DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT MINNSOTA LAW
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AT MINNESOTA LAW
FRONT COVER: Kadi Braxton
Certainly, as a profession, we are not where we need to be when it comes to equity, diversity, and inclusion. What I have seen at Minnesota Law is a genuine commitment to solving this problem. This is reflected in our student instruction and programming, our involvement with affinity bar groups in the Twin Cities, and implemention of the Law School’s first-ever diversity strategic plan. The entire Law School community is working to ensure that diverse and underrepresented future attorneys are recruited, supported, and trained to become future lawyer-leaders. — EDUARDO CASTRO, 2L
Our Commitment to Diversity At Minnesota Law, we celebrate all of the differences that make each student, faculty, and staff member a unique and important part of our strong community. We foster a diverse, inclusive, and unbiased environment through regular events and programming that reflect on and celebrate the many cultures that walk through our halls each day. From the yearly MLK Convocation, which addresses equity and diversity in the legal profession and judicial systems, to the summer Pre-Law Scholars Program, that prepares underserved students for admission to law school, Minnesota Law embraces all perspectives that enhance the law school experience by teaching and learning from real-world interactions.
Live in a Welcoming Location Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, Minnesota Law is surrounded by a global community of people who come for more opportunity, to further their education, or to work for one of the many Fortune 500 companies located just minutes from campus. Diverse populations are steadily increasing in Minnesota and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Between 2010 and 2015, the state added four times as many people of color as non-Hispanic white residents; the Asian population increased by 22%, the Black population by 16%, and the Hispanic population by 13%. Minneapolis is also home to one of the nation’s largest Pride festivals and consistently appears on The Advocate’s annual “Queerest Cities in America” list.
Create Your Community
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Minnesota Law’s engaged, close-knit student body builds a strong sense of community and cultivates networking opportunities through its wide array of affinity organizations and other student groups that sponsor hundreds of diversity, equity, and inclusion events each year. Recent topics include:
AFFINITY LAW STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
A Summit on Civil Rights Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) End-of-Life Care Not a Crime to be Poor Roe v. Wade: Where Are We Now? Solutions to Mass Incarcerations Students also expand their networks by connecting with such Twin Cities-based professional groups as the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers, Minnesota Women Lawyers, and the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association. Minnesota Law alumni are well represented in these organizations and provide mentoring to our students.
LAW & INEQUALITY: A JOURNAL OF THEORY AND PRACTICE
Minnesota Law Affinity Groups:
Professional Affinity Groups:
Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
Hmong American Bar Association
Black Law Students Association
Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
Jewish Law Students Association
Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Latino Law Students Association
Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
Muslim Law Students Association
Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association
Native American Law Student Association
Minnesota Lavender Bar Association
OutLaw South Asian Law Students Association
Minnesota State Bar Association Diversity Committee
Voices for Immigration Student Association
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Women’s Law Student Association
Somali American Bar Association Twin Cities Diversity in Practice
20+ DIVERSITY JOB FAIRS AROUND THE COUNTRY
Our Focus Is on Your Future Our Career Center is proud of its strong reputation and ongoing relationships with local, regional, and national firms and companies. The Career Center also provides many opportunities to promote and support our diverse students, such as: “Meet the Bar,” which connects students with working professionals who are members of local affinity and minority bar associations Travel reimbursement funds that allow students to attend 20+ diversity job fairs around the country Diversity mentoring programs held locally and nationally Assistance with diversity fellowships with law firms across the U.S.
I chose Minnesota Law because my visit during admitted students’ weekend was a crucial moment. I asked difficult questions and received honest answers. The community here is genuinely interested in intellectual stimulation, inclusion, and integrity. —KADI BRAXTON, 1L (pictured on cover)
Learn More Today For more information on Minnesota Law’s commitment to a diverse, supportive, and inclusive community, please visit: law.umn.edu/admissions/equity-diversity-inclusion Contact the Admissions Office to schedule a visit: 612-625-3487 or jdadmissions@umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. © 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.