Mansfield Certification ensures fair and equal opportunity for all lawyers to advance into leadership.
Mansfield focuses on equal treatment, equal opportunity, and equal access.
The Mansfield Difference
Our most recognized pilot, the Mansfield Rule began as a winning idea at Diversity Lab’s 2016 Women in Law Hackathon.
Mansfield is a structured certification process designed to ensure all talent at participating law firms and legal departments has a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership.
The Mansfield Certification framework is a science-backed and data-driven solution that helps boost inclusivity, access, and diversity in leadership at participating law firms. To maintain its effectiveness, the standards for Certification continue to evolve based on data-backed insights.
Impact Highlights
94%
of participating large law firms broadened the pool of talent considered for client pitch teams.
85%
of large law firms increased discussions around lateral partner hiring inclusivity.
84%
of Mansfield legal departments now have transparent internal advancement processes as a result of Certification.
75%
of Mansfield legal departments now track internal talent pools for promotion because of Mansfield.
Purpose
Mansfield helps ensure that all talent has an equal, fair, and equitable opportunity to advance into leadership through an intentional decision-making process informed by behavioral science.
Process
Mansfield increases transparency and intentionality around law firm and legal department leadership and advancement processes. This openness benefits everyone.
Firms and legal departments commit to expanding talent pools to include at least 30% and 50% historically underrepresented lawyers, respectively, for leadership opportunities.
Step 1
As part of achieving Mansfield Certification, firms and legal departments increase clarity around opportunities. They articulate and internally publish job descriptions, expectations, and promotional paths. This greater transparency helps level the playing field for all.
Step 2
Firms and legal departments engage in Knowledge Sharing throughout the certification process, a crucial part of Mansfield. Research shows that working in a group is a better way to stay on track toward a larger goal because it creates peer group and third-party accountability.
Step 3
Firms and legal departments complete a series of check-ins with Diversity Lab to ensure they are on track to achieve Certification.
Step 4
At the end of the Certification period, firms and legal departments are required to submit an online Certification form that is signed by their managing partner or general counsel.
Step 5
As the Certification period ends, a new one begins. Firms and legal departments renew their participation in Mansfield year-over-year to ensure culture change at their organization and for the Mansfield community.
Step 6
Proof
Leadership Pipeline Tracking and Transparency: Prior to adopting the Mansfield Rule, only 12% of participating law firms tracked the demographic diversity of their leadership pipelines. Now, 100% of participating firms track who’s coming up through the ranks and whether they are all fairly considered for leadership activities and roles. Similarly, in participating legal departments, to ensure equal access for everyone:
- 91% now track internal talent pools for discretionary high-visibility opportunities
- 75% track internal talent pools for promotions
- 60% track outside counsel team leadership for new matters with law firms
- More than 80% have transparent internal job responsibilities and advancement processes for leadership
Expanded Talent Pools on the Path to Leadership: The vast majority of participating law firms have reported broader talent pools are being considered for opportunities that impact leadership diversity:
- 94% for client pitch teams
- 79% for lateral partner hiring
- 76% for equity partner promotions
Diversity in Leadership:Due to these improved talent practices, law firms that have been consistently Mansfield certified for over five years outpace non-Mansfield firms in diversifying their executive committees and equity partnerships. Learn more in this article, “Data Shows Mansfield Firms Are Adding Diverse Leaders Much Faster,”published by two data scienceacademics.
For additional details on Mansfield’s quantitative and qualitative outcomes, see our Mansfield DEI resources.
Participants
As of 2024, there are 365+ US, Canadian, and UK law firms and 70+ legal departments participating in the certification process.
