building a culture of inclusion, respect and belonging and empower every individual to be themselves at work so that everyone has the opportunity to develop and progress.
Our strong commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace is driven by our values and championed through the leadership of our firm’s Board and partners. Our inclusion networks – Maddocks Gender Equality, Pride and CALD – are open to all partners and employees. These groups play a pivotal role in advancing our inclusion strategy through their advocacy for meaningful change, sharing their lived experience and allyship.
An integral part of our annual calendar is "March for Inclusion", a month-long initiative dedicated to promoting education, activities, and communications centred around the principles of inclusion throughout our firm. Each week across the month is dedicated to a different diversity focus area and is aligned with significant dates acknowledged in March such as Mardi Gras, International Women’s Day, Closing the Gap Day and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Our goal is to highlight the universality of allyship and inclusion as a powerful tool for contributing to a sense of belonging for all.
As part of our Inclusion Strategy, we are committed to providing support for parents and carers at Maddocks. Additionally, our FlexAble Strategy builds on the principle that everyone should have the opportunity to work flexibly – whether it's in terms of place, hours, leave or the everyday flexibility we all need from time to time.
It goes without saying that we believe that our clients benefit from this diversity: in the way we solve problems, the way we act; and how we engage with our clients and our community.
Our progress towards a more inclusive workplace is driven by each one of us at Maddocks. Together, we can create an environment where diversity is celebrated and everyone can thrive. If you’re a client or someone considering a rewarding career with us, please explore more about our inclusion networks, where our culture comes to life.
40% of the firm's Partners are female.
60% of the firm’s executive leadership team are female.
96% of people reported feeling safe and included within their immediate team.
Over the past 5 years there has been an increase of 45% in males taking parental leave.
91% of people feel that Maddocks is committed to an inclusive work environment.
Maddocks Committees
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Gender Equality Network
We are committed to driving initiatives that create gender equality in the workplace. Originally named Maddocks Women, founded in 1997, the Maddocks Gender Equality Network leads significant initiatives that promote gender diversity and inclusion. It is open to all genders.
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Maddocks Pride
The Maddocks Pride network was formed in 2016 and aims to be a voice, contact point and networking group for LGTBQ people and allies. It aims to increase inclusion, belonging and respect through active engagement across the firm and firmly believes that that people perform best when they can bring their whole self to work.
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CALD Network
The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Network was formed in 2019. It is driven by Maddocks partners and staff from a diverse range of cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages and national identities.
Maddocks Gender Pay Gap Statement
View Maddocks' gender composition, pay gap drivers, actions and strategies
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2022 - 2023
Lawyers Weekly Top 25 Attractive FirmVoted by Lawyers Weekly readers as to what firm they would move to if they were to leave their current firm.
From 2022 to 2023, Maddocks ranked 19th on the list.
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2021
Australasian Lawyer Elite WomenRecognised our partners – Alicia Albury, Catherine Dunlop and Michelle Dixon.
The list spotlights 50 women in the legal profession who are celebrated for their professional excellence and their leadership in social change, diversity and inclusion.
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Creating change in communities
As an organisation, we improve the communities we’re involved in, through a range of financial grants, pro bono work and sustainability initiatives.
Awards and Recognition
We do what we do for our clients. But we are proud when our people are recognised for the excellence of their work.
Innovation at Maddocks
Maddocks has embedded a culture of innovation across the firm, to drive service improvements and create better working practices for our clients. Our staff also benefit from design thinking training, to empower everyone to make innovation a daily opportunity.