McGinnis Lochridge is proud to announce our participation in The Mansfield Rule for Midsize Law Firms, which was designed to boost diversity in leadership for firms with between 25-150 lawyers in the U.S.
The Mansfield Rule was named after Arabella Mansfield, who was the first woman lawyer in the United States in 1869. 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. It does so by having frequent check-ins, data collection, and ongoing collaboration with participants. The certification period is 18 months to provide ample time for the participating firms to take action on the required hiring, promotion, and leadership transition activities.
The results of the program are remarkable, with 94% of participating firms reporting that their candidate pool for pitch teams was more diverse following the adoption of the Mansfield Rule. Prior to participating in the Mansfield Rule, only 12% of firms tracked their candidates for leadership roles and only 25% tracked their candidates for lateral partner hiring. Now, 100% are tracking these candidate pools.
McGinnis Lochridge seeks to create an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential. We are enthusiastic to partner with the Diversity Lab through the Mansfield Rule for Midsize Law Firms to attract and retain a talented and diverse team.
To learn more about the Diversity Lab and the Mansfield Rule, click here.