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Drake014 wrote:I don't think you quite understand what underrepresented means. Underrepresented does not mean there are few of you. It means that your representation in the general population is significantly less more than your representation in both law schools and lawyers. For instance, if you make up .001% of the general population, you should make up somewhere around .001% of the lawyer/law school population.

At this time, only African Americans, Chicanos or Mexicans, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans are considered URMs. Everyone else should write a diversity statement.

FTFY. Underrepresented is referring to the group's representation in the legal world, meaning that there is a smaller percentage in the law than there is in the general population.

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FutureJayDee wrote:Just as all blacks are not necessarily African American, not all blacks are necessarily part of the URM category.

Law school applications do not differentiate between Africans and African Americans (it's the same box). So they are all considered the same for admissions purposes.

I'm a 1/4 Native American, enrolled. And 3/4 white.

If I check the NA and White boxes will I still get a boost? Also, do you have to write a DS to get a boost?

Trips wrote:I'm a 1/4 Native American, enrolled. And 3/4 white.

If I check the NA and White boxes will I still get a boost? Also, do you have to write a DS to get a boost?

Yes. No, but it helps.

Sorry if this is the incorrect place to ask this, but law firms also give some sort of boost to URMs, correct? If so, do law firms define "URM" as narrowly as law schools do? Also, how do firms know if one is a URM on the basis of a resume alone, assuming they don't expressly ask candidates their race the way LSAC does?

Thanks.

pret wrote:Sorry if this is the incorrect place to ask this, but law firms also give some sort of boost to URMs, correct? If so, do law firms define "URM" as narrowly as law schools do? Also, how do firms know if one is a URM on the basis of a resume alone, assuming they don't expressly ask candidates their race the way LSAC does?

Thanks.

As to the first part of your question, there are diversity SA fellowships offered by a number of firms to 1Ls. To my knowledge, Munger Tolles, for example, only hires 1Ls through their diversity program. So I would say, yes, there is a boost.

As to the second part, URM and diversity sometimes overlap and sometimes don't in firm hiring. I know anecdotally of an LGBT applicant who got a boost, and I think strictly speaking that LGBT is not defined as a URM. So maybe one can infer that (some) firms are interested in diversity which I would say is a broader category than URM.

pret wrote:Sorry if this is the incorrect place to ask this, but law firms also give some sort of boost to URMs, correct? If so, do law firms define "URM" as narrowly as law schools do? Also, how do firms know if one is a URM on the basis of a resume alone, assuming they don't expressly ask candidates their race the way LSAC does?

Thanks.

This has been argued back and forth on TLS, but I don't think a definitive answer has been given either way. You can telegraph it by being in a club (e.g. LLSA, BLSA). As the above poster noted, being a minority does give you access to 1L Diversity SA's and minority job fairs that non-minority candidates don't.

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twentypercentmore wrote:I am 1/4 Mexican American, 3/4 white. In the past, if I've had the option to put multiple races, I put Mexican and Caucasian.

1) Does this mean I get less of a boost than someone who only checks the MA box?
2) Some things on TLS are "wtf yes" questions, like "Should I retake, I have a 4.0 and a 154? ". When I say "Should I write a diversity statement?" is that a "Yeah... probably." or "wtf yes!" I live in a heavily Mexican-American area, and the vast majority of my friends are MA, but I haven't exactly had a lot of hardships... so I feel like a DS would be sort of lame, if you get what I'm saying. On the other hand, I'll write it if it's wtf yes.

Also, since I'm... frankly, more white than MA, if I show up at ASW diversity week, will people be NOT MEXICAN ENOUGH GTFO. ?

1. No, you get the same boost (speaking from experience: I'm 1/4 MA/PR). First, they can't tell whether you're 1/4 MA or 3/4 MA. Second, even if they could I'm still sure they wouldn't care.
2. Yes write a DS. A DS isn't necessarily about overcoming hardships (mine wasn't because I really hadn't), but more about highlighting what makes you unique.

lol no they won't. The people in LLSA at NU are some of the whitest Hispanics I've ever met.

