LSU Law Viewbook (2023)

DEAN'S MESSAGE

You are about to embark on one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding journeys of your life. Where you choose to take your law school journey will affect your career path and personal life in ways that are unimaginable right now. Perhaps you envision a career in public service, private practice, business, or legal education. Maybe you want to prosecute crime, pursue social justice, run for office, or negotiate international energy transactions. You might dream of living abroad, practicing in a big city, or being a leader in your hometown. Regardless of your aspirations, LSU Law will provide an excellent foundation for you to excel in whatever career you pursue.

On the following pages, you will come across many reasons to choose the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. The Law Center is an exceptional school to earn your law degree. But if I had just one word to sum up why LSU Law is the perfect place for you to take your law school journey, I’d say: “more”

At LSU Law, you will learn more, you will do more, and you will have more opportunities to succeed.

I invite you to visit our campus in Baton Rouge and to experience its beauty and atmosphere firsthand. While you’re here, I hope you will sit in on a class, visit with our students and faculty, observe a mock trial competition, or cheer on the Tigers at an LSU sporting event. It will also be my pleasure to meet with you to tell you more about LSU Law and what makes us unique.

I look forward to meeting you, and I wish you all the best as you begin your law school journey!

BY THE NUMBERS

Our graduates once again achieved the highest pass rate on the Louisiana Bar Exam in 2022, among both first-time and all takers

Expected

$19,750 Louisiana residents

Graduates in the LSU Law Class of 2022 were employed within 10 months of earning their degree

Tuition

$35,190 Non residents

40 Student organizations

20 National Moot Court championships since 2004

6 Legal clinics

30 Traveling trial advocacy teams

3 Student-edited journals

205 Students

23 Average age (the youngest is 19 and the oldest is 46)

52% Female

66% Louisiana residents

48% Male

26 States and countries represented

Test Scores

22% Students of color

70 Undergraduate schools represented

50 U.S. states in which LSU Law alumni practice

14,000 LSU Law graduates since our founding in 1906

33 Countries across the world where LSU Law alumni practice

6 of 7 Louisiana Supreme Court justices are LSU Law alumni

We’re proud at LSU Law to stand out among the crowd. One of the many things that makes us unique is our unparalleled curriculum in both civil and common law, which will better prepare you to succeed in the global marketplace.

You can earn a Juris Doctor (JD) at any law school in America, including the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where our common law curriculum is robust and rigorous. But LSU Law is the only law school in the country where students have the opportunity to complete a concentrated study of civil law and earn an optional Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law (DCL).

We don’t require our students to earn a JD/DCL, but about 85% of them elect to do so anyway. Why? Because they know a JD/DCL will best equip them to succeed, regardless of their career path or where it takes them in the world.

To better understand how we prepare students to practice the law in the present—and the clear advantage it provides—you need to know a little bit about our past. Ever since Baton Rouge was founded on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1699, more than a half dozen nations have laid claim to the city and enforced their laws here, including England, France, and Spain.

To successfully navigate the complex and ever-changing legal landscape of the past, lawyers who practiced in our area had to be fluent in the world’s two primary legal traditions—common and civil law. As a result, Louisiana developed a bijural, or mixed, legal system. While our state’s private law is rooted in civil law, our public law and dispute resolution system are grounded in common law.

The legal landscape of today’s world is even more complex than it was when Baton Rouge was founded more than four centuries ago, and it will only continue to evolve. In the future, the most successful lawyers will be those who are prepared to practice in the global marketplace. Through your studies and experiences at LSU Law, you will have the tools you need to be an adaptable, capable lawyer and leader who creates top-notch solutions for clients and organizations throughout the world.

The Best of All Worlds LEARN MORE. DO MORE. SUCCEED MORE.

FIRST THINGS FIRST: THE BASICS

In your first year of studies at LSU Law, you’ll take the courses listed below. In your second and third years of study, you will be able to tailor your coursework to your interests and begin your journey toward becoming an expert in your field of study.

