All admitted students are encouraged to review the website listing of the various student affinity groups. Additionally, at our annual admitted students weekend, members from nearly all of the affinity groups, including Outlaw, are available to chat and meet with admitted students.
In addition, Outlaw has a descriptive flyer that is widely available for prospective and admitted students throughout the year.
On our application we have a series of questions that permits applicants to self-identify and notifies those completing the questions that by doing so they grant permission for their contact information to be shared with various student organizations including Outlaw.
The law school makes every attempt to support students to be referred to by their preferred name/lived name.
Although many of our LGBTQ+ students will be eligible for both our scholarship aid and need based aid, we do not have any scholarships specifically set aside for LGBTQ+ students. We do provide a current list of substantial outside scholarships that are available for LGBTQ+ students and are delighted that in recent years, many of our continuing students have received these awards.
We have supported students attending the Lavender Law Conference and encourage individual or student organizations to seek funding support.
Additionally, every year the law school supports a student sponsored symposium. In 2018, Outlaw hosted a national two-day conference on the topic of health care and legal rights of transgender and gender non-conforming people
The law school adheres to the university’s policy of non-discrimination. In addition to a dedicated HR director and staff at the law school, the law school also has a faculty member who serves as the Equity Officer as required by the university.
Yes, since 1998 UC began offering health coverage to eligible domestic partners and added pension survivor benefits in 2002. UC provides benefits such as health insurance, family medical leave, parental leave on equal terms to same-sex couples who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.
Many of the UC benefits may extend to the domestic partner and, in some cases, your partner’s child or grandchild. In general, UC does not provide in-vitro fertilization and/or adoption benefits.
Because all UC students are required to have medical insurance, all registered law students are automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP) specifically GSHIP (graduate) unless they waive out by showing proof of other coverage.
Student enrolled in UCSHIP and are married and/or have children, may enroll eligible dependents in the same medical, pharmacy, dental and vision coverage.
https://shc.uci.edu/insurance/uc-ship-benefits-and-information/gship
Yes, as required by California state policy, all carriers are required to provide transition-related health benefits to transgender and/or transitioning employees
https://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/3920
There are various health insurance plans available to employees offered from various providers. Transgender related benefits are available and subject to the provisions set by each individual provider.
With the appropriate referrals, including subject to pre-certification, deductible and co-insurance, the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) covers gender-affirming surgeries, associated travel expenses including transportation, hotel accommodations and other reasonable expenses. Services considered cosmetic are not covered by UCSHIP.
https://shc.uci.edu/sites/default/files/docs/2018-19%20UCSHIP%20Transgender%20Benefits%20Flier_0.pdf
The law school does provide gender-inclusive restrooms and will be determining the process to convert restrooms throughout all of the law school buildings. The signage on the restroom states “Inclusive Restroom”.
In accordance with the University’s non-discrimination policies, the guidelines for the provision of gender inclusive facilities including restrooms, affirm that individuals have the right to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity.
https://www.ucop.edu/construction-services/facilities-manual/resource-directories-rds/rd4-project-programmatic-guidelines/rd-4-1.html
Routinely the law school offers a course titled “Sexual Orientation and the Law”.
Other courses offered over the last three years:
- Contemporary Issues in Gender Equality Litigation
- Disparate LGBTIQ Criminalization & Incarceration
Yes, the law school has a Non-discrimination Policy that specifically includes gender, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
https://www.law.uci.edu/academics/registrar/policies/non-discrimination.html
Since the opening of the law school in 2009, UCI Law has remained committed to building and maintaining a community that is inclusive and welcoming for all students, faculty, staff and administrators. The culture and climate has been enhanced by both formal and informal mechanisms.
The law school is enriched by the Equity and Diversity Committee, comprised of a coalition of 1L, 2L and 3L students, faculty, staff and administrators. The Equity and Diversity Committee takes an active role to lead in the creation of a diverse, equitable, and welcoming environment and where possible strives to create change and address issues of equity and diversity through support, advocacy, and education.
Informal mechanisms include the various opportunities that law school faculty and administrators engage in, both on-campus and off-campus to embrace the community. Whether hosting or sponsoring group events in their homes or attending the local LGBTQ bar association events, many faculty and staff make themselves available throughout the academic year and summer recess.
Outlaw and other members of the student body are organized within the largest LGBTQ Center in Orange County. The Center, as it is known, in the City of Santa Ana offers a Gender and Name Change clinic one night each month where the general public is assisted with the necessary steps and completion of legal documents by members of Outlaw and other UCI Law school students.
Yes, the law school actively engages in best practices to encourage and support recruiting activities and outreach events specifically to individuals who identify as LGBTQ + or gender non-conforming. UCI Law sends representatives, often out LGBTQ+ staff and students to law school fairs, pre-law events and conferences to meet with prospective students. The admissions office works closely with the law school’s LGBTQ+ student organization, Outlaw, to host events for admitted students during our Admitted Students Weekend.