What to Know as a Trans Law School Applicant
As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we want to make sure that all women are included in the law school conversation. Although historically underrepresented in the legal field, transgender women (as well as transgender men, non-binary, and gender non-conforming applicants) have an important place in the legal profession and law school, and there are organizations out there that want to support you.
In this blog post, we’re sharing what you should consider as you begin the application process and what to look out for as you start law school.
What to Consider While Applying to Law School
Researching Law Schools
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when applying to law school is that you will be safe in the environment that you are in. When you are curating your law school list, make sure you’re doing research on the schools that you’re planning to apply to.
A great place to start is the ABA’s list of LGBTQ+ friendly law schools. LSAC also has a similar list in their LGBTQ+ resources. This is not an exhaustive list and they are not the only law schools that are LGBTQ+ friendly, but it is a starting point.
Finding schools that have scholarships for LGBTQ+ applicants can also be a good indicator. We’ll also talk further about law school organizations that you can be on the lookout for while doing your research.
Many law schools also make their policies public (although you may have to dig). This is a great place to look at their nondiscrimination policies, as well as policies on pronouns and/or chosen name usage. If you can’t find a school’s policies, reach out to an admissions officer. You don’t have to tell them what you’re looking for; they should be able to just send you a link or document.
Aside from the law schools themselves, try to look into the area that the law school you’re interested is in. Are policies and laws on the local, regional, and state levels trans-friendly? Can you find community organizations or spaces that tailor to LGTBQ+ groups? These are good indicators that you may be more supported in that area.
Writing Your Admissions Essays
You are in complete control of what you want to put into your personal and diversity statement, as well as other supplemental essays. Don’t feel pressured to come out in your admissions essays; that is completely your choice to disclose.
Yes, being trans may have led you to want a career in law, but you are a multifaceted person. You can tie in other parts of your life that led you to law school without centering on your gender identity. Similarly, when law schools are talking about “diversity,” it doesn’t usually only mean race, sexuality, gender identity, or socioeconomic status. Maybe playing piano gives you a different perspective in the classroom — that’s diversity!
We also always suggest that our clients stray away from trauma-dumping in their essays. There are a few reasons for this.
First, rehashing your trauma for the sake of an essay simply may not be worth it. Re-traumatization can happen when you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve been to, plus trying to put it into words and preparing to expose that to admissions. You don’t have to center your trauma to show that you overcame an obstacle and therefore are a good fit for law school.
Second, focusing on trauma can sometimes cause blame shifting or take away from you as the spotlight. Your essays should be candidate-centered and focus on you, not what has happened to you.
What’s most important when it comes to self-disclosing in your essays is that there is a why behind telling the admissions committee. If being trans is truly the main thing that led you to law school and you feel comfortable and safe sharing, that may be a good “why.”
Putting Name and Gender on Your Applications
When you fill out your applications, your legal name is usually required. If your legal name has been changed (it is on your government-issued IDs), you should not have to list a deadname. Some applications may also have a section for preferred names, but that is on a school-by-school basis.
A section for “previous names” may exist on a law school application, but that is school-dependent. However, it is worth noting that when you apply for the bar exam, you will have to mention previous names. Your law school application will be included in your bar application, so make sure that if a previous name question is asked you are answering it in totality.
Gender options and pronouns on the application tend to depend on the schools themselves. Over the past few years, LSAC has been offering more gender identity options, and hopefully, that will continue to expand.
What to Consider Once You’re in Law School
Student Organizations
Like undergraduate institutions, many law schools have plenty of student-run organizations that you can join. Once you get to law school, you should try to get involved in these organizations so you can find a community that supports you.
Your search can start with The LGTBQ+ Bar’s list of affiliated organizations, but we’ve also listed some of the common organizations below.
OUTLaws (or some version of it) is an LGBTQ+ organization across many law schools. According to Stanford, the mission of this organization is “to engender a sense of community for LGBTQ+ students at the law school, and to make the law school as open, welcoming, and hospitable to queer and trans students as possible.”
Lambda Law Society is associated with Lambda Legal (who we’ll discuss below!). According to American University, their mission is to “build awareness about LGBTQIA+ legal issues, eliminate stereotypes about LGBTQIA+ individuals, and foster a supportive LGBTQIA+ and ally community throughout the law school.”
There are also various “Alliances” at law schools, like Pride Alliance or Sexuality & Gender Alliance. Some schools may also have trans-specific groups, like Fordham’s Advocates for Trans Law Students, which is nested beneath their OUTLaws organization.
If you find an alliance like this, you may also be able to ask them if they have a blacklist of professors that do not create safe spaces that you can try to avoid when scheduling classes.
Professional Organizations
Many professional organizations, like bar associations, are also open to students (and often at a discounted rate). If your school doesn’t have a student organization or you just want to join another organization, there is plenty for you to look for.
Some of the largest organizations are Transgender Law Center, The LGBTQ+ Bar, and Lambda Legal. You should also research bar associations or other organizations specific to your region (either where you live or where your law school is located).
Law Review
If you’re interested in writing about LGBTQ+ policies, Law Review could be a good option for you. Harvard Law Review, for example, has a whole section on LGBTQ+ articles that their students have written.
Undergraduate Services
If your law school is connected to a larger university, it is worth seeing if student services available to undergraduate students are also available to professional students. Some undergraduate schools have LGBTQ+ and/or diversity offices that are staffed with welcoming faculty and may provide a safe space for students to hang out.
Mental health and wellness support is also very important while in law school, especially if you’re not entirely comfortable in the area or school you ended up in. Some law schools have dedicated mental health services, but many don’t. However, the office that serves undergraduate students may also support professional students.
Final Thoughts
You are meant to go to law school. There is space for you to go to law school.
It is an unfortunate reality that you will likely have to do more research than cis-gendered applicants, but there are ways you can ensure that you’re entering a community that is safe and supportive for you. Even if it’s happening slowly, law schools and the legal landscape are changing for the better to welcome students like you.
If you want additional guidance throughout the law school application process and beyond, we’re here for you! We offer a 5% discount on all of our private packages for members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as other sliding-scale opportunities.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@smontgomeryconsulting.com!