Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that it has achieved the Mansfield Certification Plus designation for the fifth consecutive year.
To achieve Mansfield Certification, law firms have implemented a behavioral science and data-driven approach—designed by talent experts, data scientists, and lawyers—to help increase diversity in leadership. Focused on opening the door wider and ensuring that opportunities are inclusive, certified firms considered broad slates of qualified talent for leadership roles that included at least 30 percent historically underrepresented lawyers—such as women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities. In addition, as part of the Certification process, these firms have worked hard to enhance transparency related to leadership roles, advancement processes, and compensation policies.
Husch Blackwell was awarded a “Plus” distinction for the fifth year in a row indicating that, in addition to meeting or exceeding the baseline certification requirements, the firms have successfully reached at least 30 percent underrepresented lawyer representation in a notable number of their current leadership roles.
The Mansfield Rule is a year-long certification process led by Diversity Lab, an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. The program’s goal is to boost the representation of diverse lawyers in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for these opportunities. Diversity Lab launched the program, named for Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to practice law in the United States in 1869, in 2017.