Pictured above: Faculty, Staff, and Students show their support for the Sexual Orientation Diversity Alliance's "Day Against Hate." “Our distinctive collegial community embraces diversity in all its forms, including a wide-open appreciation for multiple perspectives and backgrounds. Idahoans can be proud that their law school links excellence with diversity, providing a complete education and genuine opportunity for all.” Dean Burnett
Diversity
Diversity Statement
The University of Idaho College of Law recognizes and supports the value of diversity within the law school community and the legal profession. The law school learning environment is an inclusive, measured, and respectful forum for the discussion of legal principles, concepts, and practical skills. As a preparatory ground for the future practitioners of the legal profession, we adhere to the standards of legal professionalism within our classrooms, our offices, our hallways, our student organizations, our gathering places, and our activities. The calling to law is an important one with significant impacts on society, and as a law school, we take that significance to the core of our purpose. Diversity in race, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, life experience, sexual orientation, philosophy, citizenship, and opinion are welcome components of the University of Idaho College of Law and require legal professionalism from all sectors of our community to provide an appropriately respectful learning environment.
Diversity in the College of Law
The College of Law’s commitment to inclusiveness and diversity is strong as we strive to foster a community of mutual respect among our students, staff and faculty. Our differences of ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, family status, religion and language make a vibrant community of scholars, lawyers and professionals.
The College of Law's commitment to diversity is supported by our:
- Native Law Program and courses such as Critical Studies and our focus on the legal status, experiences and rights of diverse populations.
- Immigration Clinic, which represents foreign nationals living in the U.S. in proceedings before Immigration Judges, the Board of Immigrant Appeals and federal courts.
- Pro Bono Program, which requires all students to perform at least 40 hours of law-related public service, assists the underserved and disadvantaged.
- Career Development Office, which is committed to expanding career opportunities for women and minority students.
Diversity on the Rise
Since the beginning of the decade, the College of Law has seen an increase of more than 20 percent in female students. In 2007, the percentage of female students in the entering class was 49.5 percent.
The representation of racial minority students has also increased. In just eight years, the percentage of minority students in the entering class rose from eight percent to 18 percent. These changes have occurred while the college increased the overall average accepted LSAT scores.
Student Groups Promote Diversity
Students are actively involved in a variety of student groups that promote diversity. One-third of the existing College of Law student organizations take aim at fulfilling the value of diversity in the college.
These organizations include:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
- J. Ruben Clark Society
- The Multi-Cultural Law Caucus
- Native American Law Students Association (NALSA)
- The Non-Traditional Student Group (NTS)
- Outlaw (formerly the Sexual Orientation Diversity Alliance (SODA))
- Student Advocates for Hispanic / Latino Support and Awareness (SALSA)
- Women's Law Caucus
If you have questions about diversity in the College of Law, please contact Professor Angelique Townsend EagleWoman, chair of the College of Law Diversity Committee.