Midsize Mansfield Rule
Mansfield Rule for Midsize Law Firms Launches to Continue Boosting Diversity in The Legal Community
As we reaffirmed in our recent statement of action, our team at Diversity Lab is constantly exploring ways to work with our partners to build a stronger and better legal community through diversity and inclusion. To that end, we are incredibly excited to announce a new addition to our successful Mansfield Rule initiative: The Mansfield Rule for Midsize Law Firms.
We are partnering with more than 20 midsize law firms to pilot a new iteration of the Mansfield Rule developed for firms with fewer than 150 lawyers in the U.S. The Midsize Mansfield Rule certification process, modeled after the original version, has been fine-tuned to boost diversity in leadership for firms with smaller lawyer populations, single office locations, and leaner firm leadership structures. The certification period for the Midsize version is 18 months (September 15, 2020 to March 15, 2022) to provide ample time for the participating firms to take action on the required hiring, promotion, and leadership transition activities.
Similar to the large law firm version, firms that successfully complete the Midsize Mansfield Rule criteria will be designated as “Mansfield Certified” and will have the opportunity to send their diverse partners to the Mansfield Rule Client Forums in late 2022 to build relationships with and learn from Diversity Lab’s in-house counsel collaborators. To date, more than 80 legal departments have contributed to or hosted Client Forums, including Barclays, Facebook, Fannie Mae, Ford Motor Company, Google, McKesson Corp, MetLife, Pfizer, PNC Bank, Uber, and US Bank.
How It Works
To be Mansfield Certified, legal departments are asked to consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers for 60% or more of the leadership roles and activities identified below.
- All lawyer hiring searches/openings (partners and associates at all levels)
- Equity partner promotions
- Election or appointment to Managing Partner/Chairperson
- Election or appointment to other high-level firm governance positions, including:
- Management/Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors
- Practice Group Leader and/or Office Head
- Partner Promotions/Nominations Committee
- Compensation Committee
- Transparent job responsibilities for governance roles
- Transparent processes for governance appointments/elections
- Participation in formal client pitches and formal client meetings
The Goal
The overall goal of the Midsize Mansfield Rule is to increase the representation of diverse lawyers in leadership by broadening the pool of women, LGBTQ+ lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and/or racial/ethnic minority lawyers who are considered for entry-level and lateral attorney job openings, leadership opportunities, equity partner promotions, and opportunities to connect with clients.
Midsize Mansfield Rule — Participating Firms 2020-2022
Some of the trailblazing firms piloting the inaugural Midsize Mansfield Rule include:
| Brooks Kushman P.C. | Marshall Gerstein & Borun LLP | Osha Bergman Watanabe & Burton LLP |
| Brinks Gilson & Lione | McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. | Patterson + Sheridan, LLP |
| The Cook Group | McDowell Hetherington LLP | Severson & Werson |
| Drew Eckl & Farnham | Merchant & Gould P.C. | Starnes Davis Florie LLP |
| Hausfeld LLP | Meunier Carlin & Curfman LLC | Stotler Hayes Group, LLC |
| Ivins, Phillips & Barker | Moye White LLP | Summit Law Group, PLLC |
| Keesal, Young & Logan | Much Shelist PC | Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP |
| Koley Jessen P.C., L.L.O. | Murphy & McGonigle | ZwillGen PLLC |
If your midsize firm is interested in learning more or joining future cohorts, please contact Kate Johnston Ryan at kate@diversitylab.com.