Our admissions application has an optional question that asks applicants whether they identify as LGBTQ+.
We offer The Barbara J. Cox and Steven K. Russell Endowed Scholarship in Support of LGBTQ Equality, established to support students who demonstrate an intent to protect and advance the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In addition, we offer diversity scholarships, which are awarded to LGBTQ+ students and others who advance the cause of diversity.
CWSL’s Human Resources Department (“HR”) promotes diversity by posting job ads on various websites and listserves including those administered by diversity groups. There is no standard (across the board) practice, as each recruitment is different. Hiring managers may write specific diversity statements.
HR allows for voluntary self-ID in regards to race/ethnicity, gender, disability status, and veteran status. We do not collect data on gender identity or sexual orientation.
In response to 15b.: Medical services are covered as long as they are medically necessary. Parental leave (PFL) is applied equally to all employees. CWSL does not have a policy that restricts receipt of medical services, however, to determine eligibility for our plan, the beneficiary must be a full-time employee or a dependent (child, spouse, or domestic partner (Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code section 152)).
Services and supplies are provided in connection with gender transition when a covered person has been diagnosed with gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria by a physician. This coverage is provided according to the terms and conditions of the plan that apply to all other covered medical conditions, including medical necessity requirements, utilization management, and exclusions for cosmetic services. Coverage includes, but is not limited to, medically necessary services related to gender transition such as transgender surgery, hormone therapy, psychotherapy, and vocal training.
California Western is comprised of three building: 225 Cedar Street, 290 Cedar Street and 350 Cedar Street. All-Gender restroom locations on campus are located in all campus buildings as follows:
225 Cedar Street: Two (2) single stall restrooms, 1st floor, (just off the courtyard between the ELC and main building entry)
290 Cedar Street: Two all gender (2) restrooms, 1st and 3rd floors
350 Cedar Street: Three single stall (3) restrooms, Lower Level and 3rd floor
All-Gender restrooms are identified by signage reading ALL GENDER, and a triangle-within-a-circle sign:
CWSL does not have any LGBTQ+ classes or course offerings taught with a trans-inclusive and focused materials. There is a class called “Gender and the Law,” that has different foci each year, depending upon the knowledge-base of the faculty member teaching it.
PRIDE Law members have traveled to conferences using funds provided by the SBA which is funded by an activity fee to all students.
Yes, mandatory for all students
- CWSL has a designated Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion: Attended the LSAC Equality Conference; Discusses the multi-dimensional nature of diversity within the CWSL community during a mandatory Orientation session; Offers one-on-one law school coaching sessions for all diverse students; Administers a peer-to-peer mentoring program in which diverse mentees can identity a characteristic of a mentor with whom the mentee would like to be paired; Promotes scholarships to and for LGBTQ+ students;
- CWSL supports PRIDE Law Student Organization. In 2018, CWSL and its Student & Diversity Services Office partnered with PRIDE to mark Transgender Remembrance Day with a somber event in which transgender members of the CWSL community and larger San Diego Community could mark the event. In 2019, during PRIDE weekend, CWSL and Student & Diversity Services sponsored a panel entitled, The Kaleidoscope: Professionalism and Presentation of Gender in an Increasingly Non-Binary World. The panel included a lesbian judge, San Diego State Professor of Communication who focuses on language and gender identity and a CWSL alumni who was assigned female at birth and is a transgender man.In 2020, California Western School of Law supported PRIDE’s request that the CWSL identify their pronouns in the email signature by sending a campus-wide email encouraging participation.
- CWSL enforces an amelioration policy in response to on-campus military recruitment while the military discriminates against transgender men and women
- While CWSL does not have any LGBTQ+ classes or course offerings taught with a trans-inclusive and focused materials. There is a class called “Gender and the Law,” that has different foci each year, depending upon the faculty member teaching it.
- CWSL will pay for students to attend three individual counseling session per trimester and is piloting a stress management group therapy. The therapists are private vendors licensed by the state of California. CWSL has sought to ensure that the therapists who contract with CWSL are diverse and reflective of the CWSL community.
- CWSL supports the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association by sponsoring its Annual Dinner.
- Finally, CWSL has a flag protocol flag that it follows on significant days, for instance in response to the El Paso and Pulse Nightclub shootings; when Marriage Equality was made the law of the land by the Supreme Court; and during PRIDE weekend. The protocol is intended to symbolically demonstrate CWSL’s solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
We intentionally seek out diverse students in general, which includes LGBTQ+ students. To this end, we have developed several campaigns (i.e., email, social media, on-campus) that target diverse populations. We run LSAC database reports that return students who identify as diverse and send them specific messaging about our diverse programming and student body, inclusivity, and student and support organizations that they can join upon enrollment.