The Law School encourages and solicits applications from candidates of any background, orientation, or identity, although it does not expressly request information about sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
A summary of the University health insurance policy for employees can be found here: https://hr-estus.fa.ua.edu/HRFormsOnlinePub/HR%20Forms%20%20Online/BenefitsGuide.pdf
Counseling for LGBTQA+ students at The University of Alabama is available through both the UA Counseling Center and The Women and Gender Resource Center.
“The mission of the UA Counseling Center is to help University of Alabama students achieve academic success and personal growth through quality brief counseling and psychological services, outreach and consultative services, and training of mental health professionals. The staff of the Counseling Center is committed to providing a supportive environment for LGBTQA+ identified and questioning students. For more information about the Counseling Center, visit the Counseling Center website or call 205-348-3863.” (https://safezone.sa.ua.edu/campus-resources/)
“The Women and Gender Resource Center provides free and confidential counseling for students, faculty, and staff who have experienced interpersonal violence, including stalking, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and sexual assault. All services are available to members of the LGBTQA+ community, and counselors are trained to address same-sex violence. The WGRC also provides academic advocacy, criminal justice and law enforcement advocacy, hospital accompaniment, and assistance with protection orders and social services. For more information about the WGRC, please visit the WGRC website, call 205-348-5040, or email wrc@sa.ua.edu.” (https://safezone.sa.ua.edu/campus-resources/)
The Law School has 6 gender-inclusive restrooms that are labeled with both male and female symbols. On building maps, where the restroom is gender-assigned, corresponding gender symbols are noted on the map; restrooms that are gender-inclusive are not marked with a symbol.
Gender & the Law
This year, the Career Services Office, in partnership with OutLaw (the Law School’s LGBTQ+ student organization), sponsored two events that specifically addressed the needs of LGBTQ+ students. The first, “Navigating the Workplace,” was a panel featuring attorneys who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and included a discussion of how allies could be better coworkers and create support systems for the community. The second event, presented in conjunction with the law firm of Wilson Sonsini, will offer mock interviews specifically to members of OutLaw, followed by a networking dinner.
Yes, optional for all students
The Law School provides a number of services to LGBTQIA+ students through the University. The University’s SafeZone Resource Center provides educational outreach, community support, and crisis intervention resources for LGBTQIA+ members of the University community and their allies. Capstone Alliance provides additional resources and programs specifically for LGBTQIA+ faculty, staff and graduate students. These programs include Lavender Graduation, which has regularly included students, faculty and staff from the Law School. GRADient is an organization specifically serving LGBTQIA+ graduate students and allies.
In addition to access to the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Law School has its own Office of Diversity and Inclusion, with a full-time Director of Diversity & Inclusion whose duties include addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ students. In addition to organizing the programs listed below (among others), this Office maintains a Diverse Experts Directory that allows alumni and friends of the Law School to provide information about their areas of expertise. This Directory allows members to volunteer information about whether they self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Student organizations, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use this directory when planning events to ensure panels, speakers, and writers for events are diverse.
The Law School has hosted a number of events that focus on issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community. A sampling of past events includes the following
– a symposium on “LGBT Antidiscrimination Law and Policy after Hobby Lobby.”
– an LGBT Issues Forum, at which the (then) U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Joyce Vance, gave a lecture about the U.S. Department of Justice’s role in protecting LGBTQ+ civil rights.
– a Transgender Passport Workshop to assist individuals in completing passport applications (co-sponsored by UA SafeZone)
– a Tolerance Means Dialogue event featuring Professor William N. Eskridge Jr. from Yale Law School and Robin Fretwell Wilson from the University of Illinois, who discussed “Religion and Gay Marriage: Do They Have to Be at Odds? Can Students Make a Difference?”
This year, the Career Services Office, in partnership with OutLaw (the Law School’s LGBTQ+ student organization), sponsored two events that specifically addressed the needs of LGBTQ+ students. The first, “Navigating the Workplace,” was a panel featuring attorneys who are members of the LGBTQ+ community and included a discussion of how allies could be better coworkers and create support systems for the community. The second event, presented in conjunction with the law firm of Wilson Sonsini, will offer mock interviews specifically to members of OutLaw, followed by a networking dinner.
The Law School seeks to admit a diverse student body. For example, the Law School participates in LSAC’s PLUS program, which brings students from diverse backgrounds (including students who identify as LGBTQ+) to campus.