Information for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Applicants
Selecting Law Schools
Most law schools welcome and encourage all applicants. In fact, you may find that the choices available to you are somewhat overwhelming. How do you find law schools that will be particularly amenable to you? The most important thing is to ask lots of questions.
All LSAC-member law schools had an opportunity to respond to the following six questions. Here is the chart with individual school responses.
- Does the law school have a nondiscrimination policy which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity?
- Does the law school have a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender student organization?
- Does the law school have any openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender faculty members?
- Does the law school offer any courses specific to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender legal issues?
- Does the law school offer any form of domestic partnership benefits to faculty, staff, or students?
- Does the law school consider LGBT status as a positive factor in the admission decision?
This list should be just a beginning for you. In addition to these questions, you may wish to ask whether there have been any instances of harassment in recent years, or whether, if necessary, university housing is available for you and your partner. Every law school admission professional should be able to answer questions like these. You may want to consider asking all of the above questions at law schools that have not provided data for this brochure. Also keep in mind that there are other significant issues that will guide your decision about where to attend law school, including such important things as programs of study, financial aid availability, and campus diversity.
Even the most LGBT-friendly law school may have some faculty and students who are less than enthusiastic about the presence and integration of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. Nevertheless, you, like many before you, will be able to find a law school where you will feel at home.
Diversity Issues
According to data received in response to a survey 
conducted by LSAC, LGBT students also belong to a variety of other communities. Specifically, many LGBT students who responded to the survey said that they are also members of religious communities or race or ethnic groups, or are disabled. As such, LGBT students are likely to have a broad interest in diversity that includes but is not limited to sexual orientation. If you have an interest in diversity, whether it is because you would add to the diversity of the law school or you want to focus your practice on issues impacting diverse communities, you should ask law school representatives about their school’s policies and programs designed to bring about diversity in legal education. You should make sure their vision of diversity fits your own. It is particularly important to consider your own definition of diversity and how a particular law school and its community are best prepared to facilitate the type of legal education and practice you envision for yourself.
