The Australian Legal Sector Alliance (AusLSA) has published its second report card on the legal industry, with an additional seven firms taking up the challenge to report on their environmental impact.

The total number of firms submitting data for the report has increased to 15, while total membership of AusLSA has increased to 20. The AusLSA members reporting fall into three main categories, with five firms in each: single site firm, two state firm and national firm. “It is only by reporting and challenging ourselves that we can bring about change,” said Stuart Clark, chief operating officer and managing partner at Clayton Utz, an executive member firm. 

According to the report, The Environmental Consumption of AusLSA Members 2010-2011, electricity consumption is once again the main source of emissions for firms. Overall 66.7 percent of emissions were derived from electricity consumption. The second most significant source of emissions for the reporting law firms came from business travel; overall 33.2 percent of emissions were derived from travel. Paper is also a high carbon foot impact for the legal profession and this year firms were required to include outsourced printing in addition to internal. Firms consumed on average 115kg of paper per employee; a decrease of seven percent compared to last year, despite the additional reporting requirement.

For the eight executive member firms the second year of reporting highlights some other comparisons. During FY2011 total staff numbers across executive firms increased by 2.3 percent. This has been a contributing factor to overall emissions increasing by 9.3 percent. Overall emissions per head increased from 4.77 tonne CO2e to 5.06 tonne CO2e, a 6.2 percent increase. The area that contributed most to this movement was a substantial increase in both short haul and international flights. “It’s a factor that we have to travel to meet with clients,” said AusLSA board co-chair and Henry Davis York chief operating officer, Kelvin O'Connor.  “The challenge for our members will be determining what is essential business travel and what meetings could otherwise be conducted via new technologies."

As a way of encouraging other firms to publish data on their carbon footprint, a new logo exclusive to firms that do has been released for firms to use in promotional material. “We want to encourage as many firms as possible to decrease their carbon footprint,” said Clark. “There may or may not be a business imperative, but it’s the right thing to do… It’s about overall sustainability.”
Firms interested in participating in next year’s report can still do so, and executive member firms are eager to share insights, learnings and tips with new firms. “There are mentors available from within the founding group for new firms,” said Clark. “The objective is to share experiences, expertise and know-how.”

Report card FY2011: