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Hi everyone,

I've read on several schools' websites that sexual orientation and gender identity is taken into account in the creation of a diverse law class. I was just wondering, on a more practical level, if being an LGBT person gives one any advantage in the application process. One could definitely argue that openly LGBT people are historically under-represented in the legal profession because (a) they're historically under-represented everywhere and (b) really anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male has historically been excluded from the legal profession. Anyways, any thoughts/knowledge/comments/questions/concerns would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Nope.

I'd go gay for Harvard.

DaftAndDirect wrote:I'd go gay for Harvard.

For that TTT? Gunners only go gay for Stanford.

evan214 wrote:Hi everyone,

I've read on several schools' websites that sexual orientation and gender identity is taken into account in the creation of a diverse law class. I was just wondering, on a more practical level, if being an LGBT person gives one any advantage in the application process. One could definitely argue that openly LGBT people are historically under-represented in the legal profession because (a) they're historically under-represented everywhere and (b) really anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male has historically been excluded from the legal profession. Anyways, any thoughts/knowledge/comments/questions/concerns would be appreciated.

Thanks!

It depends, and things can shift over time. Sexual orientation is becoming more and more a statistic in firm diversity, so I imagine law schools will follow suit. The whole diversity initiative is totally inconsistent and not really fair. But it's the best solution we have right now to let minorities break into the good ol' boys club that is most law firms.

1800calturk wrote:

evan214 wrote:Hi everyone,

I've read on several schools' websites that sexual orientation and gender identity is taken into account in the creation of a diverse law class. I was just wondering, on a more practical level, if being an LGBT person gives one any advantage in the application process. One could definitely argue that openly LGBT people are historically under-represented in the legal profession because (a) they're historically under-represented everywhere and (b) really anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male has historically been excluded from the legal profession. Anyways, any thoughts/knowledge/comments/questions/concerns would be appreciated.

Thanks!

It depends, and things can shift over time. Sexual orientation is becoming more and more a statistic in firm diversity, so I imagine law schools will follow suit. The whole diversity initiative is totally inconsistent and not really fair. But it's the best solution we have right now to let minorities break into the good ol' boys club that is most law firms.

If anything, it'll incentivize those darn bisexual wannabe lawyers to get off the fence.

DaftAndDirect wrote:If anything, it'll incentivize those darn bisexual wannabe lawyers to get off the fence.

It doesn't give you URM status but it definitely opens the gate for the school's OUTLaw to track you down during your 0L summer and/or fall orientation.

DaftAndDirect wrote:

1800calturk wrote:

evan214 wrote:Hi everyone,

I've read on several schools' websites that sexual orientation and gender identity is taken into account in the creation of a diverse law class. I was just wondering, on a more practical level, if being an LGBT person gives one any advantage in the application process. One could definitely argue that openly LGBT people are historically under-represented in the legal profession because (a) they're historically under-represented everywhere and (b) really anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male has historically been excluded from the legal profession. Anyways, any thoughts/knowledge/comments/questions/concerns would be appreciated.

Thanks!

It depends, and things can shift over time. Sexual orientation is becoming more and more a statistic in firm diversity, so I imagine law schools will follow suit. The whole diversity initiative is totally inconsistent and not really fair. But it's the best solution we have right now to let minorities break into the good ol' boys club that is most law firms.

If anything, it'll incentivize those darn bisexual wannabe lawyers to get off the fence.

I lol'd.

W&L

DaftAndDirect wrote:

1800calturk wrote:

evan214 wrote:Hi everyone,

I've read on several schools' websites that sexual orientation and gender identity is taken into account in the creation of a diverse law class. I was just wondering, on a more practical level, if being an LGBT person gives one any advantage in the application process. One could definitely argue that openly LGBT people are historically under-represented in the legal profession because (a) they're historically under-represented everywhere and (b) really anyone who isn't a heterosexual white male has historically been excluded from the legal profession. Anyways, any thoughts/knowledge/comments/questions/concerns would be appreciated.

Thanks!

It depends, and things can shift over time. Sexual orientation is becoming more and more a statistic in firm diversity, so I imagine law schools will follow suit. The whole diversity initiative is totally inconsistent and not really fair. But it's the best solution we have right now to let minorities break into the good ol' boys club that is most law firms.

If anything, it'll incentivize those darn bisexual wannabe lawyers to get off the fence.

^Lol, true. You better believed I clicked bisexual on every app that it would let me! It probably didn't make a difference for admission, but Ohio State gave me a diversity scholarship--I frickin' kid you not. I felt like I had cheated someone else out of it (as a middle-class white girl). I mean, besides bi and a first-generation, there is nothing "diverse" about me! My "diversity" scholarship talked about the intersectionality of my UG major, but that's about it. I'm not going there, though, so I guess it did get freed up for someone more deserving.

Moral of the story: it might not get you an admission boost, but it very well might get you a $ boost!

I replied to one of those Regent Law spam e-mails once with an "I'm gay." I'll let you know what their reply is. Still waiting.

I think it's helpful at the margins. But certainly not to the same degree as a racial URM status. If you can incorporate it into a well written PS, that will boost your application.

One way it does come in play is 1L diversity SA positions and diversity scholarships. You can get these as LGBT.