Diversity in Law School

Nondiscrimination Policy

It is the policy of the University of Miami School of Law not to discriminate on the basis of sex or sexual orientation in its education programs, admission policies, employment policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs.

Student Organization Contact Information

OUTLaw seeks to create a comfortable environment at the School of Law for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals and to educate the Law School community about gay and lesbian issues and culture through activities such as providing support services and sponsoring social, educational, and cultural events.

E-mail: tlambert@law.miami.edu

Faculty Contact Information

Professor Marc Fajer
E-mail: mfajer@law.miami.edu

Professor Stephen Urice
E-mail: surice@law.miami.edu

Administrator Contact Information

Lori L. Lorenzo
Associate Director, Diversity & Inclusion
E-mail: llorenzo@law.miami.edu
Phone: 305.284.8284

Raquel Matas
Associate Dean for Administration and Counsel for the Dean
E-mail: rmatas@law.miami.edu

Course Titles and/or Descriptions

The curriculum includes many courses that touch on sexuality and/or LGBT issues. A sample list includes Sexuality and the Law, Family Law, Feminism and the First Amendment, Housing Discrimination, Human Advocacy in Latin America, Inter-American System of Human Rights, Juvenile Justice Workshop, and Labor Law.

Domestic Partnership Benefits

The University of Miami offers same-sex domestic partner benefits to members of the faculty and staff. Detailed information can be found online at HR - Benefits Administration.

Additional Information

The University of Miami Law School has a long tradition of offering a tremendously supportive environment to LGBT students. Over two decades ago, through the efforts of out gay and lesbian students, law professors, administrators, and alumni, the Law School established itself as a leader in promoting full equality for LGBT people. Law School representatives helped establish an LGBT student organization on campus and an organization for LGBT attorneys in South Florida. The Law School was at the forefront of efforts to ensure that no employer who discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation would interview on campus, and it worked with the leadership of the Florida Bar to have Florida be one of the first states in the country to include sexual orientation among the categories of individuals protected by the Rules of Conduct of the Florida Bar.

This supportive environment is part of the fabric and culture of the Law School and continues to this day. The Law School has openly LGBT faculty, students, administrators, and prominent alumni. The Law Alumni Association has recognized and awarded the Law Alumna/us of Distinction Award to out gay alumni on the basis of the work the alumni have done on the LGBT front. Miami Law has openly LGBT alumni who are members of Iron Arrow, the prestigious University honor society. Student leaders organize numerous activities through OUTLaw, the LGBT student organization. OUTLaw offers an LGBT mentor program and also recently spearheaded an association for South Florida law schools' LGBT groups to work together. The university and the Law School have written policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and gay and lesbian university employees enjoy domestic partnership benefits. For the 2011–2012 academic year, Miami Law students elected the first out lesbian Student Bar Association President at Miami Law and probably the first among Florida law schools.

The Law School participates in the annual Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair, and the Career Development Office is both sensitive and proactive when helping LGBT students with employment opportunities.

Prospective students should not hesitate to contact the Admissions & Recruitment Office should they wish to be connected with one of our OUT students, faculty, or administrators to learn more about the LGBT environment at Miami Law.

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