CN legal team recognized for supporting diversity

CN announced it has achieved Mansfield Certification, a designation awarded by Diversity Lab that measures the structural changes and actions CN has taken to ensure the hiring, promotion and paths to leadership in its legal department are open and transparent to qualified lawyers and other legal professionals.

The Mansfield Rule Law Department Edition is a certification process designed to ensure participating corporate legal departments provide a fair and equal opportunity to be hired, promoted and to advance into leadership, CN officials said in a news release. Mansfield is focused on broadening the talent pool for consideration in hiring, including those historically underrepresented in the legal profession, and to facilitate transparent leadership pathways. 

"We are gratified to be recognized for our efforts to ensure equity and inclusion within our legal department, which is emblematic of our ongoing commitment to increasing diversity across the entire company," said Jody Evely, CN's assistant vice president and general counsel-U.S. "CN is always striving to represent and reflect within our workforce the communities we touch throughout Canada and the U.S."

CN participated in the certification process with more than 60 companies and organizations as well as more than 340 law firms. During the certification period in 2023, CN participated in monthly knowledge-sharing calls with these organizations and Diversity Lab to exchange best practices on fostering inclusive workplaces.

CN also sent representatives to the Mansfield Client Forums, where they connected with newly promoted partners from certified law firms.