Ashton Graham Solicitors

Sector: Professional Services

Number of employees: 170

Region of UK: East of England

Summary

As well as providing a high standard of legal services, the firm of Ashton Graham takes pride in the community activities they undertake. They endeavour to work with a variety of organisations and charities from different sectors and, over the years have developed a multifaceted community programme.

Background

Ashton Graham is a medium sized regional law firm servicing the East of England. The firm was founded in 1998 following the merger of two local firms, Bankes Ashton and Graham & Oldham. The firm provides legal services to both the business and private client sectors and also specialises in agricultural law.

Ashton Graham has achieved the Community Mark standard, as well as being awarded Investors in People.

Responsible Business Objectives

Ashton Graham’s objectives for undertaking their community programme are wide and varied, but in general terms it means that the firm reaches wider sectors of the community. In addition, the firm encourages staff involvement to help their personal development and so encourage pride in their workplace.

How They Do It

Support of the Arts
Ashton Graham has supported the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds for the last 10 years. They sponsor the Autumn production each year and have also worked with the theatre, alongside Arts & Business, on a theatre training programme for their people. The firm supports other art organisations such as DanceEast, the Bury Festival and the art gallery in Bury St Edmunds.

Pro bono professional assistance
The firm provides pro bono legal assistance to a variety of local charity groups. In 2001 one of the senior Ashton Graham managers was a founding member of Suffolk Pro Help, a group of professionals that offer pro bono services to community groups when funding is not available. This commitment to Pro Help continues today.

Support for Charities
The firm regularly participates in Will Weeks with local charities, where the fee for drawing a Will can be donated by the client directly to the charity. Solicitors also regularly attend clinics for Age Concern to help and advise elderly people with their legal queries.

Sponsorship of Awards
The firm sponsors two agriculture awards that aim to benefit the local agriculture community. Both sponsorships are well established within the firm. The Best Alternative Land Enterprise (BALE) award recognises diversification in the farming fraternity, while the FWAG Kerr Conservation Cup encourages preservation of the countryside.

Business Benefits

The above support Ashton Graham offers to the community has helped to establish them as one of the respected and well-rounded law firms in the region.

Their staff development is important and, from taking part in some of the community activities, confidence and team building skills are strengthened.

“Whilst Ashton Graham is obviously keen to develop the business side of the firm, we are well aware that we work within the wider community. The firm takes seriously the support we offer and feels that by helping a variety of organisations, we endeavour to make the environment a healthier one for all who live and work in it”

 Keven Mulley, Practice Manager