Legal Industry Trailblazers Engage in Award-Winning “Move the Needle Fund” to Test Innovative Inclusion Initiatives

Four law firms, 25+ general counsel, and a dozen community leaders are joining forces on a first-of-its-kind experimental “laboratory” in which bold new approaches are being incubated over five years (2020-2025) to foster greater inclusivity and equity in law and serve as a model for learning and transformative change. More details can be found at www.mtnfund2025.com.

Breaking News!  We are pleased to report that two MTN experiments — Mansfield for Workflow and Diversity Dividends Collective — have been honored with ALM Legal Leaders in Tech Awards!  Both of these tech-supported initiatives are fostering more diverse and inclusive teams in law.

In partnership with Diversity Lab and MTN, Nixon Peabody won for Mansfield for Workflow (see press release here) in the law firm category “Innovations in Diversity & Inclusion” and 45+ legal departments won for their hard work as part of the Diversity Dividends Collective (see press release here and more details here) in the legal department category “ESG Enablement Through Tech.”

Learn more about the shortlisted and winning orgs by clicking on the ALM Awards site here.

MTN Background:  Despite decades of hard work by industry stakeholders to diversify the talent pool from law students through law firm and legal department leadership, the needle hasn’t moved far enough fast enough. Knowing varied approaches are needed, four law firms, more than 30 general counsel, and top community leaders will work together through MTN to create a first-of-its-kind experimental “laboratory” in which bold new approaches will be incubated over five years in the law firms to serve as a model for learning and transformative change in the legal profession and beyond. These four firms will set aggressive, measurable diversity goals, experiment with research-based and data-driven ways to achieve them, and publicly report their progress.

The four MTN law firms are Eversheds Sutherland (US), Nixon Peabody, Orrick, and Stoel Rives. The MTN law firms’ goals, detailed on www.MTNFund2025.com, reflect many of the keys to success in becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization: retention of diverse lawyers; access to career-enhancing work experiences, clients, and sponsorship; and advancement to leadership. MTN firms officially began measuring progress on these goals in January 2020. Public updates will be shared in Summer 2023.