Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay? Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
- Posts: 427954
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
I just started a federal clerkship and am wanting to apply to big law firms for associate positions starting in the fall of 2013. I know several firms value diversity; should I mention I'm gay when I'm applying? Will that help at all? If so, how should I do it?
- Lincoln
- Posts: 1208
- Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:27 pm
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
List any LGBT activities or organizations in which you participated on your resume.
-
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:25 pm
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
And if you didn't participate in any, don't bring this up at all IMO. It could come across like you're trying to use it to your advantage.
-
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:07 am
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
On my resume I listed that I was a member of OUTLaw (even though I wasn't active at all in the organization). For firms that play up their commitment to LGBT diversity on their websites (most of biglaw), I included in my cover letter a sentence along the lines of: "BLANK firm's exceptional reputation in BLANK field, as well as its strong commitment to LGBT diversity, makes your firm especially enticing."
I was really surprised at OCI because, at least at the screening stage, I felt like I was preselected by far more biglaw firms than my numbers deserved. I think that my "LGBT status" was the only unusual part of either my resume or cover letter, so I think that definitely helped me get a foot in the door.
I was really surprised at OCI because, at least at the screening stage, I felt like I was preselected by far more biglaw firms than my numbers deserved. I think that my "LGBT status" was the only unusual part of either my resume or cover letter, so I think that definitely helped me get a foot in the door.
-
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 12:58 pm
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
Definitely. I think it was an advantage in interviewing to be open. I interviewed with a way disproportionate number of gay associates and partners, which they obviously planned. It works out very well because in many cases you have an easy connection. I also think it piqued some firms' interest. There isn't any boost necessarily, but law firms are definitely interested in looking diverse, and anything that stands out on your resume is an advantage. Even if you've never really been involved in any LGBT organizations, you should put down that you were a member of OUTLaw at your law school or something in your activities--something simple to indicate that you're gay.
Caveat that this advice is true for the NY market. I do have one friend who focused on NY and TX (and is from Texas) and definitely got a hostile/cold reception to having LGBT-related activities on his resume in TX. Outside of the South, definitely include it.
Caveat that this advice is true for the NY market. I do have one friend who focused on NY and TX (and is from Texas) and definitely got a hostile/cold reception to having LGBT-related activities on his resume in TX. Outside of the South, definitely include it.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:07 am
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
Re cold reception in TX: I'm from Texas, go to UT, and only applied to TX firms and can honestly say I have never gotten anything close to a cold reception concerning being "out." It might hurt you some with the smaller, more regional and conservative firms, but for biglaw I think it's almost always a boost.BenJ wrote:Definitely. I think it was an advantage in interviewing to be open. I interviewed with a way disproportionate number of gay associates and partners, which they obviously planned. It works out very well because in many cases you have an easy connection. I also think it piqued some firms' interest. There isn't any boost necessarily, but law firms are definitely interested in looking diverse, and anything that stands out on your resume is an advantage. Even if you've never really been involved in any LGBT organizations, you should put down that you were a member of OUTLaw at your law school or something in your activities--something simple to indicate that you're gay.
Caveat that this advice is true for the NY market. I do have one friend who focused on NY and TX (and is from Texas) and definitely got a hostile/cold reception to having LGBT-related activities on his resume in TX. Outside of the South, definitely include it.
I wouldn't be screaming it out loud during an interview, but if the firm is especially into LGBT diversity then that is a great way to answer "Why X firm?" (It definitely got me one of my callbacks.)
-
- Posts: 427954
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Diversity question: Tell firms you're gay?
As a UT law student with several out friends, I can confidently say that your friend's experience is not the norm at any respectable firm in Austin/Houston.BenJ wrote:Definitely. I think it was an advantage in interviewing to be open. I interviewed with a way disproportionate number of gay associates and partners, which they obviously planned. It works out very well because in many cases you have an easy connection. I also think it piqued some firms' interest. There isn't any boost necessarily, but law firms are definitely interested in looking diverse, and anything that stands out on your resume is an advantage. Even if you've never really been involved in any LGBT organizations, you should put down that you were a member of OUTLaw at your law school or something in your activities--something simple to indicate that you're gay.
Caveat that this advice is true for the NY market. I do have one friend who focused on NY and TX (and is from Texas) and definitely got a hostile/cold reception to having LGBT-related activities on his resume in TX. Outside of the South, definitely include it.
Edit: I'm also from the North, so I can understand a wariness about having resume that screams LGBT in the South, but I really think it is not a concern at all. It might be a boost, or it might not matter at all. Firms want money. They aren't country clubs.