Northeastern Law Launches LGBTQ+ Clinic
06.25.26 — Few law schools in the country offer students the opportunity to focus their clinical work exclusively on LGBTQ+ legal issues. Northeastern Law, long at the forefront of producing graduates who are leaders in the LGBTQ+ movement, is now one of them. With an interdisciplinary approach, the LGBTQ+ Clinic will advance and protect the rights of underrepresented members of the broader LGBTQ+ community, including transgender, nonbinary and intersex individuals, vulnerable queer and trans youth, and those impacted by anti-immigrant policies. Connor Leighton-Cory, a nationally recognized advocate for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ immigrants and young people, will serve as inaugural director of the LGBTQ+ Clinic.
“LGBTQ+ people are living in a climate of targeted intimidation that has translated into concrete harm and new legal challenges. In nearly every aspect of life, transgender, nonbinary and intersex people are grappling with state-sanctioned discrimination. This clinic will be a robust voice and resource for the LGBTQ+ community and a springboard for students pursuing careers in social justice lawyering,” said Leighton-Cory.
The clinic’s work will span practice areas including humanitarian immigration, identity documentation advocacy, unlawful discrimination and education law. Students will gain specialized knowledge in lawyering for LGBTQ+ clients and will engage in broader impact work through policy and community lawyering projects.
“Northeastern Law has always believed that a legal education rooted in social justice must extend beyond the classroom. This clinic is a reflection of that belief, and a commitment to standing with the LGBTQ+ community at a moment when that commitment matters most,” said Dean James Hackney.
Inaugural Gift
Elyse D. Cherry ’83 — named one of the Top 100 LGBTQ+ Executives in the World by the Financial Times and OUTstanding, and one of the 50 Most Influential Bostonians by the Boston Business Journal — has established the Elyse D. Cherry ’83 Pride Fund to support Northeastern Law’s new LGBTQ+ Clinic.
About Northeastern University School of Law
The nation’s leader in experiential legal education since 1968, Northeastern University School of Law offers the longest-running, most extensive experience-based legal education program in the country. Northeastern provides its students with unparalleled practical legal work experiences through its signature Cooperative Legal Education Program. More than 1,000 employers worldwide in a wide range of legal, government, nonprofit and business organizations participate in the program. With a focus on social justice and innovation, Northeastern University School of Law blends theory and practice, providing students with a unique set of skills and experiences to successfully practice law.
For more information, contact [email protected].