There aren't many transgender law students. Being the only one in a school who faces the challenges that a trans person faces is a bit intimidating, but the reality is that most transgender people who choose to go to law school will probably be the only ones at their particular school. Recognizing diversity within the LGBT community and encouraging an atmosphere of inclusion is particularly important so that no person is singled out as alone. 
—Sean
Once you arrive at law school, it is really nice to have a connection with the other LGBT students on campus. You really feel like you belong in the legal field knowing that other LGBT students are pursuing your same goal. The legal field is not one which is necessarily inviting LGBT people to join its ranks. If anything, it is a conservative field. I encourage you to get involved with the LGBT student group on campus, and if your school doesn’t have one, start one.
—Ali
Pick a school based on its faculty, the programs offered, and the networking opportunities, and view the presence of a gay organization as a plus. Sexual identity may be important, but it is not everything. I think by giving too much weight to LGBT considerations, you may be limiting yourself and closing yourself off to other exciting opportunities and experiences. Be confident and proud of who you are a s a gay law student, but always remember that you have much more than your sexuality to bring to the table.
—Cara
The Law School Experience
Classroom Climate and Academic Programming
Exposure to LGBT issues in law school classrooms is important for all students who will ultimately be practicing in a diverse society. It is particularly important to students who may have come to law school hoping to pursue a legal career focused on the LGBT population. Incorporation of LGBT issues in the curriculum and programming signals that LGBT persons are fully valued and integrated into the law school environment. The offering of one LGBT-specific course is a good start, but does not necessarily indicate real integration for LGBT persons at that school. Talking to current students or faculty and asking the following questions will help in assessing the degree of integration for LGBT persons and issues at a law school.
- Is an LGBT-specific course offered consistently from year to year? If not, why not?
- Are LGBT-specific issues addressed in non-LGBT specific courses, such as Constitutional Law, Family Law, or Torts?
- How respectful are the faculty and other students when LGBT issues are raised in the classroom? Do LGBT students feel free to raise these issues in class?
- Are LGBT persons or issues represented in any faculty-sponsored workshops or by speakers invited to campus?
- Do faculty research and write about LGBT issues? (This information should be included in faculty profiles on the school's website.)
- Are there internships, externships, or clinical programs specific to LGBT-related law practice?
Student Organizations and Activities
Many law schools have LGBT student organizations, which can serve several purposes. They can increase LGBT visibility and create a safe place for LGBT students to be themselves. They can also organize educational programs that inform the law school and broader community about LGBT legal issues. Some student organizations are very active, mobilizing students and faculty to advocate for important institutional reforms, such as increasing LGBT course offerings, hiring LGBT faculty, and developing LGBT-specific programming.
While the fact that a school has an LGBT organization is important, if you are interested in how active the organization is and how well it is supported by the institution and students generally, you may want to get answers to the following questions.
- How supportive are faculty of the LGBT student organization and its activities? For example, is there a faculty advisor, or do faculty informally support or attend LGBT-sponsored activities?
- How often does the LGBT student organization meet, formally or informally? What kinds of activities does it organize? Does it ever cosponsor activities with other student groups?
- Do LGBT students feel supported, or is a lack of organized activity due to fear of discrimination or simply due to lack of time or interest?
- Is there a university-wide organization that is open to LGBT law students?
Note: An inactive student organization does not necessarily mean that a school is not LGBT-friendly or that LGBT students do not feel supported by the school. Ironically, students at some of the most LGBT-friendly schools may be less active in these organizations because they feel less of a need to join an organization for support. The degree of student activity depends heavily on student leadership, which changes from year to year. Organizations may be incredibly active one year, but may not plan any events the next year simply because the student leaders that year are too busy with other things or are less engaged.
Other Institutional Support
Despite significant improvement in the climate for LGBT students in law schools and the legal profession over the past 10 years, LGBT students may still face discrimination or barriers that are different from other traditionally disadvantaged groups. Many law schools are proactive in acknowledging and addressing these issues, and have instituted policies to try to combat these barriers. The following are examples of ways to assess how proactive and responsive schools are to the needs of LGBT persons.
- Does the school publicize its nondiscrimination policy, and does it include sexual orientation?
- Have there been any incidents involving discrimination or offensive remarks made about LGBT persons? If so, how promptly were these incidents addressed? Does the school have an official plan or policies for handling such incidents?
- Does the school have a dedicated scholarship or grant for students pursuing LGBT-related legal work?
- Do current LGBT students feel supported by the administration—especially by the dean of students, dean of career services, and other officials who interact with students on a regular basis?
- Are there gender-neutral bathrooms where transgender students feel comfortable?
- Does the school offer domestic-partnership benefits?
- Does the school's insurance plan cover transgender transition expenses?
