These are difficult times, but we need not feel powerless. Law firms can do a lot to help their communities when they need them most – we are all in this together.
We are joined by Olga Ivannikova, the Founder of Private Goodness, a London-based Corporate Responsibility and Inclusion consultancy. Olga has more than 10 years of experience of CSR and community organising. She has worked with many leading law firms on their pro bono and has previously spoke about access to justice in the House of Lords and the Royal Courts of Justice.
Olga has allocated 2 hours every day to speak to companies about their community response to this pandemic (without charge) and has many resources that she and her team update daily to share with the legal community.
During this special episode we talk about leading with compassion. We cover many ideas on how law firms and individuals can be of help, including:
You can email Olga on: olga@privategoodness.com
These are difficult times, but we need not feel powerless. Law firms can do a lot to help their communities when they need them most – we are all in this together.
We are joined by Olga Ivannikova, the Founder of Private Goodness, a London-based Corporate Responsibility and Inclusion consultancy. Olga has more than 10 years of experience of CSR and community organising. She has worked with many leading law firms on their pro bono and has previously spoke about access to justice in the House of Lords and the Royal Courts of Justice.
Olga has allocated 2 hours every day to speak to companies about their community response to this pandemic (without charge) and has many resources that she and her team update daily to share with the legal community.
During this special episode we talk about leading with compassion. We cover many ideas on how law firms and individuals can be of help, including:
You can email Olga on: olga@privategoodness.com
LSP Production Team: 0:00
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Rob Hanna: 0:29
Welcome to the Legally Speaking Podcast powered by Kissoon Carr. I'm your host, Rob Hanna. This week we'll be discussing a special topic in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, how we can help. With this in mind, I'm delighted to be joined by Olga Ivannikova, the Director and Founder of Private Goodness, an award winning corporate social responsibility consultancy based in London. So welcome, Olga.
Olga Ivannikova: 0:49
Hello. Thank you very much. Thank you for having me.
Rob Hanna: 0:53
As I mentioned at the top, this is very much a sort of special episode where we're talking very much around, you know, what we can all do, to sort of help in light of the current situation. And, you know, sort of starting off, do you think it's sort of worth you giving sort of an overview about what you think we could be doing together?
Olga Ivannikova: 1:13
Right. So I'm glad that you said together, because it's very much the key word now. We are all in this together, and we say that a lot in the legal profession and the charity sector. But it has never, ever been more true. But it's a very boring time. It's a very difficult time for everyone, but we don't need to feel powerless. There is a lot we can do, and lawyers in particular have a lot of amazing skills to help others. So I hope we'll discuss some way that they can use them. But it doesn't have to be legal advice. It can be something they like, talking to an elderly person on the phone or all sorts of ways that we can help.
Rob Hanna: 1:54
Okay, so let's let's let's talk through those. I think there's a lot of practical things, you know, people would want to know what they could do. So you know what would be your sort of top three or four tips you would you give to people that they could kind of get involved with?
Olga Ivannikova: 2:06
So I think step number one is consider people who rely on you. So I think a lot of people already would have thought about their team and how everybody can work from home and how people can feel more connected. And law firms would consider how they can help their clients and how they can be more flexible and how they can add more value. I always talk about adding more value, but now is a really good opportunity to show people how we're ready to help them. But I want to talk about also helping their subcontractors, or thinking about their subcontractors and their existing charity partners. So, for example, as we are all are no longer the offices. So we're recording this on the 24th of March, and the official lockdown was just declared yesterday. What's gonna happen to people who clean your offices? I think this is the kind of, this is one thing that law firms should be thinking about, because if they all suddenly become unemployed, that will lead to a lot of hardship. So I think we should think beyond our legal obligations and think what can we do voluntarily for people who rely on us.
Rob Hanna: 3:13
Yep, that's well said.
Olga Ivannikova: 3:13
The second thing I think we should do, is to reaffirm our commitments to our existing charity partners. That's what Allen & Overy have done. Allen & Overy and other London funders have signed a letter which said that, to all their existing partners saying 'We stand by you. We're prepared to be flexible. We listen to you. There's lots that you're gonna be worried about. But don't worry about our funding.' And I think this is a really excellent statute to make sure to the people who are relying on you, that you're still there for them, before you do anything else. And then we could talk about all sorts of other things you can do. But I think let's do that first.
