Spotlight: RedLaw interviews...Rachel Boyle, Bird & Bird LLP

Another of our lockdown interviews, RedLaw caught up with Rachel Boyle, HR-Recruitment Officer at Bird & Bird LLP. We talked about what sets them apart from competitors, what has made her most proud of the firm in the way in which they have dealt with this pandemic and the positives she is taking from lockdown.

You’ve been in your role at Bird & Bird for over year and half now. What’s the best part of your job? And if you weren’t working within HR/Recruitment, what would you be doing?

I take a lot of pleasure in meeting new people (in both a personal and professional capacity!) and being the first impression that a candidate has of Bird & Bird. Whilst it is implicit that we are assessing the suitability of an applicant for a role, I enjoy understanding what an interviewee wants to achieve within their career and how they think Bird & Bird might facilitate that.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the job for me is understanding the needs of hiring managers and challenging them, where appropriate, on their vision of what this looks like in a candidate. I have sometimes found in the past that a hiring manager may have a preconception of what their ideal candidate looks like, often driven by the pressure to fill a vacant role quickly, but, when supported by a diligent recruitment team, the successful candidate may be different to that initial expectation. Working with hiring managers to assess what skillsets are missing within their team and enabling them to use HR in a more strategic way has better outcomes for them and the business.

If I wasn't in HR/Recruitment I would like to retrain as a psychologist – I'm extremely interested in how the mind works and what motivates peoples' behaviours.

Describe the firm’s culture in 3 words.

Collaborative, innovative and friendly!

What sets your firm apart from its competitors? What does it do differently and what added value does it give to its clients?

The recruitment process at Bird & Bird values alternative routes into the legal profession (i.e. law as a second career) and seeks to hire candidates with experience specific to the industries that we represent. We believe that this gives our lawyers real-world experience and ensures that they understand the challenges their clients face beyond the traditional legal perspective, which is not something that can always be gained in a classroom. This gives us an edge over our competition, as our clients feel that they are being represented by specialists in their sector.

The current climate is very uncertain at the moment across the world. What has surprised you the most about the way in which the firm has dealt with the situation? Or what makes you most proud of how the firm has dealt with the situation?

I'm most proud of the humanitarian approach that Bird & Bird has taken through this unprecedented crisis. Our leadership team has ensured that our focus has been on our people and their welfare whilst also ensuring that Bird & Bird continues to operate in a way that ensures that our clients continue to receive a seamless and professional service throughout this pandemic; we believe that the two go hand in hand.

In these strange times, clear and concise communication from Leadership is central to alleviating nervousness throughout the business. Our heads of country around the world have been leading by example. In the UK, this has been expertly led by our Head of London with humour and compassion, creating a trickle-down effect through the company, promoting a positive working environment. Within my team, we spend a few minutes each day catching-up with each other, sharing lockdown tips (exercise routines, recipes etc.) before we turn to business-related matters.

From an HR and Recruitment perspective, we have continued to honour all employment contracts (without delaying start dates) and are ensuring that our new colleagues get the best on-boarding experience possible. We do this by organising virtual inductions in order to mitigate anxiety in what can, naturally, be an apprehensive time. The firm has also taken a transparent approach and kept us informed at all times which has been reassuring at a time of great uncertainty.

Our new ways of working looks very different for everyone. What has been the biggest challenge for you personally adapting to the changes of remote working?

I enjoy the face-to-face interaction of my role and therefore wasn't a huge fan of the sheer number of video calls that I was invited to on a daily basis in the first couple of weeks of lockdown! As this has naturally started to balance out, and people have started to refine their online etiquette(!) I have found it easier to manage. Fortunately, having a technology focus, Bird & Bird has been quick to respond to the current situation and has implemented effective strategies to ensure the business continues to operate as normally as possible.

What will be your biggest take away/lessons learned, personal or professional, from this very different world we find ourselves in now?

To live as much as possible in the moment and to appreciate the positive things around me, however small and insignificant they may seem. I've reaffirmed the importance of spending time with friends and family which I think is something that will resonate with a lot of people. I have also realised that I don't need a gym to work out – the online home-workouts are filling the void perfectly!

Name 3 positives to have come out of lockdown.

- More daily exercise;

- Consciously food shopping rather than buying in bulk;

- Having time to be more creative with food.

What’s your top tip in keeping connected with colleagues, family and friends during this time?

WebEx/House Party/Zoom calls, but not too much. It can be tiring being on video calls every day at work, so it's important to find the balance. Small lock-down packages (such as a good book) can really brighten up someone’s day and shows that you are thinking of them.

The book or Netflix series you can’t put down is….

Ozark on Netflix (currently on season 3!) and I have just read 'Girl, Woman, Other' by Bernardine Evaristo, which I loved.

The takeaway meal or restaurant you really miss is….

Neither really, but I am missing my daily coconut latte!

The RedLaw team is sharing a motivational track at 2pm each day to keep connected and boost morale. What uplifting, feel good song could you suggest we add to our playlist?

I love Sunshine by Tieks, it is such a feel-good uplifting track!