Yes. Our admitted students welcome packet includes a list of student organizations. We have several active student groups that support our diverse student body and work to highlight legal issues that impact minority groups. These include the LGBT Law Forum, Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Students Association, and Asian Law Students Association.
Yes. Students are able to self-identify as LGBTQ+ in the personal statement portion of their admissions application.
Prospective students may include their preferred names on their admissions application. The Law School uses a student’s preferred name when communicating about admissions decisions.
No. All applicants are considered for scholarships primarily based on academic merit, as well as factors like leadership skills, community service, and other outstanding personal or professional accomplishments.
Yes. The LGBT Law Forum has funding that is used by students to travel to Lavender Law and other LGBTQ+-focused conferences and career fairs. This funding is provided by Law School alumni donations and allocations from the Dean’s office, similar to funding for other affinity groups (BLSA, HLSA, ALSA).
Notre Dame is committed to building an inclusive community and welcomes all individuals. The University’s Spirit of Inclusion can be reviewed at: http://diversity.nd.edu/ and http://diversity.nd.edu/together-at-notre-dame/.
The University of Notre Dame recognizes all legal marriages and provides benefits to spouses regardless of whether they are same-sex or opposite-sex couples.
The University of Notre Dame recognizes all legal marriages and provides benefits to spouses regardless of whether they are same-sex or opposite-sex couples.
The University of Notre Dame does not offer additional health benefits to transgender employees beyond that offered to all employees.
The University of Notre Dame does not offer additional health benefits to transgender students beyond that offered to all students.
All Notre Dame employees must attend diversity and inclusion training. The Law School does not provide any Law School-specific diversity training sessions for faculty and staff.
Yes. Both Law School buildings have multiple single-stall unisex restrooms that may be used by persons of any gender.
When legal issues affecting LGBTQ+ individuals are relevant to a course topic, instructors may choose to incorporate them into the course. The Law School does not have a course focusing specifically on LGBTQ+ legal issues.
Yes. The Law School’s LGBT Law Forum is a recognized student organization that focuses on legal issues relevant to LGBTQ+ individuals. Their recent activities have included a TRANSformative Legal Topics panel, co-sponsoring the Notre Dame annual GlobaLGBTQ+ Film Festival at DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and an upcoming program featuring Jim Obergefell.
The Law School has a non-discrimination policy which includes a prohibition against sexual and discriminatory harassment. The full policy can be found here: https://law.nd.edu/admissions/apply/non-discrimination-policy/
Students are also subject to the University’s policy against discriminatory harassment, which specifically prohibits offensive, unwelcome conduct or language based on sexual orientation. The University’s policy can be found here: https://dulac.nd.edu/community-standards/standards/dh.
The Law School believes that we can only flourish as an institution when we are welcoming of students from all backgrounds and life experiences. We embrace the University’s Spirit of Inclusion, which states in part:
“The University of Notre Dame strives for a spirit of inclusion among the members of this community for distinct reasons articulated in our Christian tradition. We prize the uniqueness of all persons as God’s creatures. We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality, for example, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as we desire to be treated. We value gay and lesbian members of this community as we value all members of this community. We condemn harassment of any kind, and University policies proscribe it. We consciously create an environment of mutual respect, hospitality and warmth in which none are strangers and all may flourish.”
As part of Notre Dame Law School’s commitment to educating a “different kind of lawyer,” we intentionally seek out all students who have an interest in social justice and public service. This includes prospective students who identify as LGBTQ+ and seek to use their legal education to be a force for good in the world, often through a career in activism, social justice, or service to the public.