Rob Hanna: 3:53
Yeah, no, very, very much world. What Well said, because I think the thing with all of this is is he knows where we can actually make the most impact. Yes, with. So I guess that's one of the main sort of headline questions if you'd like to tackle that. So
Olga Ivannikova: 4:07
I think the way we can have the most impact is by obviously by using our skills so only lawyers can give ah, professional legal advice. So some other things anybody can do but lawyer only lawyers can help with this, and I think that means means the bear and very in a unique position. And to take advantage of that. So I would encourage people to do more pro bono than ever before. Yeah, and again that comes to exist in charity partners that it's a bit difficult to do this remotely with some law centres and locally next list moment. I think everybody's having to readjust. So while we are the law Centre figuring out how to how to adjust the services, perhaps law firms ho, in partnership with them can offer other things. For example, if you have an I T department, maybe they can help a little firm with some of the processes. Maybe you can donate some software or something. So help people adjust to to online services. Yeah, and then two more pro bono work.
Rob Hanna: 5:10
Yeah, and one of the some of the themes that sort of coming out during this time is obviously, you know, supporting isolated people. You know, supporting people have been sort of most affected by this. This this sort of economic breakdown, like you said, and, you know, supporting mental help. So you know what considered, you know, to be done in terms of responding and some of those key themes as well.
Olga Ivannikova: 5:32
It's interesting because now we're all isolated. Yes, but let's talk about supporting most vulnerable, isolated people different ways. The concert we conducted by telephone we can call people s O we all our family, our friends, our immediate community. But there are also organisations like independent age that provides support for all the people and they provides telephone volunteering, which is home based. And all it involves is having a 30 minute chat with an old person, weekly or fortnightly. So that's all that is. You speak to somebody who is ah, who feels lonely and maybe scared on the phone for half an hour. That can make a lot of difference at this scary time for people who are alone and what's all that can't leave their houses
Rob Hanna: 6:20
musically with the you know, not only your elderly family, but also sort of, you know, elderly people that you know within your networks a friend of networks that, you know, maybe even old mentors or people. You know that now is the time really where people can they should be trying to be proactive and I'm really kind of giving back right than the actual point around around pro bono on DH. Yes, Is there anything sort of el? She would kind of touch on that around the sickly around sort of the economic breakdown of things that are happening and then on the I think
Olga Ivannikova: 6:51
now is not the time, Definitely not the time to let anybody go. It's in fact, the time to do more. So I, for example, my business is very small, but I'm using and this time to expand my team, to provide micro work placements for people who were affected by the back but by the economic breakdown. So I'm providing place in truth, treated some people who could help me with various projects online. So if you can help in a similar way, that's one idea. But it's also the time to help entrepreneurs, and they're different organisations that can help you with that Hatch Enterprise already provide mentoring. Opportunity is online, so they were already set up for providing online mentoring opportunities, and they have 2.5 1000 prisoners on their books who I soon need advice now another organisation that I'm volunteering with eyes called radical recruit who help people have experienced before the pandemic experienced scare what would say prison and other challenges to look for work. So now many of them were looking for work and settle their hospitality, so now they have to think about it again. So they provide volunteering opportunities online to help people review their Siri's help. People with interview practise. So you know, when they do go for jobs, they're fewer of those that they them already. Every lawyer that has a job at the moment can help with this because if you have a job, you know how to get a job. You know how to write a CV. You know how to nail an interview. If you ever had a training contract, you have so much knowledge that many people yes, I've been listening to your previous episodes. So people have been talking about wails like Liberace, everything given that now is going to be so valuable up too many people who are struggling at this time and so I would encourage anybody who can to use the skills off whatever level, to use the skills to help people who find themselves in the out of work on was used hours.
Rob Hanna: 8:52
Yeah. No, absolutely on. In terms of sort of, you know, cos I'm helping, you know, without without me. I know you've also got some interesting ideas with regards to that and maybe more sort of virtual measures. This is that right?
