Tucker Ellis has joined more than 180 large law firms in committing to the Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification process aimed at diversifying law firm leadership. The firm, which most recently took part in Mansfield Rule 5.0, has participated in the Mansfield Rule since the release of version 4.0 in 2020. Administered by Diversity Lab, Mansfield Rule 6.0 – which runs from July 2022 to July 2023 – expands the scope and increases the rigor of the certification process.

Now entering its sixth year, the Mansfield Rule pushes the boundaries necessary to boost diversity in law firm leadership. It has become the standard by which law firms track and measure that they have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ lawyers for top leadership roles, senior-level lateral hiring, promotions into the equity partnership, and participation in client pitch meetings.

According to a press release issued by Diversity Lab, this iteration of the Mansfield Rule includes the previous pledges and additionally requires law firms to:

• Consider at least 30% historically underrepresented lawyers from the four aforementioned groups when appointing to leadership roles and promoting into the equity partnership, among a dozen other activities that focus on the path to leadership;
• Consider 30% underrepresented talent for C-suite roles;
• Participate in monthly knowledge-sharing forums with other participating law firms;
• Create and publish job descriptions for leadership roles;
• Continue to meet routine check-in, data-collection, and reporting milestones.

Additionally, in order to attain the higher “Certification Plus” level of certification, firms’ advancement and compensation processes must now be transparent internally.

“We value our commitment to the Mansfield Rule,” said Tucker Ellis Managing Partner Joe Morford in a statement. “Equity, diversity, and inclusion have always been important to Tucker Ellis, and the Mansfield Rule inspires us and gives us specific and measurable goals to meet. Through our firm’s collective efforts, we have made a positive cultural shift, where every Tucker Ellis leader is educated and invested in the Mansfield Rule process. Regardless of the strides we have made, we recognize that there is always more work to be done as we strive to improve our programs and mindsets to reach the next level.”

About Diversity Lab

Diversity Lab is is an incubator for innovative ideas and solutions that boost diversity and inclusion in law. Experimental ideas are created through our Hackathons and piloted in collaboration with more than 250 t

op law firms and legal departments across the country. Diversity Lab leverages data, behavioral science, design thinking, and technology to further develop and test new ideas and research, measure the results, and share the lessons learned. Visit Diversity Lab’s website here to learn more.

About Tucker Ellis LLP

Tucker Ellis LLP is a full-service law firm of 215 attorneys with offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and St. Louis. The firm is proud to service a Fortune 250 list of national litigation clients and intellectual property clients, as well as sophisticated business clients, for whom we individually tailor our client service teams. For more information, please visit tuckerellis.com.