Welcome to Loyola Law School
We'd like to welcome our new students to LLS! And welcome back continuing students! This is the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion monthly newsletter. This newsletter hopes to open communication between you all, the Deans, faculty, and staff here at LLS. Some critical information you will find in this newsletter includes, expanding your network with other DEI professionals in the field through LLS DEI events, opportunities outside of campus, student affinity group events, and learning about multicultural events celebrated throughout the world. We have an exciting and engaging semester ahead featuring landmark DEI events including OUTLaw's 50th anniversary celebrating its groundbreaking founding at LLS in 1972. Other upcoming events include critical discussions of present-day constitutional law and social justice concerns such as the discussion of Dobbs and the repeal of Roe v. Wade on Constitutional Law Day.
Please direct any questions, and communication to Assistant Director, Alejandra Hernandez. Alejandra is located in Founders Hall, 104. If you'd like to promote a DEI event, please send it over and we will include it in the following newsletter.
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NEW! Bias Incident Report Committee - BIRCIn response to the November 2020, Black Law Students Association's Equity Demands, LLS has created a centralized process for students to alert the administration of Bias-Motivated incidents.
BIRC ensures that the Law School supports Students impacted by Bias-Motivated Incidents. Students who experience or witness any form of Bias-Motivated Incident are encouraged to report the incident as soon as possible in order to maximize the Law School's ability to promptly and efficiently respond.
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NEW! DEI Speaker SeriesSave the date for five amazing DEI Speakers.
September 13 | Marissa Montes | Director of LIJC will be discussing immigration updates
April Date TBD | Tristin Green | Visiting Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco Law
Register Below
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Meet the DEI Team
From left to right, Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion and Professor, Kathleen Kim, Associate Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students, Linda Whitfield, Assistant Director of Student Services and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Alejandra Hernandez.
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Accommodations? Here's How!
Contact our Disability Support Services Specialist, Laura Vargas at accessibility@lls.edu.
LLS provides services and accommodations to students with documented temporary or permanent disabilities. These include reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, and individualized support services. Services and accommodations are based on your disability documentation, functional limitations, and a collaborative assessment of needs. Below are lists of some of the accommodations and services offered by LLS.
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Unsure Where to Begin?
Click here to begin. Students registered with the LLS Student Accessibility Services Office, as well as those who want to apply for accommodations, can use the SAS Online Portal. This webpage will give you the information you need to apply.
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Book the Multicultural Room
Located in Casassa 404, the Multicultural Room is a space where you can cultivate a community that is rich in diversity and inclusivity. Members of the Law School community are encouraged to make use of the room to further their understanding and appreciation for the diversity of cultural identities here at Loyola. The room is available by reservation only. Student organizations, faculty, and staff can use the room for general meetings or special DEI events.
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Congratulations Stacy Nuñez
This year the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation established a need-based grant available to graduating transgender and/or nonbinary law graduates of color. The 2022 Trans/Nonbinary Law Graduates of Color Grant Fund awarded nine unrestricted $1,000 grants. This grant was intended not only to assist trans and/or nonbinary law graduates of color financially this upcoming summer but also to ensure that they are welcomed and supported by the broader LGBTQ+ legal community as they move on to their post-graduation careers and networks.
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Summer Diversity AssistantMehrin Saleem is a rising 2L and Entertainment Law Fellow at LLS. As the first in her family to attend law school, she aims to increase the visibility of South Asians and other minority groups, not only within the legal field but also through on-screen media. Through her role as Diversity Assistant, she hopes to contribute to and expand the growing discourse regarding DEI. In her role as DEI Assistant, Mehrin creates content for this newsletter, assists with DEI events, and serves as DEI liaison to the SBA.
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First-Year Student & Alumni Mentor Program
Loyola Law School invites 1Ls and 1Es to participate in the First-Year Student & Alumni Mentor Program for the 2022-2023 academic year. The program is designed as a system of support and guidance in which Loyola alumni can share their experience and insight with first-year students.
The mentor program does not require participants to meet specific time commitments. The mentor and mentee are free to determine how often they should communicate based on what works best for the pair. However, students participating in the Mentor Program agree to be responsive to their mentor and must be respectful of the mentor’s time.
Please register by September 2 online at https://loyolaconnect.lls.edu/mentor22.If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Maya at Maya.Kalinowski@lls.edu.
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Save the Date: Diversity Week | January 30 - February 2, 2023
Plan your diversity week event and email Alejandra at ahern114@lls.edu so we can promote it in this newsletter. Events will be held all week long between 12 pm - 1 pm and 5 pm - 6 pm. Events can include panels, workshops, movie screenings, food fair, tabling, etc. Students, staff, faculty, and all departments are encouraged to co-sponsor, create events and participate.
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Save the Date: Roadways to the Bench | April 3, 2023The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts will hold its second nationwide program on diversity in the federal judiciary, with a particular focus on promoting greater diversity among bankruptcy and magistrate judges. The first Roadways to the Bench event, held simultaneously in 19 cities and 16 states across the country, focused primarily (but not exclusively) on the bankruptcy bench. By all accounts, it was a resounding success: several lawyers who attended that event are now judges! For more information contact Beryl Dixon at beryl_dixon@cacb.uscourts.gov.
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OUTLAW's 50th Year Anniversary
During the month of October, OUTLAW will be celebrating its 50th year anniversary with a week-long set of events. Stay tuned to join in on the celebration.
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