Olga Ivannikova: 9:07
Yeah. So they're so they're different. Basically, we need to go above and beyond at this time, because when this is over and the chancellor says it will be over way, we'll be even about this. When it's over, we'll all be judged on how we acted at this time. So I think that it's understandable that it's taking people time to respond because we worry about that seems instead of obsessed. But more than more, we could do the better and also putting extra effort into volunteering into supporting your partners and communities. I think it's really good was supporting your team and for making your colleagues feel proud about your farm. So as they're going through this and his that will control their friends, they could save all my life. I gives me an opportunity to help at this time. Yeah, and I think I think it's very important for the any time to make sure that that that that seem, are happy that the team are engaged. But this is a really good good way at this particular moment. I believe there's a digital volunteering a day, an organisation called the Chaos Family, where they have different groups and you can talk to people told the people by Skype and encourage them to share poems and storeys and feel me comin. Days chance. You can also be a volunteer for an APP S o B. My eyes eyes an organisation that allows you to Valencia firing up and help people who are a visual impact. So you'll become bare eyes and you could cheque the expiry dates for them or do other things around the house. It's always a very good, a very good idea, but now particularly, you know, when people haven't been able to go out shopping so much, being able to help them with that.
Rob Hanna: 10:57
Well, listen, I think there's some really great insights and some tips and suggestions there, so thank you very much. And it's very clear older that you're exceptionally passionate about, sort of, you know, corporate social responsibility, and that's kind of The reason is, too. That's why you you know, you found in private goodness which is an award winning CRS insults in London. So before we could maybe talk a little bit more about that You what do you mean by you know, CSR or you know you want stability,
Olga Ivannikova: 11:24
teach social responsibility. And I always start by saying that cos don't exist in isolation. Why does that matter? Because we're not alone. You know, we depend on our communities with Japan's own our own team, and we depend on our environment. We all breathe the same air. So that's why when we treat our our team and our community is an environment, well, when we act responsibly, it benefits us as well. Benefits everybody. And I started. I've been saying that in my class for forever, but I feel like it's really true now. And I think, Well, I understand that even more now. That's how we treat each other really matters. And corporate responsibility is just one tool to advance your relationships. Really?
Rob Hanna: 12:14
Yeah. No. Absolutely. And so how did you get into a sort of CS are talking through your journey?
Olga Ivannikova: 12:21
Well, I'm from Russia on DH I moved to England when I was 16. With this idea that I will be a human right away. I was a completion and I even I don't know where I got an idea off what it looks like, maybe from Legally Blonde. Ah, probably. But when I actually started studying law, I really realised that it's not quite the same. But I found my law degree very, very, very useful nonetheless. And I think that actually I know comedy. Let's find a motel people, regardless of which area you working after you tell people that you started law that everybody thinks you're really clever like all well you started Law, You must be so clever. It's still tough. That's nice. Hee
Rob Hanna: 13:04
really liked it is secure,
Olga Ivannikova: 13:05
proving to many of the sector. Yeah, I think so is really take it for granted that this thing all we have a law degree. But you know someone that people have high marks or I don't have the first so, you know, conformist embarrassed about it. We're actually for everybody else. You achievements at this stage are very impressive. It's a eventually let agree on then I worked in about 2010 and I worked in different charities have always even interested in how to how to make a difference. Sorrow. That law is one way that I was involved in politics for a while and then again, is it wasn't really like The West Wing. It was very interesting, very interesting experience in community organising, which I think is gonna be useful now as well. And then I worked for a number of charities. So a lot of grassroots local charity is organising projects, raising money from local businesses in order to fund things like ice skating for blind Children. And you have local businesses get together to put some money into book and ice rink so lovingly little project like that. But the most relevant for this and for it was really when I started my work at the National Pro bono Centre on Chance Related. It's a hub for pro bono organisations. It's a fantastic place. It has the charity's law works, which is the National chair, Ramona Charity for solicitors where I worked, which is great. It's good advocate, which is a sister charity Ramona Charity. If embarrassed, ISS access to Justice Foundation, London Legal Support dress all of this organisations working on the one roof, sharing an office during work every day to what access to justice in the UK It was such a fun. So I've had a lot of ideas. You know, I worked in law. I'm very passionate about about how the importance of the rule for one thinks like this. I work for charities and then I think I'll wish really hard for a job that will combine that. And then the law works. Joke a bit. It's it's true because it's when I when I applied for it when I was going for the interview, remember thinking that couldn't be a more perfect job for me with
Rob Hanna: 15:19
all of my
Olga Ivannikova: 15:19
interesting experience. And luckily I go and get it and a good song. Ah, fantastic opportunities There on my role was all about managing volunteers and raising money. Eso eso getting longer thumbs to being falls in full Boyle and we worked with over 100 law firm, so almost all magic circle blow to loads of US farms. Meet the SAS firms and banks like Goldman Sachs Bank of New York, but lots of small organisations as well so that gave me an opportunity to direct with them on to talk to them about how their approvals pro bono, how they view corporate responsibility and to be able to assist him with that and that was Yeah, that was amazing. I was there for three years and it was It was a really fantastic time. It made me because it was quite a and empowerment organisation because small, I think small organisation. Sometimes you have more freedom. So I was used to doing things on my own. It was a great team, but if I wanted to do something on my own I could. So when I was sitting up in business, my own business, I felt like I was quite ready. Yeah, so my business is not just limited to pro bono. I advise on diversity and inclusion and non legal volunteering, so I'm kind of limited by just pro bono. But it's really my time at the national pro Bono Centre which prepared me to do this now.
