Improper Impact

Diversity & Inclusion

Improper Impact

Rachel Akohonae, shot for the BNP Paribas Americas International Women’s Week campaign 2019, © Improper.

Racism, sexism and misogyny are shockingly prevalent in our society and professional lives – including within the legal sector. Although much good work is being done to raise awareness of inequalities within the legal profession through localised initiatives and public facing campaigns, how far have we actually come? Can we truly feel comfortable about the speed of progress?

On average women make up just 1 in 4 partners at top firms in the UK. Women are still significantly underrepresented in senior legal positions with a mean bonus gap of 12.8%. 1 Over 50% of female lawyers have witnessed sexual harassment according to a 2019 survey with numerous examples of inappropriate behaviour reported. 2 And only 3% of the workforce are black, with structural barriers and attitudes blocking people of colour who are still facing overt discrimination. Recently barrister Alexandra Wilson, a black woman, was mistaken for a defendant three times in one day at court. 3

All members of the profession – particularly those who hold power and privilege – need to face up to their complicity in maintaining the status quo, and actively engage in changing the system for the benefit of all. But how do you get everyone onboard? Instead of thinking ‘this doesn't affect me’ we must step outside of our immediate sphere and listen to the experiences of those who find the system doesn’t work for them – or worse, actively tries to keep them out.

This is where Improper steps in. Founded by four women who want to make things better, Improper creates campaigns that provide a platform for people to be heard… and seen. From powerful portrait campaigns that raise up diverse voices to thoughtful strategies that push for behavioral change, Improper produces content that forces people to think.

Improper has direct experience of working within the legal profession on creating these campaigns with founders Leonora Saunders and Kathryn Nawrockyi having worked across the sector on the representation of women and other minoritised groups.

Leonora Saunders created The Athena Project, sponsored by and in collaboration with CMS Cameron McKenna, which celebrates women leaders in the legal profession, business and politics. She also worked with the Law Society over three years to create the Social Mobility Ambassador Campaign and is a champion of the First 100 Years project, working towards a strong and equal future for all women in the legal profession. Kathryn Nawrockyi, former Director of Gender Equality at Business in the Community, led research into women’s experiences in the workplace with Project 28-40, including a deep dive legal sector project. Since 2017 she has worked with Hogan Lovells to design and deliver Project Respect, a groundbreaking anti-bullying and harassment project. Understanding the challenges posed by bias and structural inequality, Improper brings creativity, visuals and powerful aesthetics to facilitate conversations and make progress.

Improper has an interest in working with legal sector clients who are concerned about the representation of women, people of colour, and other marginalised groups within their organisations, who want to try new and creative ways to tell the stories of those who are underrepresented and who are committed to identifying and tackling problematic behaviours amongst employees.

For an Improper conversation contact hello@improperagency.com. ■

1. Law.com International diversity survey

2. https://www.law.com/international-edition/2019/09/11/ most-female-lawyers-have-experienced-or-seenworkplace-sexual-harassment/

3. https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/equality-diversity/key-findings diverse-legal-profession/