LGBTQ+ individuals have found places in every area of legal education and legal practice, including organizing small law firms, taking seats on the bench, and working in law firms specializing in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Use our resources to help you find your place — there has never been a more important time for more LGBTQ+ individuals to join the fight for justice.
Choosing an LGBTQ+-Friendly Law School
LSAC’s LGBTQ+ Guide to Law Schools helps applicants gauge the LGBTQ+ climates of prospective law schools. The info in this guide is provided by the law schools themselves and provides another way to help applicants determine if a law school is the right fit for them.
Coming Out on Your Application
As an LGBTQ+ person, you often must decide whether or not to be out, under what circumstances, and with whom. When applying to law school, some people will conclude that their sexual orientation or gender identity is irrelevant and choose not to mention it. Others view it as an integral part of who they are and will discuss it openly. Many fall somewhere in between. You may be out on some applications and not on others.
Find LGBTQ+-Friendly Law Schools
Consider how a particular law school and its community are best prepared to facilitate the type of legal education and practice you envision for yourself. Ask law school representatives about their school’s policies and programs that are designed to increase access to legal education.
Most law schools welcome all applicants and promote a welcoming and inclusive community. In fact, you may find that the choices available to you are somewhat overwhelming. As a savvy consumer of legal education, you will ultimately want to attend the law school that is the best fit for you, which means doing some research and asking a lot of questions. You’ll want to ask questions pertaining to the classroom experience, the student population, career issues, and overall support from the law school you may attend.