Rob Hanna: 16:43
Yeah, actually, it's such a great calculate what you've done and what you're doing with private goodness and all the great work that you're doing and I guess one thing to kind of link back with. Maybe a little legal freshman's listening in. Why should lawyers really consider responsibility? Give us, um, some sort of tips and suggestions around that
Olga Ivannikova: 17:02
many reasons. One another one reasonable offers. Contact me is not because they're wake up overnight and they say, Ah, wake up. And when we think, oh, I feel more responsible today usually it's because they're clients Include something in the ah ah, in the proposal, it says, If you want, If you want a bit for work, tell us about your responsibility policy or tell us what you're doing in this era may tell us what you're doing to support this extent of what the U. N sustainable development goals and firms don't go way. Should Mrs write something or they have something. And I think maybe we should work on this area, too. So when they prepared to clients, we know that it's best practise. So one number one is because clients increasing your wanted. And when my training people to my training while you're here because our clients ask us about it is number one visit. The second reason l sidle around recruitment so millennials on in particular all say that they want to work for an organisation that shares the values that helps others. That is just a good citizen on and let itself lost Children. Stupor Border had lost school now, so when I was at the school, we didn't have Pramono skims off my excuse. But
Rob Hanna: 18:28
now all
Olga Ivannikova: 18:28
student, really the green advice clam and supervised by the solicitors about their lectures they used to doing this. Now they're used to volunteering and using their skills. So when they join a phone, I want to continue to let so a lot of movement, even though it comes from people who are you joining the firm saying We want to do this. Please give us an opportunity to or firms that are worried about their recruitment or want to improve their recruitment and saying as an offer two people us. Then when you join our from, we will give you a new opportunity not just to make profit, to be protective, to be involved in profits, activities for profit activities, but also our help your communities and that makes their recruitment offer stronger. One more thing and it's actually is important. It's about developing skills off, off, off, Louis. So what happens when you volunteer? So what noise? Noise are good at many, many, many thanks. But what we really, really always, really, really need to be good at is literally. And being able to listen empathetically on it is very difficult. And I think when people do pro bono or could do no legal, and Stephen will interact with people outside of the usual circle, and that makes them better listeners. That makes them better professionals. And that helps them in that the learn new skills as well. And it helps them in everyday work. Everyday workers alone.
Rob Hanna: 19:58
Yeah, no, absolutely. Without that, that's kind of thing. Kind of summarises very nicely and kind of get a flavour for people, particularly future and sort of past. People in the legal section says, What's out there? What you've been thinking about some of the common themes. Thanks very much for sharing that. I guess the question is sort of a bit more leading onto then how, um you know a lot of the how and then I know something else that you talk about generally is around sort of networking and perhaps networking, going going wrong. So do you want to talk a little bit more about the how and then leaving on a bit more around? What does something mean? There's networking going wrong.
