Diversity & Inclusion

Each fall, we conduct an anonymous demographic survey to learn more about the entering class and how our students self-identify.

Response Rate: 95%

Gender: 59% Women, 33% Men, 0.5% Non-Binary, 5% No Response

First-Generation Law Students: 85%

LGBTQIA+ Community: 11%

According to our fall 2023 demographic survey, 48% of respondents self-identify as students of color. While only 24% of the 2023 entering class fit the U.S. Census definition of racial or ethnic minorities, this classification hides the true diversity that exits within our community. The U.S. census classifies Canadian students, nearly half our student body, as foreign nationals, and does not allow students to further self-identify. The U.S. census definitions do not allow students to self-identify as Arab-American/Arab-Canadian/Middle Eastern.

"I am a Chaldean-American, was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and am the mother of three children. I chose Detroit Mercy Law because of the inviting community."

Rita Soka '22

Detroit Mercy Law welcomes students from all faith traditions and backgrounds. The Fall 2023 entering class includes students from a wide range of religious traditions, including those with no religious affiliation.

"Diversity in the legal field matters because it helps promote tolerance among different groups of people."

Aryell Pasternak '20

Visit the Student Organizations page to learn more about the all-inclusive Student Bar Association, as well as special interest student groups, including:

• Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
• Hispanic & Latino/a Law Students Association (HiLLSA)
• Arab American Law Students Association (AALSA)
• Chaldean American Law Student Association (CALSA)
• Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA)
• Muslim Law Student Association (MLSA)
• South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA)
• Women's Law Caucus
• OutLaws (serves the LGBTQIA+ community)

At Detroit Mercy Law, you will learn the art of lawyering from a diverse faculty.  The law faculty is 60% women, 40% men, and 25% people of color.

A critical component of helping our students achieve their personal and professional goals is preparing them to live and work in a world that is wonderfully diverse. We include, respect, and welcome into our community diverse individuals and perspectives. We value diversity in many forms, including gender, race, religion, national origin, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical ability, and learning style. We strive to reflect this value through the vibrancy of student life and the composition of our student body, faculty, staff, and administration. In accordance with the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is firmly committed to enriching and enhancing the diversity of our community.