From everything I have read in this thread, URM seems to only imply certain racial/ethnic groups. I have talked with various people and looked around on the internet (without much luck) about individuals with physical disabilities/handicaps being included as URM. I don't know for a fact, but I would assume that individuals with physical disabilities are less represented in law schools than they are in the general US population.

My question is; if one were to have a handicap would they be able to check URM (even if white) and include a DS to explain their circumstances and how they would help diversify a law school community?

Thanks

So I have been debating about this with my parents...

My mother has one parent from Mexico (her mother) and one parent (her father) an American (hispanic- last name Sanchez)

My father is of European descent- therefore Caucasian.

SO- for purposes of filling out law school applications am I white (non-hispanic) or white (hispanic)

I'm so confused.

ab04825 wrote:So I have been debating about this with my parents...

My mother has one parent from Mexico (her mother) and one parent (her father) an American (hispanic- last name Sanchez)

My father is of European descent- therefore Caucasian.

SO- for purposes of filling out law school applications am I white (non-hispanic) or white (hispanic)

I'm so confused.

Non-hispanic. HTH.

Sorry, just for clarification- How does having a mother who is hispanic and a father who is caucasian = non-hispanic?

ab04825 wrote:Sorry, just for clarification- How does having a mother who is hispanic and a father who is caucasian = non-hispanic?

Put Hispanic. Don't listen to that guy.

ab04825 wrote:So I have been debating about this with my parents...

My mother has one parent from Mexico (her mother) and one parent (her father) an American (hispanic- last name Sanchez)

My father is of European descent- therefore Caucasian.

SO- for purposes of filling out law school applications am I white (non-hispanic) or white (hispanic)

I'm so confused.

What have you marked on every single ethnicity questionnaire you've had to fill out prior to law school?

Honestly it's something I've never really understood. I've always put White (hispanic), but my parents have always told me to put White.

I just wanted to get some other people's opinions.

ab04825 wrote:Honestly it's something I've never really understood. I've always put White (hispanic), but my parents have always told me to put White.

I just wanted to get some other people's opinions.

So you've put both white and hispanic? Just keep putting that since that's what you are. You are white and Mexican. You're also something else (you say that your mom's dad was American which isn't any sort of race and just because his last name is Sanchez doesn't necessarily mean he's Hispanic though it is probable).

On a technical level, Hispanic is an ethnicity. So all Hispanic people are technically a race as well (black/white/Asian/NA), however this is changing. Mexicans descendant from Europeans are technically white and Hispanic and Mexicans descendant from Natives are technically some form of NA (though most of them are both and it is rare for them to identify as NA). It is also becoming increasingly common for Hispanics to identify solely as Hispanic (and no race at all). This is largely since race/ethnicity are more arbitrary distinctions than anything.

Thank you for the insight everyone. I feel like race/ethnicity will continue to be a confusing talking point in America considering all of the intertwining relationships.

Hey all, quick question here...trying to get some assistance as I look into the process more.

Father born in South Africa. Mother born in Chicago. I was born in New York City, raised in a Jewish household (I know that's irrelevant pertaining to URM status, just thought it'd be interesting to include for informational purposes here). Do I fall under URM status? I have successfully applied for a South African passport through the U.S. consulate and am currently awaiting arrival of my S.A passport. Once that arrives, will have dual citizenship (U.S. and South Africa).

Thanks to all.

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rad lulz wrote:

jippy5 wrote:Hey all, quick question here...trying to get some assistance as I look into the process more.

Father born in South Africa. Mother born in Chicago. I was born in New York City, raised in a Jewish household (I know that's irrelevant pertaining to URM status, just thought it'd be interesting to include for informational purposes here). Do I fall under URM status? I have successfully applied for a South African passport through the U.S. consulate and am currently awaiting arrival of my S.A passport. Once that arrives, will have dual citizenship (U.S. and South Africa).

Thanks to all.

You white?

can't one be a *white* (south) african american?

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that seems off.

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