Gonzaga University’s School of Law is pleased to announce the unveiling of its new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic, developed in partnership with the school’s Center for Civil and Human Rights. The clinic aims to advance the equal rights and dignity of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ through education, programming, advocacy, research, and legal representation. Gonzaga Law School is one of only a handful of institutions of higher education across the nation to launch this kind of initiative and the first law school in Washington state, and in the Inland Northwest, to do so.
The Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic will offer legal services to members of the public with the help of second- and third-year law students, under the direction of a full-time faculty member. Potential areas include assistance with updating government identification cards, family law issues, domestic violence concerns, and discrimination suits in housing, employment, and public services. Students will have the opportunity to handle all phases of representation, including interviewing and counseling clients, fact-finding, brief writing, and appearing in court hearings on behalf of clients.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights at Gonzaga Law seeks to provide students, scholars, and community leaders with opportunities to explore and address issues relating to civil and human rights through research, education, and community engagement.
Sexual Orientation (optional; choose all that apply):
____ Asexual
____ Bisexual
____ Gay
____ Straight (heterosexual)
____ Lesbian
____ Pansexual
____ Queer
____ Questioning/Unsure
____ Same Gender Loving
____ An Identity Not Listed
____ Prefer to Not Disclose
If checked An Identity Not Listed, please specify:
Gender identity (optional; choose all that apply):
____ Agender
____ Androgyne
____ Demigender
____ Genderqueer or Gender Fluid
____ Man
____ Questioning or Unsure
____ Trans Man
____ Trans Woman
____ Woman
____ Additional Gender Category/Identity
____ Prefer Not to Disclose
We did not ask sexual orientation on our Fall 2020 application, so unfortunately, we don’t have that information for the 20-21 academic year (current 1Ls.) However, we did add in that question on this years’ application, so going forward we will be able to collect that data.
Mandatory anti-bias training for search committees; advertising through non-traditional channels to reach diverse audiences. All current position announcements include the following statement: Gonzaga University is a committed EEO/AA employer and diversity candidates are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. Gonzaga University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, or any other non-merit factor.
Gonzaga University School of Law actively seeks out faculty, staff and administrators from diverse populations, including LGBTQ+ candidates. But the University receives and maintains employee paperwork and has no formal process for tracking LGBTQ+ status.
On-campus health care providers receive Sexuality and Gender Equity (SAGE) training, Certification Level 1, with a focus on LGBTQ+ terminology, statistics, current issues and developing allyship behaviors.
• 2 All-gender, single use bathrooms on the 1st floor of library.
• 1 all-gender, single use bathroom in the clinic.
• These are accessible to people with disabilities; one restroom features a toilet lift for use by those in wheelchairs.
• Signage says “All-gender restroom” outside of the bathroom doors in both the library and the clinic.
• Gender-neutral bathroom is identified on first floor of Chastek library map, and prominently featured in the online library tour.
Restroom policy can be found on page 62 of the student handbook.
“All students, faculty, staff, and guests to the Law School have a right to safe and appropriate restroom facilities, including the right to use a restroom that corresponds to the individual’s gender identity, regardless of the individual’s sex assigned at birth. In addition, individuals are entitled to use a restroom that corresponds to their gender identity without being questioned, harassed, or asked to provide documentation. Sex-segregated restrooms are available on each floor of the Law School and two single-occupancy, gender-neutral restrooms are located on the first floor of the Law School in the Chastek Law Library, one of which has a toilet lift for use by individuals using a wheelchair. Should any individual feel intimidated, threatened or unsafe while in, near, or attempting to use a restroom on the Law School campus, please contact Campus Security at (509) 313-2222 for immediate assistance.”
Law and Sexuality, Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic
Employment Discrimination (Korn) – 20%
Criminal Law (Holland) – 5%
Investigative Criminal Procedure (Holland) – 5%
Adjudicative Criminal Procedure (Holland) – 5%
Professional Responsibility (Holland) – 5%
Comparative Criminal Law (Holland)- 5%
Comparative Women’s Rights (Treuthart) – 10%
Family Law – (Treuthart) – 10%
Constitutional Law II (Treuthart) – 5%
International Human Rights (Treuthart) – 5%
Family Law (Pearson) – 25%
Law and Sexuality (Pearson) – 100%
International Children’s Rights (Pearson) – 10%
Alternative Dispute Resolution (Pearson) – 15%
Trust and Estates (Pearson) – 10%
Contracts (Pearson) – 5%
Elder Law (Mann) – 2-4%
Wills and Trusts (Murphy) – 5%
LRW III (Bradley) – subject of brief problems
Constitutional Law II (Gillmer) – 5%
Civil Rights (Gillmer) – 5%
Immigration Law (Ballard) – 2%
Community Property (Ballard)
Employment Law (Daggett) – 5%
Education Law (Daggett) – 5%
Jurisprudence/Legal History (Morrissey) – 5%
Civil and Human Rights Advocacy Clinic (Holland and Gillmer) – 10%
Jurisprudence and Legal Methods (Pham) – 7%
Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic, Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Gender Sexuality Alliance
All interested students are compensated to attend the Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair and the Justice Conference. Law students have the opportunity to work in the LGBTQ+ ID Clinic and the new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic.
Yes, optional for all students
All staff and faculty participated in a mandatory diversity.edu training with a 100% completion and the Law School will be hosting an all staff/faculty DEI retreat for the Spring of 2021.
In the 2020 Spring semester, the Center for Civil and Human Rights partnered with the Lavender Rights Project to bring a monthly Name and Gender Change ID Clinic to the law school. The Gender and Name Change ID Clinic was a clinic that was open to the public, and which provided law students the opportunity to assist with transgender ID assistance.
The Chaplain’s Office, in collaboration with University Mission and Ministry, strives to support and meet the pastoral needs of students, faculty, and staff who identify as LGBTQ+ or allies through pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, retreat opportunities, as well as accessing resources available with local LGBTQ+ community in the greater Spokane area.
The Civil and Human Rights Advocacy Clinic enables students to learn about the legal theories, advocacy strategies, and practices used by civil and human rights attorneys to identify, investigate, and challenge laws and policies burdening historically marginalized and traditionally disadvantaged groups. The course includes a dedicated seminar component for case review, reflection, and other training.
In addition to the practical legal education and training that students receive at the Clinic, the Clinic also fosters a safe space where LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and allies alike can engage in meaningful conversation. Similarly, the law school also provides the Underrepresented Student and Social Justice Initiative Space (“US”-Space) this newly established physical space is a tangible manifestation of the Law School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. The US-Space further enriches the student body by promoting a sense of campus community and inclusiveness for underrepresented students. LGBTQ+ students are encouraged to gather and use the US-Space as a physical location where a sense of community is built.
We provide information about our LGBTQ Rights Clinic on our recruitment brochure and on our website. Additionally, we invite LBGTQ students to self-identify on applications to create an inclusive environment which recognizes and respects LBGTQ identities. In our admissions application students are able to self-identify with both their sexual orientation and gender identity.