Animate
Responsibility to our community
Being connected to our community and our environment is part of our DNA – and has been for over 100 years. We are proud to play an active role within the communities in which we work, providing funding, legal skills and time to make a difference.
Our focus is supporting youth and education, charitable entities and social business initiatives, and a flourishing arts community in Aotearoa New Zealand. We have formal partnerships with three community organisations: BLAKE, First Foundation and New Zealand Opera.
Some of the ways we do our part for those around us are by giving back through our pro bono work, having a dedicated community programme, and working in a sustainable way.
Environment & sustainability
We are committed to making our workplace and the way we approach work as sustainable as possible, by being aware of our footprint on the environment and what we can do to minimise it. Our environmental footprint and commitment to being a sustainable business includes:
- recently meeting the requirements of Toitū’s carbonreduce® certification programme, having measured the firm’s greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with ISO 14064-1:2006
- being proud members of the Sustainable Business Network and the Sustainable Business Council, and
- belonging to The Aotearoa Circle, a think-tank committed to achieving a sustainable economy and reversing the decline of our natural resources.
Volunteering
All of our people can take an additional day of paid leave each year to volunteer for one of the firm’s community partners or a charity or community organisation of their choice. This is a practical and meaningful way for our people to demonstrate and develop leadership in our community.
As part of the summer clerk programme, we take our clerks out for a day of volunteering for different organisations in each city.
Committees & groups
We have several committees here at Chapman Tripp that set staff events for the year, engage our people in different initiatives and look for opportunities to make our firm a more collaborative, inclusive and sustainable place to work.
Our committees and groups are made up of people from each of our office across all levels and departments in the firm and there are a lot of opportunities to be involved! Learn more about them below:
WELLBEING
Our Wellbeing committee run a range of wellbeing activities and initiatives throughout the year that take an all-encompassing approach to our Hauora.
COMMUNITY
Our Community committee runs regular internal campaigns and events to encourage our people to get involved with our community partners, and also in the wider community by getting involved with volunteering.
RAINBOW
Our Rainbow Committee hosts informal events, speaker series, and advocates for LGBT+ friendly policies in the workplace, to promote the wellbeing of the rainbow community at Chapman Tripp and the wider legal profession.
SOCIAL
Our Social Committee organises various social events throughout the year – from taking on the Chapman Tripp partners in the annual quiz night to supporting our local and national sports teams, there is something for everyone!
SUPPORT PEOPLE
Our designated support people in each office are specially trained to listen and provide information, guidance and support if staff are concerned about any behaviour, including bullying and harassment.
Supporting university societies
Meeting, supporting, and interacting with students throughout the year is hugely important to us. Every year, we review our sponsorship arrangements with university societies nationwide, and request proposals from clubs and societies on initiatives or activities in the legal field that could merit support from us.
At Chapman Tripp we ensure our sponsorships align with the following principles, so we can support a range of students who would like to engage more closely in the world of commercial law. These include:
- connecting Chapman Tripp with a diverse range of law students
- supporting and building the social and/or academic abilities and opportunities for students
- aligning with our firm values
- promoting diversity across all areas, and
- helping students bridge the gap between university and the ‘working world’.
We are actively engaged with over 20 university clubs nationwide, spanning a wide range of areas. Some of these clubs include Pride in Law, Women in Law, Law for Change, Asian Law Students’ Association, Pacific Island Law Students’ Association, and many Māori law societies including Te Aro Ture, Te Roopū Whai Pūtake, Ngā Rangahautira and Te Whakahiapo.
2000
hours pro bono work
70
reduction in emissions from 2017 to 2021