- A&O Shearman
- Adams and Reese
- Akin
- Alston & Bird
- ArentFox Schiff
- Armstrong Teasdale
- Arnold & Porter
- Baker Botts
- Baker McKenzie
- Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz
- BakerHostetler
- Ballard Spahr
- Barnes & Thornburg
- Bass, Berry & Sims
- BCLP (US)
- Benesch
- Beveridge & Diamond
- Blank Rome
- Bodman
- Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
- Bricker Graydon
- Brown Rudnick
- Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
- Buchalter
- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney
- Burr & Forman
- Butler Snow
- Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
- Cassels Brock & Blackwell
- Chapman and Cutler
- Chartwell Law
- Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi
- Clark Hill
- Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
- Clifford Chance (US)
- Clyde & Co
- Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete
- Cooley
- Covington & Burling
- Cozen O'Connor
- Crowell & Moring
- Davis Polk & Wardwell
- Davis Wright Tremaine
- Day Pitney
- Debevoise & Plimpton
- Dechert
- Dentons Canada
- Dentons US
- Dinsmore & Shohl
- DLA Piper
- Dorsey & Whitney
- Duane Morris
- Dykema Gossett
- Epstein Becker & Green
- Eversheds Sutherland
- Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath
- Fasken
- Fennemore
- Fenwick & West
- Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
- Fish & Richardson
- Fisher Phillips
- Foley Hoag
- Fox Rothschild
- Fredrikson & Byron
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US
- Fried Frank
- Frost Brown Todd
- Gibbons
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
- Goodwin Procter
- Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
- Goulston & Storrs
- Gowling WLG (Canada)
- Greenberg Traurig
- Greenspoon Marder
- Hanson Bridgett
- Haynes Boone
- Hinshaw & Culbertson
- Hogan Lovells
- Holland & Hart
- Holland & Knight
- Honigman
- Hunton Andrews Kurth
- Husch Blackwell
- Ice Miller
- Jackson Lewis
- Jackson Walker
- Jenner & Block
- Jones Walker
- K&L Gates
- Katten Muchin Rosenman
- Kaufman Dolowich
- Kennedys
- Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel
- Latham & Watkins
- Lathrop GPM
- Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
- Lewis Roca
- Linklaters (US)
- Littler
- Locke Lord
- Loeb & Loeb
- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
- Mayer Brown
- Maynard Nexsen
- McCarter & English
- McDermott Will & Emery
- McGuireWoods
- MG+M The Law Firm
- Milbank
- Miller Nash
- Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone
Mintz - Moore & Van Allen
- Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
- Morris, Manning & Martin
- Morrison Foerster
- Munger, Tolles & Olson
- Neal Gerber Eisenberg
- Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough
- Nixon Peabody
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- O'Hagan Meyer
- Ogletree Deakins
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
- Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
- Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler
- Paul Hastings
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
- Perkins Coie
- Phelps Dunbar
- Pillsbury
- Polsinelli
- Pryor Cashman
- Quarles & Brady
- Reed Smith
- Robins Kaplan
- Robinson+Cole
- Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard
- Saul Ewing
- Seyfarth Shaw
- Sheppard Mullin
- Shook, Hardy & Bacon
- Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick
- Sidley Austin
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- Smith Gambrell Russell
- Spencer Fane
- Squire Patton Boggs
- Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
- Steptoe LLP
- Stinson
- Stites & Harbison
- Stoel Rives
- Stoll Keenon Ogden
- Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
- Sullivan & Cromwell
- Sullivan & Worcester
- Taft
- Thompson Coburn
- Thompson Hine
- Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders
- Tucker Ellis
- Tyson & Mendes
- UB Greensfelder
- Varnum
- Vedder Price
- Venable
- Vinson & Elkins
- Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease
- Warner Norcross + Judd
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges
- White & Case
- Williams & Connolly
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher
- WilmerHale
- Wilson Elser
- Wilson Sonsini
- Winston & Strawn
- Withersworldwide
- Womble Bond Dickinson US
- Archer & Greiner
- Aronberg Goldgehn
- Atheria Law
- Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
- Baird Holm
- Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg
- Bilzin Sumberg
- Blue Williams
- Boies Schiller Flexner
- Bose McKinney & Evans
- Bressler Amery & Ross
- Brown & James
- Burke, Williams & Sorensen
- Burns White
- Calfee, Halter & Griswold
- Caplin & Drysdale
- Carter Ledyard & Milburn
- CDF Labor Law
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka
- Christian & Small
- Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass
- Cohen & Gresser
- Cole Schotz
- Collins + Collins
- Connell Foley
- Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman
- Cox, Castle & Nicholson
- Davis+Gilbert
- Dawda Mann
- Degan, Blanchard & Nash
- Dority & Manning
- Drew Eckl & Farnham
- Erise IP
- F3 Law
- Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes
- Farella Braun + Martel
- Finn Dixon & Herling
- Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery
