In 2020, Capital University Law School Office of Admission will offer students the opportunity to self-identify as LGBTQ+ in admission applications, in addition to opportunities to provide their chosen first name and gender identity. For the past several years we have accessed the information from the LSAC. Our Office of Professional Development allows students to utilize their chosen name and gender identity in Symplicity, the Law School’s career management system. Our Office of Records and Registration likewise allows students to utilize their chosen name and gender identity on class rosters.
Capital University Law School proudly and actively seeks to employ diverse faculty, staff, and administrators, including visible and out LGBTQ+ individuals as evidenced by the openly LGBTQ+ colleagues identified in questions 8 &9. Additionally, those individuals serve on hiring committees, share job postings with LGBTQ+ sections, subcommittees, and affinity groups, and disseminate employment opportunities at Capital University Law School within their personal and professional networks.
As of 2020, Capital Law School administers a voluntary self-identification survey.
Capital University’s employee medical benefits policy does include a specific section on Gender Dysphoria, which includes hysterectomies for Female to Male, as well as many other surgery treatments (outlined for both Male to Female and Female to Male). There is not anything in the policy that limits genders for the services mentioned. However, the assisted reproduction services are an exclusion for all – therefore equal, but can be considered not fully inclusive given the benefits offered under “Pregnancy – Maternity Services.”
Capital University is currently in the process of adopting a new parental leave policy that is equal to all parents. The “current” policy, while it allows all parents the entire FMLA 12 weeks, it limits sick days for the parents who are not the “primary caretaker.” The new policy addresses these issues and is expected to be through approvals in the coming weeks.
PPO and parental leave policies will be emailed by Jasmine Marks.
The response to number 17 is no. Capital University Law School does not offer health benefits to any law student or to their spouse/registered domestic partner.
The response to number 18 is no. Capital University Law School does not offer health benefits to any law student or to their spouse/registered domestic partner.
As a full-time faculty member in Clinical PSy.D. and the Director for the Center for Health and Wellness – Cathy McDaniels Wilson has taught a course of Multiculturalism/Working with Diverse Clientele. In addition, McDaniels Wilson has been in independent practice for over 20 years and has continued to provide service to many LBGTQ+ clients. McDaniels Wilson has also completed numerous trainings on how to provide culturally relevant care to diverse populations.
Doug Buzenski, Counselor for the Center for Health and Wellness has also completed numerous trainings and has clinical experience working with LGBTQ+ clients in various settings.
Capital University Law School provides gender-neutral restrooms. Signage identifies the facilities as “All Gender Restroom” in compliance with campus signage rules.
Capital University Law School offers the course 846 – Sexual Minorities and the Law. Critical Race Theory also focuses on issues of identity and power.
Yes. Capital University Law School has an active, visible, and supported LGBTQ+ and ally student affinity organization called the Capital Equality Alliance. Student Affairs provides annual funding to Capital Equality Alliance. Provided in part by the generosity of donors and alumni, the Office of Professional Development will reimburse up to $50 of a student’s registration fee for job fairs and similar opportunities. Students have utilized these opportunities to attend events like Lavender Law, and other LGBTQ+ related professional fairs.
Capital University Law School now offers monthly programming to faculty, staff, administrators, or students that focuses on increasing cultural competence and equity.
Capital University Law School promotes a safe, inclusive, and welcoming learning atmosphere for LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and administrators, and has been such an environment for many years. The Law School faculty and administration were instrumental in moving the University to recognize and to offer same-sex couples in domestic partnerships health and other benefits many years before marriage equality became a reality. Capital University Law School also encourages student, faculty, and staff participation in LGBTQ+ affinity groups and diversity-related programming through the Columbus Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association.In addition, the Law School is a proud LGBTQ+ community partner. In 2001, the Law School and the Capital University Law Review hosted a national symposium that addressed, analyzed, and debated marriage equality. Today, under the Law School’s leadership the University is a continued sponsor of the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade and Festival. Diversity-related programming and intersectional partnerships throughout the Columbus community are also provided. Additionally, Capital University Law School routinely partners with Equitas Health and the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to host a name change clinic focused on serving the local transgender population. Capital University Law School LGBTQ+ faculty and staff have been and continue to be active in advancing the recognition of the LGBTQ+ community within the legal profession. Currently, Jason Owen, the Assisstant Dean of Admission, actively serves on the LSAC Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Subcommittee and was instrumental in the planning of the inaugural LSAC Equality Conference. He has also participated in two of the last three National LGBT Bar Association’s Lavender Law Conferences on behalf of the LSAC and Capital University Law School. Shawn Beem, the current Assistant Dean for Professional Development, served as the Chair of the former LGBT Section of NALP. He also co-authored NALP’s informative brochure, “To Be Out or Not to Be Out? Information for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Job Applicants.” Professor Mark Strasser has published extensively in the area of LGBTQ+ and family law and is the author of such books as, Separate But Equal” No More: A Guide to the Legal Status of Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Other Partnerships and Legally Wed: Same-Sex Marriage and the Constitution. Professor Strasser has published nearly a dozen articles on the broader topic of the LGBTQ+ community’s relationship with the law, with topics ranging from DOMA to parental rights. Professor Rick Wood has also worked extensively in the area of LGBTQ+ law, as he spent time working to defeat the Briggs Initiative in California, and has chaired the AALS Section of Gay and Lesbian Legal Issues.
Capital University Law School proudly and intentionally seeks out LGBTQ+ prospective students through a variety of methods including: targeted emails to those who self-identify through the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) Candidate Referral Service; our annual sponsorship and presence at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade and Festival, which boasts attendance of over 800,000 people each year, and includes invitations to all prospective and admitted students; display and distribution of Capital Law and LSAC branded LGBTQ+ promotional materials at all law student recruitment events and Capital Law future student events; and annual and consistent participation in the LSAC’s LGBTQ+ Guide to Law Schools available at: https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/diversity-law-school/lgbtq-and-law-school/law-school-lgbtq-survey-results/capital