CHICAGO, Oct. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With its diverse faculty and student body, history of opportunity and access and slate of programs, John Marshall is proud to be one of the country's most LGBT-friendly law schools.

In November, the law school will be officially inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. It is the first and only Chicago law school to receive this honor as a recognized center for LGBT advocacy and scholarship in Illinois and for its work promoting equal rights under the law and diversity. Last year, the American Bar Association named John Marshall as an LGBT-friendly law school.
 
Earlier this year, the law school launched a first-of-its kind transgender name and gender marker change project, offering pro bono legal services to help people change their identity on government documents.
 
The law school has been a longstanding leader in the LGBT community, providing pro bono legal support through its nine community-based legal clinics in areas including representing victims of same-sex domestic violence, representing victims of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and family status and representing veterans in orientation-based military discharges.
 
John Marshall also is known for its diverse and inclusive student body. It was one of the first law schools to have an organized student group for LGBT students and also offers a scholarship fund for LGBT students. Students can take courses in sexual orientation and gender identity law. Its faculty members have written on LGBT and HIV issues for decades.
 
Many LGBT students are leaders in the school, including the past three presidents of the Student Bar Association. The current student bar president, Nicholas Ventola, was awarded the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago's LGBT Pride Celebration Scholarship where he was recognized for his service to the LGBT community and for his work as an extern at the Cook County State's Attorney Office.
 
The law school also has been a vanguard in LGBT-friendly business practices, including offering faculty and staff same-sex partnership benefits before civil unions or same-sex marriage became legal in Illinois.