Applicants are asked if they identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community on our application for admission to the law school.
The City University of New York School of Law is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution. The School of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, partnership status, disability, genetic information, alienage, citizenship, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence/stalking/sex offenses, unemployment status, or any other legally prohibited basis in accordance with federal, state and city laws. The City University of New York School of Law is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Institution. The School of Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, disability, genetic predisposition or carrier status, alienage or citizenship, veteran or marital status in its student admissions, employment, access to programs, and administration of educational policies.
CUNY Policy on Diversity The Law School is a public institution, committed to fostering respect for the rich diversity of our community, our city, our state, our nation, and, indeed, the world. To that end, the Law School has adopted the following:
THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP CREATE A BAR THAT IS MORE DIVERSIFIED, AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FULL RANGE OF PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDINGLY, WE ACTIVELY SEEK TO RECRUIT, EMPLOY, RETAIN, PROMOTE, AND TRAIN STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF OF ALL RACES, NATIONAL ORIGINS, CLASSES, AND BELIEF SYSTEMS, WITHOUT REGARD TO SEX OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION OR TO AGE OR MARITAL OR PARENTAL STATUS. THIS COMMITMENT IS REFLECTED IN ALL THAT WE DO, BEGINNING WITH OUR ADMISSIONS POLICIES: WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE APPLICANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BROAD AND INCLUSIVE CRITERIA APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK.
Staff/faculty/administrators are able to confidentially self-identify their gender identity through CUNYfirst and newly hired staff/faculty/administrators are able to confidentially self-identify their gender in the Employment Package on the Personal Data Form.
CUNY offers a range of health plans to all employees. The option of several HMOs, PPOs, and POSs is provided through the City of New York. Information about plans and rates are available online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/olr/html/home/home.shtml . Benefits including health insurance, family medical leave, parental leave, and nontraditional family planning such as in vitro fertilization and/or adoptive benefits are available to all employees on equal terms. Same-sex couples who are married or in registered domestic partnerships are provided the same benefits that are provided to different-sex married or registered domestic partner couples.
All health benefits are provided through the City University of New York, and employees have several HMOs, PPOs, and POSs to choose from. Counseling, hormone therapy, and transgender reassignment surgery are covered by our health insurance plans if prescribed by a physician.
Yes here means that Health benefits are not offered to any CUNY Law students.
We have a full-time licensed clinical social worker employed at the at the law school. Additionally, we have a Registered Professional Nurse Practitioner who is on campus three days each week. Law students and their families also have access to mental health counseling offered by the NYC Bar Association through the Lawyers Assistance Program.
Our social worker has received training at conferences, workshops, and through her professional experience. The Professional Registered Nurse Practitioner received training throughout the course of her professional education and by way of a variety of training programs and professional conferences.
Single stall restrooms, also accessible for people with disabilities, are identified as “ALL GENDER RESTROOM” and are located throughout the building on each and every one of the law school’s five floors; we have only one law school building.
Additionally, CUNY Law’s entire third floor contains only gender inclusive restrooms. In addition to single stall, accessible, all gender restrooms with signage reading “ALL GENDER RESTROOM,” restroom signage reads:
“W Gender diversity is welcomed here: please use the restroom that best fits your gender identify or expression.”
“M Gender diversity is welcomed here: please use the restroom that best fits your gender identify or expression.”
“Restroom: This is a gender neutral restroom”
“W Gender diversity is welcomed here: please use the restroom that best fits your gender identify or expression.”
“M Gender diversity is welcomed here: please use the restroom that best fits your gender identify or expression.”
Liberty, Equality and Due Process
Sexuality and the Law
Gender Based Violence
Law and Family Relations
NY Domestic Relations Law
The law school funds student travel and registration to LGBTQ conferences, consistent with the Student Organization Charter (i.e., if the students are presenting and/or are regional or national representatives). The Career Planning Office supports local travel for students to attend the LGBTQ job fair.
Yes, mandatory for all students
CUNY Law School is recognized nationally as a gender inclusive and gender affirming law school. 27% of last year’s incoming class identified themselves as a member of the LGBTQ+ community on their application to the law school. Our capstone clinical programs (ranked #3 in the Country) examine and address the impact of legal representations and systems on the LGBTQ+ community. One of our ten clinical offerings, the Human Rights and Gender Justice clinic centers its professional school experiential learning opportunity in the rights of people to determine their gender expression and gender identify. Student organizations of all kinds at CUNY Law are affirming; they embrace our large diversity mission and recognize the realities of intersectional identities. Our LBGTQ+ student organization, OUTLAWS, is active on campus.
Some recent school-wide LGBTQ+ affirming events include:
- Kings and Queens: A Gender and The Law Art Exhibit – Reception and Panel Discussion 2019
- Community Day workshops: Gender & LGBTQ Rights , Organizational Cultural Sensitivity Training with the NY Transgender Advocacy Group 2019 & 2020
- The law school is the recipient of a $30,000 grant from LaGuardia Community College (2nd year) for workshops, panels, and awareness on LGBTQ+ community concerns.
- Commission of a banner highlighting CUNY Law clubs for Law School participation in the Queens Gay Pride Parade in 2019
- Funding of four summer fellowships in 2019 and a variety of LGBTQ related projects here at the law school.
We seek to recruit a wide diversity of students in our entering classes including students from the LGBTQ+ community. We participate in Lavender Law events and help lead the country by staff participation in LGBTQ+ events with the LSAC on how to manage enrollment thoughtfully such that gender non-conforming, non-binary and all who identify as part of a sexual orientation minority feel welcomed to our school.