Diversity & Inclusion

GW Law has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion. The GW Law Career Center is here to support and enhance the law school experience of all GW Law students, including students who self-identify as diverse based on gender, sexual orientation, race, culture, ethnicity, religion, and/or disability.

For general information on GW Law's Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and a comprehensive list of resources, visit the Dean of Students Office's Diversity & Inclusion page.

Diversity & Inclusion at GW Law

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Diversity & Inclusion Career Resources

What does it mean to be a "diverse" applicant?

The definition of what constitutes a “diverse” applicant varies widely across different opportunities. Generally, diversity is defined broadly to encompass individuals with varied backgrounds. Some opportunities may be limited to students of a particular racial, ethnic, religious, or socio-economic background; women; students with a disability; or who identify as LGBTQ.  Others, however, are available to students who are advancing the cause of diversity within their community, without regard to the individual’s own diversity status, or to students who have faced adversity and, thereby, have a diverse perspective on life and the practice of law. If an opportunity does not specify how diversity is defined, think of it in a broad and inclusive way.

Resources for Diversity Personal Statements

As part of the application process for many diversity-related opportunities, employers often require a diversity personal statement. Here are several resources for crafting strong diversity statements:

• Diversity Personal Statements —What Makes for a Compelling Essay?
• Frequently Asked Questions & Template
• Diversity Personal Statements Workshop (Recorded 10/30/2020)

If you need further assistance with your diversity statement, make an appointment with a counselor. 

Employment Opportunities

Many firms and other organizations offer academic-year, summer, and post-graduate scholarship or fellowship opportunities for students who self-identify as diverse. All diversity-related opportunities are posted in the Job Listings section of CORE. To view a list of all diversity opportunities, go to the Job Listings section, then click "+More Filters," select “Diversity Program,“ and then click “Yes.“ Each opportunity has specific eligibility criteria and application instructions, and application deadlines will occur throughout the year.

Additional opportunities may be listed in the database of 1L LCLD Scholar Opportunities.

For more information on diversity-related monetary scholarships, visit our Scholarships & Summer Funding page.

Events & Job Fairs

The Career Center often receives invitations for diversity-related events hosted by employers – including networking receptions, panel discussions, and more. These events will be posted in CORE. To view upcoming events, log into CORE, navigate to the Events section, and change the “Event Type” to “Diversity & Inclusion.”

Diversity Job Fairs

Diversity Career Fairs are typically hosted during the summer months. These job fairs are hosted throughout the country and are targeted to diverse students who are interested in a particular geographic market. Opportunities available through these job fairs are primarily for summer 2022 positions. Some fairs are limited to certain class years whereas others are open to all law students, including recent graduates. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements.

Bay Area Diversity Career Fair

Bay Area Diversity Career Fair

Location: Virtual 
Market: San Francisco, CA
Dates: 7/13-7/14/2023
Registration Deadline: 6/23/2023

For over 15 years, this annual career fair, a collaboration between Orrick and the Bar Association of San Francisco, has been bringing together prominent law firms and government legal departments in the San Francisco Bay Area with highly-qualified diverse second-year law students. Participating students come from distinguished local law schools, as well as other top schools from around the nation to interview for coveted positions in summer associate programs.

Boston Lawyers Group Diversity Job Fair

Boston Lawyers Group Diversity Job Fair

Location: Virtual 
Market: Boston, MA
Date: 5/30/2023 (Pre-Job Fair Reception); 6/19/2023 (Job Fair)
Registration Deadline: 6/30/2023

Eligibility: 2Ls of Color, JD 2023

Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair

Cook County Bar Association Minority Law Student Job Fair

Location: Chicago, IL (Embassy Suites Chicago - Downtown/Lakefront)
Date: 7/18/2023
Registration Deadline: 5/8/2023

The objective of the CCBA Minority Job Fair remains unchanged to recruit the brightest talent amongst minority law students of color and match them with employers (law firms, corporations, government agencies, and public interest agencies) that truly value diversity. This fair is open to minority law students in the classes of 2022 and 2023.

Delaware Minority Job Fair

Delaware Minority Job Fair

Location: Virtual
Market: Wilmington, DE
Date: 7/22/2023
Registration Deadline: 5/30/2023

The Job Fair is limited to rising second- and third- year law students to explore summer and full-time opportunities to work in Delaware.

KCMBA Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

KCMBA Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

Location: Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association headquarters, 2300 Main St., Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64108
Market: Kansas City, MO
Dates: 8/11-8/12. 2023
Registration Deadline: 6/28/2023

Eligibility: All 2L (Graduating in 2023) and 3L (Graduating in 2022) Law Students and Recent Law Grads (Graduating in 2021) are invited to participate regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, age and veteran status.

LGBTQ+ Bar Annual Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair

LGBTQ+ Bar Annual Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair

Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: 7/24-7/26/2023
Online Pre-Registration Deadline: TBD

Since its inception in 1988, Lavender Law^® has served as a ‘family reunion’ for LGBTQ+ and ally legal professionals to both look back at our shared history and to look forward to the future of the legal profession. The Lavender Law^® Conference & Career Fair is the largest LGBTQ+ legal conference in the country with approximately 1700 attendees attending annually.

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference

Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference

Location: Virtual
Market: Minneapolis, MN
Dates: 8/4/2023
Registration Deadline: 6/2/2023

MMRC connects dozens of legal employers in the Minneapolis and St Paul metro areas with rising 2L and 3L students of color from across the country.

National Black Prosecutors Association Conference & Job Fair

National Black Prosecutors Association Conference & Job Fair

Location: Virtual
Dates: 8/13-8/18/2023
Registration Deadline: 7/15/2023

The goal of the National Black Prosecutors Association’s (NBPA) Job Fair is to promote diversity in prosecutors’ offices by providing a forum where law students, recent law graduates, and experienced attorneys from across the nation can meet and interview with prospective prosecutorial employers at the local, state, and federal levels.

Northwest Minority Job Fair

Northwest Minority Job Fair

Market: Seattle, WA

Each fall the Northwest Minority Job Fair partners with a Seattle area law firm to host an in-person job fair. Due to COVID, Lane Powell has offered to host two virtual panel discussions, which will provide students and attorneys useful skills and insight as they independently seek employment.

View the Webinar »

The Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair

The Indianapolis Bar Association Diversity Job Fair

Location: Indianapolis, IN (Hilton Indianapolis)
Dates: 7/24- 7/25/2023
Registration Deadline: 6/2/2023

All 1L, 2L, 3L, full-time and part-time law students are invited to participate in the 2021 IndyBar Diversity Job Fair.