1) To provide a network for experienced LGBTQ+ family lawyers; law professors who teach or write on LGBTQ+ family law concerns; and a limited number of experienced attorneys in allied LGBTQ+ practices.

2) To foster the development of LGBTQ+ family law expertise in rural and underrepresented areas and states that are hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.

In determining an applicant’s request for admission to FLI, the following criteria will be used:

1. Years of admission to bar;
2. Years of LGBTQ+ family law experience
3. Indication of LGBTQ+ practice areas on website;
4. Membership in National LGBTQ+ Bar and/or local LGBTQ+ bar association;
5. Membership in minority or diversity sections or committees of local and state bar;
6. Attendance at Lavender Law;
7. Public speaking or authorship of articles or books on LGBTQ+ family law issues;
8. Endorsement of Protecting Families document published by GLAD and NCLR: https://www.gladlaw.org/protecting-families/p4/ (
9. We also recommend reviewing: https://www.nclrights.org/get-help/resource/protecting-families-standards-for-lgbt-families/)
10. Teaching law school courses on LGBTQ+ family law;
11. Work on legislation to benefit LGBTQ+ families;
12. Practice in allied fields of practice, such as estate planning, tax, immigration, etc. that provide meaningful contribution to the goals of FLI;
13. Meaningful contribution to the LGBTQ+ community, not just a provider of services for a fee to the community; and
14. Geographic location of practice and willingness to commit to a practice focused on LGBTQ+ family law issues in a rural, underrepresented or hostile area.

Each applicant’s situation is unique based on geography and other factors. Requirements should be relaxed for those applicants who work in underrepresented and hostile areas.

These criteria will be the same for applications to attend FLI annual or regional meetings.

After admission, in order to maintain membership, a member is expected to attend a FLI meeting (annual or regional) at least once every three years. Regular contributions to the FLI listserv will be considered as an alternative to this requirement.

All members of FLI are required to be members of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and of FLI itself. Those international members approved for inclusion on the US FLI list may be exempted from this requirement upon approval of the Bar and NCLR. No law students will be admitted.