“We have a combination you don’t find everywhere,” says Lauren Randall, Managing Partner and CEO of BOYNECLARKE LLP. “We operate with the agility and personal touch of a smaller, close-knit firm, backed by the systems, expertise and innovation of a larger modern business.”

That balance—between big-firm resources and small-firm relationships—has defined the Dartmouth-headquartered firm for years. While the legal market has shifted and the workplace evolved, BOYNECLARKE has doubled down on a simple, durable premise: the best professional environments are built on a foundation of care, trust and mutual respect.

Across departments, that premise has shaped everything from how teams are recognized to how they’re heard. In the firm’s most recent Employee Opinion Survey, 93 per cent of respondents said they would recommend BOYNECLARKE as a workplace. When asked what they liked most, the overwhelming answer was: “Our people.”

The firm’s emphasis on dialogue is more than symbolic. Its annual survey not only takes the pulse of the workplace, but also directly informs internal priorities. Initiatives like peer-led recognition programs, schedule flexibility and inclusive events are rooted in what employees say they value most; that feedback shapes everything from onboarding to wellness programming and career advancement.

BOYNECLARKE’s learning and development program includes regular lunch-and-learns, growth opportunities, and targeted training support. It’s an ecosystem designed to help team members grow within—and beyond—their current roles.

“Employees are encouraged to bring their full selves to work—professional, personal, and community-minded.”

—Lauren Randall, Managing Partner and CEO of BOYNECLARKE LLP

“Our people are at the forefront of what we do and the business decisions we make,” Randall says. “Employees are encouraged to bring their full selves to work—professional, personal, and community-minded.”

To that broader sense of connection, the firm supports employee-led fundraising efforts and payroll giving, provides paid time for volunteer work and encourages team members to sit on community boards and contribute to causes that matter to them. Employee appreciation events, wellness incentives, and flexible work scheduling further reflect BOYNECLARKE’s commitment to a healthy, empowered workplace.

Its Summer Student Program—an award-winning initiative—pays law students to work with local non-profits, offering early exposure to both civic engagement and professional development. Additional co-op placements in HR, marketing and paralegal positions round out the firm’s commitment to workforce development.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation (EDIR) work is similarly embedded in daily practice. The firm’s EDIR Committee has grown to reflect its cross-departmental reach and evolving goals. Education efforts now link directly to legal work and community needs—whether it’s cultural celebrations, recruitment partnerships like Dalhousie’s IB&M Initiative, or landmark efforts like the Land Titles Initiative for Black Nova Scotians. These are not side projects. They are central to the firm’s evolving identity and values.

With almost 200 team members and, including more than 50 lawyers, the firm continues to grow—without compromising its values. “Growth is important, but so is how you achieve it,” says Randall. “We’re focused on sustainable, values-driven growth, by investing in our people, our purpose, and in each other.”

It’s a model that doesn’t ask employees to choose between excellence and belonging. At BOYNECLARKE, the two are inseparable.