Corporate social responsibility part 1: what it is?

This week ReImagineLaw’s Nigel Spencer and Kaylee Campbell are joined by special guest Sadhvi Dar who shines a light on the complex area of CSR. Sadhvi defines the tensions present between the state, business and society, and provides a brief overview of the development of this area of activity.  We discuss also how CSR has come to be not only a board-level agenda issue, but one which businesses (especially law firms) use to seek competitive advantage. In their application processes, law firms now ask applicants questions about their thoughts on the CSR strategies that the firm adopts! Sadhvi also explains the importance of having an identity outside of our workplace ‘persona’ in order to fully engage with all aspects of our true selves.  Often larger CSR issues like the climate crisis and migration displacement can feel incredibly daunting in terms of how we, as individuals, can make a difference. Added to that, the ‘green-washing’ phenomenon, misinformation and clever marketing tactics make it really easy for us, not only as students but as consumers as well, to feel powerless or unclear in how we can best contribute to important global challenges.  This episode provides us with actionable steps that we as students and graduates can take to support the communities around us and to reach outside of our ‘corporate’ or ‘online’ identity.  Useful Resources:  WaterBear (free streaming platform for CSR related documentaries coupled with direct ‘action items’) https://www.waterbear.com/watch Behind the Scenes of a Law Degree episode https://www.re-imaginelaw.org.uk/pathways/jwf8u1qq01yhtq9oh18qajc2eo3yudSadhvi Darhttps://www.qmul.ac.uk/busman/staff/academic/profiles/dars.html and on Twitter @drsadhvidarExample of a Law Firm’s CSR Report https://www.reedsmith.com/en/news/2021/04/reed-smith-launches-its-seventh-annual-emea-responsible-business-report