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Rising 2L at a T20. Looking at a 3.1 for the first year going into OCI, Mock Trial and ADR boards. Journal admissions still pending. Currently working for an intermediate level trial court judge as a judicial intern and will be assuming the full responsibilities of the law clerk for the month of July when the current clerk leaves. White gay male, straight out of ugrad, school sponsored athlete during law school (not talking club sports here).

I've never played the sexuality card in pursuit of any sort of diversity admission to anything in the past, but given my unremarkable academic performance am seriously considering it. For 2L summer I'm going to be blanketing BigLaw in San Francisco, NY, Boston and DC, as well as some government jobs and maybe some nonprofits.

Just wondering if anyone has any info on diversity at play in BigLaw OCI hires. Additionally wondering whether playing the diversity card is even worth it, given the wholly unremarkable grades (ie, trading my soul for little-no improvement in hiring chances).

Thoughts?

I haven't heard of LGBTQ having an influence in Biglaw hiring, and nothing to the extent that race-based diversity influences hiring decisions.

Maybe this would be best discussed with your CSO, in theory it sounds like a good way to differentiate yourself from your other median classmates, but I can't really see what tangible benefits this would provide (and it's not ridiculous to think it might have negative effects)

Not going to help you at all.

First, firms like the kind of diversity that shows up in photographs.

Second, what are you going to do, say, "did I mention that I'm gay? You should totally give me a job!"

There is the Lavender career fair in Florida (I think). It's designed for LBGTQ candidates and I believe that a lot of employers participate.

As for OCI, hopefully you have already joined as many LBGTQ friendly/sexuality groups as possible, and placed them on your resume under your activities.

Renzo wrote:
Second, what are you going to do, say, "did I mention that I'm gay? You should totally give me a job!"

I didn't say I knew how to do it tactfully

Renzo wrote:Not going to help you at all.

First, firms like the kind of diversity that shows up in photographs.

Second, what are you going to do, say, "did I mention that I'm gay? You should totally give me a job!"

This is wrong. Many firms actively recruit LGBT employees and have events or conferences targeted at recruiting them.

OP: If you are a member of any LGBT group (e.g. OUTLaw) put it on your resume. If there is a local LGBT bar association - join it (student member fees are pretty cheap) and put it on your resume. Also, look into going to the Lavender Law conference. There is a big career fair and your school may very well pay for registration or travel to it.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:There is the Lavender career fair in Florida (I think). It's designed for LBGTQ candidates and I believe that a lot of employers participate.

As for OCI, hopefully you have already joined as many LBGTQ friendly/sexuality groups as possible, and placed them on your resume under your activities.

It's actually in Hollywood, CA this year. I am considering going to it. Has anyone been?

I have a question along the same lines. I'm probably not going to get any OCI interviews due to my grades which put me roughly at top 40% at school ranked 20-25, but just incase!

I'm gay, but as of now I don't put OUTLaw on my resume because I don't really like to have people automatically make some assumptions about the kind of person I am just because of my sexual orientation (though, I do go to OUTLaw events sometimes). I don't really come across as gay - I often have to tell people or they'd just assume I wasn't so I'd probably have to have something that identifies that I am gay on my resume. So far there seems to be some conflicting information in this thread as to whether or not being gay helps you at with OCI. I guess the question I'm trying to ask is that if you were in my situation, do you think it would be advantageous to go ahead and add OUTLaw to my resume for OCI? I'm also technically hispanic (and look it), though I've always declined to report my race on law school applications, standardized tests, etc as a matter of principle. Is there anyway to use any of this to my advantage? Also, I am not a member of LASLA and do not plan on becoming one.

I'm also going to assume that saying "I'm gay and hispanic" in an interview isn't exactly the best way to go about these things.

Anonymous User wrote:I have a question along the same lines. I'm probably not going to get any OCI interviews due to my grades which put me roughly at top 40% at school ranked 20-25, but just incase!

I'm gay, but as of now I don't put OUTLaw on my resume because I don't really like to have people automatically make some assumptions about the kind of person I am just because of my sexual orientation (though, I do go to OUTLaw events sometimes). I don't really come across as gay - I often have to tell people or they'd just assume I wasn't so I'd probably have to have something that identifies that I am gay on my resume. So far there seems to be some conflicting information in this thread as to whether or not being gay helps you at with OCI. I guess the question I'm trying to ask is that if you were in my situation, do you think it would be advantageous to go ahead and add OUTLaw to my resume for OCI? I'm also technically hispanic (and look it), though I've always declined to report my race on law school applications, standardized tests, etc as a matter of principle. Is there anyway to use any of this to my advantage? Also, I am not a member of LASLA and do not plan on becoming one.

I'm also going to assume that saying "I'm gay and hispanic" in an interview isn't exactly the best way to go about these things.

Honestly, it's hard to know if it helps. While having a Hispanic group on your resume will help you more than hurt you, putting a group that indicates that you are of a non-traditional orientation could potentially hurt you at some firms. The issue is, firms aren't open with their decisions so I suggest you look at both the racial diversity of firms and the openly gay diversity (or whatever it is called) on nalpdirectory.com before bidding on NALP employers (nalpdirectory.com has sections for both groups). If the numbers are nonexistent, then you may need to think twice about the firm unless 1) you really really want it and 2) your grades are competitive for them; "1)" is a personal decision and "2)" Career Services can help you with.

Regardless of what you decide, you should put OUTLaw (and other groups you are in) on your resume if you attend the Lavender Career Fair.

Also, the Lavender Career Fair was in FL last year - I guess I just assumed it was always in Florida.

My school actually doesn't have OUTlaw (that I'm aware of). We have an organization called Lambda law but I haven't connected with them.

Athletics kept me pretty busy during the course of the year, so short of the board and journal competitions I didn't do much else. Went to a few Environmental Law Association meetings, but that was about it.

Also if anyone has attended Lavender Law before and has any information on what the career fair is like, please share.