Non-binary lawyers making their mark
Non-binary lawyers represent an emerging cohort in The Australian Financial Review Law Partnership Survey.
In 2020, Clayton Utz advised that some senior associates did not identify with either gender. It was the only firm to take that initiative.
In this Law Partnership Survey, there are a total of 10 people from four firms who identify as neither male nor female. In July 2022, it was nine.
Emma Covacevich of Clayton Utz. Renee Nowytarger
Last year, Clayton Utz had one partner and seven senior associates (SA). The other non-binary SA was at HWL Ebsworth. This year, there are five from Clayton Utz, two from Ashurst and one each at HWLE and Russell Kennedy.
Clayton Utz managing partner Emma Covacevich said the non-gender group include “other”, “prefer not to say” and “non-binary”.
“We actively promote a diverse and inclusive workplace at Clayton Utz,” she said.
“It’s a priority for us to always ensure we’re fostering an environment that allows our people to bring their whole selves to work.”
Bribing – or “incentivising” – staff to come up with ideas on how best to harness the power of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT is bearing fruit at two law firms.
Gilbert + Tobin and Ashurst have run competitions in recent months and say they were swamped with ideas.
G+T was first out the gate,offering an “AI bounty” of $20,000 for the winners, who were revealed at a firm-wide presentation last week.
“We had 106 submissions from all practice areas, offices and operational areas,” said the firm’s chief knowledge and innovation officer, Caryn Sandler.
Prizes for AI: Caryn Sandler of Gilbert + Tobin. Brook Mitchell
The three best submissions, in terms of their potential to have immediate impact and the quality of work in the
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