Social Impact
Our Social Impact programme was created to ensure that, together and individually, we are able to make a positive difference in the communities we live and work in, both locally and globally.
At CMS our purpose is to inspire, impact and support our clients, people, industry sectors and communities and deliver excellence. Guiding all our work are the UN Global Goals and our commitment to the UN Global Compact.
Our Social Impact programme was created to ensure that, together and individually, we are able to make a positive difference in the communities we live and work in, both locally and globally.
We are committed to addressing our impact on the environment and have set ambitious climate action commitments. CMS was one of the first law firms globally to announce and set carbon reduction targets approved by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). We are committed to reduce emissions by 30% by 2025 and 50% by 2030. We are also committed to being Net Zero by 2050 at the latest.
Here are some examples of our Social Impact work
Young Citizens is a national charity working to promote citizenship education and social action throughout primary and secondary education in the UK. CMS have a long history in delivering their Legal Experts in Schools and Legal Workshop programmes with volunteers facilitating interactive sessions on various legal subjects such as Social Media, Human Rights and Migration. We have worked with Young Citizens to develop an award-winning resource on Climate Action and the law that has reached an estimated 107,000 young people since it launched in 2021.
Every week, over 70 CMS volunteers take part in Chapter One, an online 1:1 virtual reading programme that pairs corporate volunteers with struggling readers aged 5-7 years old. They read stories and play games that build fluency, comprehension, phonics and, most importantly, foster reading confidence and enjoyment.
The firm has a CMS bees and biodiversity programme, launched in 2022, which has been a success both in the UK and internationally – staff are encouraged to visit the hives and get involved in gardening projects which are either hosted at our offices and at a local community organisations.
We have a network of over 100 Sustainability Champions across UK and international offices – this is a voluntary role open to all staff with a passion for sustainability. The Champions share ideas and support the implementation of new initiatives in their team or office. September is Sustainability month at CMS with a variety of ESG information, activities and training available to all staff.
CMS partner with legal advice clinics based in universities and communities throughout the UK such as the Islington Law Centre and Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre. These clinics play a pivotal role in the UK’s legal landscape, serving as essential hubs for legal aid, guidance, and community support, bridging the justice gap and ensuring access to legal help for vulnerable populations. Our lawyers provide a range of advice on subjects such as utility disputes, landlord and tenant problems. consumer complaints, and employment issues.
CMS were selected as a Pro Bono Legal Advisor to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) hosted by the UAE. More than 160 CMS lawyers worldwide volunteered to provide pro bono legal advice to COP28 on a variety of topics ranging from sustainability finance to UN related partnerships and many more. The CMS delegation also co-hosted several events such as a panel discussion on how the law can unite and act to deliver the UN SDGs. Our participation in COP28 is a testament to our commitment to being part of the solution in the fight against climate change.
CMS work on advisory and research pro bono casework across a range of legal areas for local and international charities and social enterprises. By supporting charities or social enterprises with their legal needs, these organisations can focus their attention on delivering social impact and maximising their operations. The CMS London and Ukraine office provided pro bono support to the Superhumans Center, which facilitated the opening of a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre that provides free medical services, body reconstruction, and prosthetic limbs, in addition to supporting those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Ukraine.
