Working with Hicks Morley

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Human Resources Law

As leaders in the field of human resources law, we frequently offer training and provide strategic advice to clients on discrimination, harassment and fostering equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We have worked with a wide variety of employers and service-providers in developing policies, providing practical advice and recommending innovative solutions to address issues such as:

• Accommodation based on grounds protected by provincial and federal human rights legislation such as childcare accommodation or religious accommodation
• Balancing competing and intersecting human rights
• Communicating across differences
• Disability accommodation, disability management and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
• Discrimination and harassment policy, prevention and response
• Managing and advising on investigation of internal complaints
• Employment equity and the development of proactive strategies to encourage recruitment, retention and advancement of under-represented groups
• Pay equity and the concepts of equal pay for equal work and systemic gender discrimination in compensation
• Sexual harassment, sexual violence and sexual assault prevention and response
• Workplace violence and workplace harassment prevention and response

Implementing the Policies You Need

We apply the expertise we have gained in developing strategies for clients to our own firm. As such, we have a comprehensive set of policies in place supporting diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) including:

• Diversity Equity & Inclusion Policy and Action Plan
• Affinity/Resource Group Policy
• Disability Accommodation Policy
• General Accommodation Policy
• Human Rights, Anti-Discrimination and Workplace Harassment Policy and Procedure
• Parent Guide: A Resource for Lawyers taking Pregnancy and/or Parental Leaves
• Part-time Work Policy
• Pregnancy and Parental Leave Policies
• Return to Work Policy
• Working at Home Policy
• Workplace Violence Policy

By living these policies, we are better able to support our clients as they draft and implement policies and procedures to support their workplaces.

It Starts with Recruitment

Hicks Morley is committed to recruiting and hiring exceptional candidates from diverse backgrounds for all roles, and to fostering an equitable and inclusive workplace. We recognize that this makes us stronger as a firm and adds significant value to our clients. 

To secure access to top recruits, we drive a variety of initiatives that build a community. We recruit from a large and diverse pool of candidates that reflects the clients we serve.

As a client, this means we are able to staff your files with the best lawyers whose diverse backgrounds and experiences enable them to provide you with the bench strength needed to be successful.

Memberships, Affiliations and Professional Associations

Hicks Morley is a proud and active member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN), which is made up of a group of Canadian law firms. Diversity and inclusion are core values for all LFDIN members, and we are a signatory to LFDIN’s Statement of Principles. LFDIN members meet regularly to exchange ideas, information and resources, and to lend support to each other on our individual DE&I pathways. Each firm has agreed to work together to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our firms and the broader legal profession.

We support activities of numerous professional associations and affinity groups including Black Law Students’ Association of Canada, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, South Asian Bar Association of Toronto, Start Proud, Women’s Law Association of Ontario and Young Women in Law.

We have contributed to the Justicia Project, the Ontario Courts Accessibility Committee, and the Law Society’s consultation on the Developing Strategies for Change.

What Our People Are Saying

	We continue our work as an organization, striving to act with purpose in our efforts to build an even more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. We are working hard to achieve this goal for the benefit of each and every member of the firm, for the clients we are privileged to serve and because it is the right thing to do. — Craig Rix, Managing Partner
	Hicks Morley has taken meaningful steps toward fostering a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. The firm has recognized the need for systems and structures to grow and develop. Representation is not seen as an end point, but a place to begin. The firm has consciously advanced its processes on hiring, evaluation and training. These are key measures towards a more inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and seen. — David Alli, Partner
	I grew up in India and was called to the Bar there. I obtained my Canadian law degree as a foreign-trained lawyer in Canada and have been practising law here since 2008. Both the firm and our clients value the unique perspective that gives me. Hicks Morley has been appreciative of this unique value-add to the firm and its client base, and is looking to develop more diverse group of lawyers that would further solidify its bench strength. — Shivani Chopra, Partner
	We value a diverse workforce and the contribution that each individual makes. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion helps us attract and retain the best talent and meet our clients’ needs more effectively. We continue to look for ways to work together to ensure that an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion is central to how we practise law at our firm. — Donna D’Andrea, Partner