Equality Santa Clara Law (EQ|SCU)

Description:
EQ|SCU is an educational and support organization that provides educational and career resources, networking opportunities, and a social support system. The group also works to increase awareness of the concerns of bisexuals, gays, lesbians and transgender persons within the law school. We hold regular meetings, sponsor final exam review sessions, support activism, invite speakers to the law school, and represent Santa Clara Law at national and local LGBT legal conferences, and career fairs. We also serve as a bridge between current law students, LGBT law school alumni, and SF Bay Area LGBT legal professionals.

Mission Statement:

EQ|SCU is an active and vital part of Santa Clara Law. Our organization is concerned with the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons at the law school and was founded on the basis to bring greater awareness and acceptance of diversity at Santa Clara Law.
 
EQ|SCU’s goals are to increase outreach efforts to LGBT students, provide support to LGBT students, sponsor speakers on LGBT issues, develop ties with the larger civil rights community, and serve as an information source on LGBT legal issues for all students and the larger community.

2011-2012 Officers:

Cola Hess, President Cola is in her third year at Santa Clara. Before coming to beautiful Santa Clara, she graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in American Studies and minor in City and Regional Planning. In her spare time, Cola enjoys running, cooking, and playing guitar. After graduation, Cola would like to pursue a career in insurance law.
Emily Meyer, Vice President Emily is in her third year at Santa Clara. She graduated from UCLA in 2004 with a major in History and a minor in Women’s Studies. Before coming to Santa Clara, she spent four years working as a paralegal in the Capital Markets and Private Equity practices at Jones Day, and hopes to pursue a similar practice after law school. Emily has completed seven marathons, and in her free time enjoys sports, politics, theatre and art.
James Leggett, Treasurer James is a third year student who joined us as a transfer student from San Diego. He is originally from Colorado and completed his undergraduate work at the University of California, Davis, where he majored in Economics and Political Science. James is interested in pursuing Public Interest Intellectual Property Law with organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Rachael Brown, Secretary Rachael is a third year law student. She studied molecular biology at Santa Clara University as an undergraduate, earning her degree in 2009. Rachael’s focus in her legal studies is on Intellectual Property litigation and Technology Licensing. She serves as secretary for both EQ|SCU and Women & Law, and is actively involved in Honors Moot Court Internal and the Computer & High Technology Law Journal.

Mailing Address:

Santa Clara University School of Law

EQ|SCU Student Organization

500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, California 95053

External Links:

Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Center
The Center, just minutes from campus, provides information, support and services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from as far north as Foster City and as far south as Gilroy.   

Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF)
A minority bar association in the San Francisco Bay area with a membership of nearly 600 lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgenders, and their supporters in the legal community, including judges, lawyers, legal workers and law students.
 
National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (NLGLA)
An an affiliate of the American Bar Association that sponsors year-round regional and local events to promote justice in and through the legal profession for the lesbian and gay community. 

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
A legal resource with the primary commitment to advancing the rights of lesbians through a program of litigation, public policy advocacy, free legal advice and counseling.
 
Lambda Legal
A national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgendered, and people with HIV or AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.
 
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
A national political organization based in Washington, D.C. that works to ensure equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. 

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
A national organization that works to extend rights to people that traditionally have been denied their rights, including people of color, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered people, women, people with disabilities, and the poor, just to name a few.