Marks & Clerk is proud to operate a policy of equal opportunities across the firm. The firm recruit, train and develop people regardless of gender, marital status, sexual orientation, colour, racial or ethnic origins, nationality, religion or belief, disability or age.
Marks & Clerk has carefully managed recruitment processes to ensure that the best candidate is selected for the role, regardless of background. Recruitment is based on an objective assessment of suitability against role descriptions for each job. The goal is to ensure that these commitments, reinforced by the firm’s values of Trust, Collegiality, Resourcefulness & Excellence, are embedded in the day-to-day working practices Marks & Clerk share with all clients, employees and suppliers.
Most of the firm’s fee earners are patent specialists that require a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree. While 26% of STEM graduates are women (and making up only 22% of the STEM workforce), the firm’s efforts to achieve a more balanced workforce than the STEM graduate percentage has resulted in around 40% of fee earners being women.
Marks & Clerk takes its responsibilities to diversity, equality and fairness very seriously. As well as having formed a group that helps identify opportunities for improvements in diversity and inclusion, the firm is signatory of the IP Inclusive charter. (IP Inclusive is an alliance of leading intellectual property firms committed to improving equality, diversity and inclusivity in the community).
A number of employees are on the advisory board for IP Inclusive and we regularly take part in IP Inclusive initiatives, and host webinars and events. The firm also makes an annual donation to support ongoing work.
Marks & Clerk is also working hard to bring diverse talent into IP. The firm advertises roles at non-Russell group universities and provides speakers and support to students who may be unaware of opportunities in IP.
A scoring criteria is also used to reduce bias and ensure trainees are recruited on their skills and talent, not because where they studied. For three years Marks & Clerk has also collaborated with a client to offer a paid internship to students from under represented backgrounds. This has resulted in the students gaining a trainee role in IP.