- Fletcher Yoder
- Foley Mansfield
- Foster Garvey
- Foster Swift Collins & Smith
- Fox Swibel Levin & Carroll
- Franklin & Prokopik
- Frantz Ward
- Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins
- Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith
- Gilbert
- Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes
- Goldberg Kohn
- Gould & Ratner
- Grant & Eisenhofer
- Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone
- Hahn Loeser & Parks
- Hall & Evans
- Hall Render
- Hancock Daniel and Johnson
- Harness IP
- Harter Secrest & Emery
- Hartline Barger
- Haug Partners
- Hausfeld
- Hawkins Parnell & Young
- Hecker Fink
- Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach
- Higgs, Fletcher & Mack
- Hill Wallack
- Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson
- Hinckley Allen
- Hirschler
- Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas
- Hooper, Lundy & Bookman
- HWG
- Ivins, Phillips & Barker
- Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan
- Kean Miller
- Keating Muething & Klekamp
- Kegler Brown Hill & Ritter
- Keker, Van Nest & Peters
- Keller and Heckman
- Kitch Attorneys & Counselors
- Klarquist Sparkman
- Klinedinst
- Koley Jessen
- Lane Powell
- Lee & Hayes
- Levenfeld Pearlstein
- Lightfoot, Franklin & White
- Liskow
- Loopstra Nixon
- Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann
- Maron Marvel
- Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
- Martin Clearwater & Bell
- Maslon
- McAndrews, Held, & Malloy
- McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce
- McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff
- McDowell Hetherington
- McGinnis Lochridge
- McGivney, Kluger, Clark & Intoccia
- McGlinchey Stafford
- McGrath North Mullin and Kratz
- McKool Smith
- McLane Middleton
- Meagher + Geer
- Merchant & Gould
- Messner Reeves
- Meunier Carlin & Curfman
- Miller & Chevalier
- Morrison Cohen
- Much Shelist
- Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr
- Nossaman
- Nutter McClennen and Fish
- Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs
- Patterson + Sheridan
- Phillips Murrah
- Phillips Nizer
- Plunkett Cooney
- Porter Hedges
- Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
- Porzio Bromberg & Newman
- Prince Lobel
- Procopio, Cory Hargreaves & Savitch
- Redgrave
- Reilly McDevitt and Henrich
- Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
- Robbins Schwartz
- Robinson Bradshaw
- Roetzel & Andress
- Rogers Joseph O'Donnell
- Roig Lawyers
- Rutan & Tucker
- Sands Anderson
- Saxe Doernberger & Vita
- Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt
- Segal McCambridge Singer and Mahoney
- Severson & Werson
- Sherman & Howard
- Shipman & Goodwin
- Skarzynski Marick & Black
- Smith Anderson
- Spilman Thomas & Battle
- Stark & Stark
- Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox
- Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth
- Summit Law Group
- Swanson, Martin & Bell
- Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers
- The Cook Group
- Tiber Hudson
- Waldon Adelman Castilla McNamara & Prout
- Walsworth
- Wiggin and Dana
- Wilkinson Barker Knauer
- Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg
- Winthrop & Weinstine
- Wise Carter Child & Caraway
- Wolf, Greenfield and Sacks
- Wyrick Robbins
- ZwillGen
- A&O Shearman
- BCLP
- Bird & Bird
- Clifford Chance
- Clyde & Co
- CMS
- Cooley
- Dechert
- DLA Piper
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Goodwin Procter
- Gowling WLG (UK)
- Hogan Lovells
- Kennedys
- Linklaters
- Mayer Brown
- McDermott Will & Emery
- Reed Smith
- Taylor Wessing
- Thompsons Solicitors
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher
- Withersworldwide
- Womble Bond Dickinson
- Accenture
- ADP
- Advocate Health
- Alteryx
- Amtrak
- Ansys
- Astellas US
- Axiom
- BASF
- Bloomberg
- Bloomin' Brands
- BNP Paribas
- Boston Medical Center
- Bridgestone Americas
- CareVet
- CDW
- CEVA Freight
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Citizens
- City of Austin Law Dept.
- CN
- Conagra Brands
- Consolidated Edison Company of New York
- Corning
- Cruise Automation
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- DaVita
- Deckers Brand
- Delta Dental of California
- Discover Financial Services
- Eaton
- Emerson Collective
- F.N.B. Corporation
- Gap Inc.
- Gilead
- Hillenbrand
- HP Inc.
- Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Intermountain Health
- Jacobs
- Johnson Controls
- Kimball Electronics
- KPMG
- Lincoln Financial Group
- Mortenson
- McDonald's Corporation
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Micron Technology
- Moffitt Cancer Center
- MSA Safety
- Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
- Owens Corning
- Planet Labs PBC
- Regions Bank
- RELX
- SCIEX
- Scoular
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Sunrun
- SurveyMonkey
- Teva Pharmaceuticals
- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Truebeck Construction
- U.S. Bank
- Union Pacific Railroad
- United States Steel Corporation
- US Foods
- W.W. Grainger
- Walgreen Co.
- Westinghouse Electric Company
- Zendesk
- Zurich North America
LEARN MORE ABOUT MANSFIELD
If you are interested in Mansfield Certification for law firms or legal departments, please reach out.
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