The Office of Admissions sends out CRs to targeted groups, highlighting programs specifically that relate to the LGBTQ+ applicant pool, LGBTQ+ legal issues, and members of the bench and bar. We also advertise in the local gay press. After admission, we invite admitted students to small groups and one on one conversations with members of the community that identify as LGBTQ+.
The admitted student packet links to newsletters that celebrate various underrepresented minority groups including LGBTQ+.
It is available on the application
NYLS asks for preferred name and pronouns on its admissions application. NYLS has also adopted a “Preferred Name Policy” to ensure that any community member can be referred to by their preferred name instead of their legal name. Community members may prefer to be called by names other than their legal names for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to their gender identity and expression. The Law School will support and honor those preferences to the maximum extent possible.
We continually look to employ diverse community members and use various methods to increase diverse recruitment. This is reflected in our institutional diversity plan which guides our efforts in this area. Our Dean and President is one of only a handful of openly LGBTQ+ law deans in the nation and provides a great deal of leadership and inspiration in supporting the hiring, promotion, and retention of LGBTQ+ faculty, administration and staff. In addition to our Dean and President, our Academic Dean, and Dean for Clinical and Experiential Learning are from the LGBTQ+ community.
During our onboarding process, new hires are requested to complete Voluntary Ethnicity & Race Information Form which includes gender identity. Also, there is a section for voluntary gender information in our Human Resources system used during onboarding.
https://www.empireblue.com/dam/medpolicies/ebcbs/active/guidelines/gl_pw_a051166.html
https://www.empireblue.com/dam/medpolicies/ebcbs/active/guidelines/gl_pw_a051166.html
There are seven all-gender restrooms throughout our facility, and as appropriate there is signage posting the applicable all-gender and accessibility icons. Five of the seven restrooms are single occupancy (5 stalls). The remaining two accommodate multiple users (three stalls). 6 of the 7 restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
We offer a single course, entitled Sexuality and the Law, that covers both topics in depth, and is offered annually.
In partnership with the NYC LGBT Bar Association, NYLS publishes the definitive chronicle of LGBTQ+ legal developments globally — LGBT Law Notes. NYLS provides substantial resources to support its faculty members, and student research assistants, working to produce this seminal publication. NYLS students regularly receive support to attend the Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair and other conferences. There is regular participation in annual NYC marches, such as the Pride Parade. There is additional funding available and students can submit proposals/requests to attend other events.
NYLS partners with the NYC LGBT Bar Association to host annually, at NYLS, the metro NY LGBT career fair for law students. NYLS is regularly a sponsor of the LGBT Bar Association’s annual gala, and Dean Crowell takes a large group of Outlaws to the event each year. NYLS also hosted the Human Rights Conference tied to NYC’s hosting of World Pride in 2019. The Dean has been listed in Crain’s NY influential LGBT executives, and will be named to City & State NY’s Top 100 Influential LGBTQ+ leaders in its Pride Month edition. Further, this past year, one of NYLS’s esteemed alumni, Judge Anthony Cannataro ‘96, was appointed to the NY Court of Appeals, NY’s highest court. He is currently the only LGBTQ+ member of the court, and the second in its history. Judge Cannataro is a member of the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and mentors many NYLS students.
Yes, optional for all faculty/staff/administrators
Yes, mandatory for all students
NYLS has a Preferred Name Policy that states all community members should use and be respectful of preferred names and pronouns of other community members. The IT department is available to provide help with making any changes on Zoom or other technology as needed.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion and providing a safe environment for NYLS’s LGBTQ+ community members is a top priority at New York Law School. Indeed, the Dean and President of New York Law School is himself one of just a handful of openly LGBTQ+ law deans among the nation’s 200. Representation is key, and to that end, in addition to actively recruiting more diverse faculty, staff, and students, the Law School’s Board of Trustees now includes two openly LGBTQ+ members. One of them is a person of color. There is also a dedicated team leading the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as a standing Faculty Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
https://www.nyls.edu/notice-of-non-discrimination