Firm News

Jun 7, 2017

Seyfarth Joins Diversity Lab on Mansfield Rule Diversity Initiative

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced that it will partner with Diversity Lab to formally pilot the Mansfield Rule diversity initiative.

Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States, the Mansfield Rule is a variation of the NFL’s “Rooney Rule.” The Mansfield Rule challenges law firms to measure participation of women and attorneys of color among those seeking leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, and lateral positions. Law firms that successfully pilot the Mansfield Rule over the next year will be designated “Mansfield Certified” and have the opportunity to send their recently promoted diverse partners to a two-day Client Forum in late 2018 to build relationships with and learn from influential in-house counsel. Currently, 30 law firms and over 45 in-house counsel have joined the pilot. You can learn more about this initiative here.

As part of Seyfarth’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and its focus on continuous improvement in this area, the firm agreed to participate in the pilot. The Seyfarth pilot is intended to improve on the support provided to all attorneys who are interested in serving in leadership or governance roles, the equity partnership or as a lateral to the firm.

Diversity Lab creates and experiments with innovative ways to close the gender gap and boost diversity in law firms and legal departments by leveraging data, behavioral science, and design thinking.