Olga Ivannikova: 20:35
Lots of people this thing will be, I don't know. Maybe we'll be from larger firms who will have a pro bono Oh, or Siyassah coordinator S. O. I think how the first step would be to approach them and find out what's already happening in your phone and maybe see how you can get involved with existing activities. Ah, and for anybody listening and if there aren't any to off, to give a hand into developing them if he wants to Pro bono, you couldn't have a look at the national problem or centre website, and you can contact your local law centre or your local legal clinic are local convenience Sentinel. Depending on the area, we'll hold onto you and opportunities, but do keep relations with them at the moment as they are updating their services on how to work online, in particular a while. But you can tell that you're there now and for environment, and you know we are in the middle of the pandemic Well, we're in about these things, but environment. The toxic environment is still there. And for that there is an organisation called the Little Eagle Sustainability Alliance and they have a membership scheme by. They have three tips on their website on how to be more environmentally friendly so you can have a look at them and share them. If you have available person in your organisation off its smaller organisation. Share marriage with your team. Now you can always contact me, and I could send you a cheque list off the things that you should you could consider about corporate responsibility with the best practise.
Rob Hanna: 22:01
Okay. And just as we were sort of wrap up, is there a couple of sort of examples you'd like to give? I know we're sort of stressing throughout the steam, which is great ticket this time around. Pro boner advice. I'm particularly related to the sort of current. The current situation is a sort of just one example or a couple of guns. You give way to wrap up or ah, foolishness.
Olga Ivannikova: 22:22
Just another thing that I want to say about mental health and that it is a very worrying time at the moment and even people, Perhaps you didn't think we'd have any mental health issues before. I think we'll need more, Ah, attention at the moment, so I would encourage everybody. So have a look at my mind and there's a website and search for more information on mental health and how we can stay well and share it. Ah, share this resources with your with your team and with, you know, with the other people who you care about
Rob Hanna: 22:58
so older. I know you do a lot of work with the guards to networking and one of the other things that you're really help helping people around his online ethical network. And just tell us more about that.
Olga Ivannikova: 23:09
Yes. Oh, I have. Last year I started a project and online project called Networking on Wrong, which is all about ethical and inclusive networking. And I thought, How do we learn about this? And one way is to ask people off samples off unethical networking head. People have come to me with loads and loads of examples, and I have brought them all together and commissioned an illustrator to administrate them so angry to the course around it. But now I'm expanding it further to do training on online etiquette. So I think more with time, Ms Pac Man online and more time our team spend online. I think everyone should be aware ofthe ethical off. Doings are ethic play, and the main principle of it really is just to be more isra kinder and more compassionate than ever before. And I'm aware that people might be stressed out and to basically spread positive Ives rather than arguing with people.
Rob Hanna: 24:14
Yeah. No, I think you're right. Particularly this time when we're all in this together is even more so important online that people, you know, very kind to one another, you know, stay positive. You know, the acts of it'll. Absolutely. So I think that's really, really inside also, you know, it's good to know the people to know that that is out there. And that's a service out there that people in sort of yeah, training on a few light in terms of making sure that it's also good for their personal brand, but also just in line with just general the kindness of the water communities.
Olga Ivannikova: 24:43
Yeah, Thank you.
Rob Hanna: 24:44
And system, You're so I just lastly or do you have any final comments that you would like to share with our listeners? In light of the current situation, I
Olga Ivannikova: 24:55
want to read a quote from the art from an article from the Harvard Business Review. If you don't mind, I just think sometimes I'm trying to say much better than I can. It's us if at this time, if you lead with compassion, you will touch the lives ofthe few employees in an extraordinary way and come out of this potential slowdown stronger than ever before enhancing the shared values off your team. I think it's a great quote for what we need to do at the moment. So I think that lots of law firms and Lotus So I've been talking about our values, and now is really the time for us to to act on them and not just support our team in our clients but our wider communities. So I would encourage everyone. Teo lied with compassion and to remember that we are all in this together. I am available, eh? So I'm happy to talk to anybody for free. Ah, why zoom for half an hour to an hour if anybody's thinking about their community response to the situation. Because if you say we keep saying we're all in this together So we should all use our skills to help where we can And finally thank you very much Rob Ford for inviting me. I'm so glad to have an opportunity to share, to share some thoughts and to everybody listening, they say,
Rob Hanna: 26:22
Yeah, no, absolutely. It's been It's been an absolute pleasure Olga. I think your insights have been exceptionally helpful. I mean, I've taken a hell of a lot of weight from our discussion. So an absolute pleasure having all the gas on just echoing today, that's all. Space age, everybody. Let's get through this together. I'm Yeah, I'm sure there'll be some additional. Constantly pushing out on this course is just help. But many thanks again. Okay, you stay safe and no doubt will have on the podcast in the near future. Suit.
Olga Ivannikova: 26:51
Thank you very much.