OutLaw is the organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied law students at the University of Chicago Law School.

OutLaw seeks to provide a welcoming atmosphere for LGBT students at the Law School, foster discussion about legal issues relating to LGBT individuals, and promote the legal equality of LGBT individuals.


History

Since its founding in 1984, OutLaw (previously the "Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Law Students Association") has made several important contributions to LGBT life at the Unviersity of Chicago and the Law School, by:

•  negotiating successfully for the inclusion of sexual orientation in the university's non-discrimination policy (1998),

•  organizing the first national law school conference on sexual orientation and the law,

•  participating in the successful lobbying effort to obtain domestic partnership benefits at the University of Chicago, making the university one of the first in the nation to offer such benefits (1992).

In 1989, OutLaw assisted LGBT alumni and the Law School in establishing a law school scholarship -- believed to be the first of its kind established in this country -- for students who demonstrate commitment to the advancement of the legal rights of LGBT individuals. Named in honor of the 1969 riots commemorated as precipitating the modern LGBT rights movement, the Stonewall Scholarship Fund is still used to replace unnamed scholarship funds awarded by the Financial Aid Office.


Present

OutLaw continues this tradition today, by:

•  sponsoring events that bring leading LGBT-rights litigators and scholars to the Law School,

•  working with the Law School administration to recruit LGBT law students and ensure that the Law School is an LGBT-friendly environment,

•  providing a voice to concerns of the law school's LGBT students when necessary,

•  allying with other affinity groups to emphasize the importance of diversity at the Law School,

•  hosting social events -- including events with other LGBT student groups in the university or LGBT student groups at other Chicago-area law schools.

Together with the Black Law Students Association, OutLaw recently started a volunteer partnership with the the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago that allows Chicago Law students to provide pro bono legal services to individuals living with HIV.

OutLaw maintains a listhost and facebook page that serve to disseminate information of interest to LGBT law students. If you have any questions about OutLaw or the Law School, please feel free to contact us.

© 2011 University of Chicago OutLaw