IN FOCUS YOUR FUTURE

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COMPARATIVE LAW (DCL)

More than 60% of the world practices civil law, including most of Continental Europe, Central America, and South America, as well as many Asian and African nations. At LSU Law, you’ll learn the basics of the civil code in your first year. If you elect to earn a DCL on top of your JD, you’ll continue to take additional civil law courses throughout your second and third years. As the marketplace of ideas and commerce grows ever more global, your future clients’ business interests will likely be globalized, too—and your ability to help them navigate between systems of civil and common law will be an invaluable asset.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ENERGY LAW AND POLICY

Worldwide, the energy sector will continue to evolve and new sources will become commercially viable, creating incredible career opportunities for attorneys who are prepared to meet the needs of clients in this highly specialized industry. Our Graduate Certificate in Energy Law and Policy will equip you with the industry knowledge and legal skills needed to be practice-ready in the energy sector after graduation, providing you with the opportunity to play a critical role in our world’s energy future.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN ESTATE PLANNING AND TAXATION

Everyone is subject to tax law, and that means attorneys who specialize in wills, trusts, and estates are always in high demand across virtually every employment sector. If you’re looking for a career in tax law or an associated field, or if you aspire to pursue a Master of Laws degree in taxation after you graduate from LSU Law, our Graduate Certificate in Estate Planning and Taxation will pay dividends.

MASTER OF LAWS (LL.M.) IN COMPARATIVE LAW

Our Master of Laws in Comparative Law is a rigorous 10-month program that encompasses intensive study of both common and civil law. It has been recognized as one of the best values in the country by LLM Guide. Most students who pursue the LL.M. come to the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center from countries outside the U.S. that practice civil law, but the program is open to all students who are interested in taking their legal studies to the next level.

EVEN MORE EXPERTISE

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS ALLOW YOU TO EARN YOUR LAW DEGREE IN TANDEM WITH ONE OF FIVE MASTER’S DEGREES OF YOUR CHOOSING.

JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The legal and business worlds are inextricably linked. By pairing your JD with an MBA from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at LSU—which offers a nationally-ranked, STEM-centered curriculum—you’ll be prepared to go into practice for yourself, practice in the corporate world, or launch a business after graduation, among many other opportunities.

JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FINANCE

The financial sector is incredibly complex and ever-changing, meaning lawyers who understand financial theory and possess the skills to effectively evaluate corporate risk are in high demand. Earning a Master of Science in Finance in conjunction with your JD will prepare you to succeed in a broad range of careers in the legal and/or business worlds.

JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

This dual degree program is ideal if you’re considering a career with a nonprofit organization, a government agency, or even a private entity that works in collaboration with nonprofit or government partners. Also offered in conjunction with the E.J. Ourso College of Business, the JD/MPA will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of what is needed to be an effective public service leader.

JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF MASS COMMUNICATION

We're one of only a few universities in the country offering an advanced dual degree in law and mass communication. If you want to specialize in First Amendment and communications law as a practicing attorney, then the Master of Mass Communication from the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication is a perfect fit.

JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK

If you would like to use your law degree to advocate for children, family, women, the elderly, and other underserved populations, the Master of Social work form the LSU School of Social Work will ensure you have a complete understanding of the legal system surrounding social justice organizations and issues.

MORE BY

DOING MORE

TODAY’S EMPLOYERS EXPECT GRADUATES TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES DURING THEIR LAW SCHOOL YEARS. THAT TRAINING CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AND LSU LAW OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL SKILLS THROUGH SIMULATION CLASSES, CLINICS, FIELD PLACEMENTS AND TRIAL ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES.

TRY IT ON FOR SIZE

Simulation classes are offered in a broad range of topics throughout the academic year. They typically are two-credit courses, many of which are graded on a pass-fail basis. In them, you might learn how to interview a client, mediate a child custody agreement, secure bail, select a jury, transfer business ownership, or negotiate a plea bargain, among many other things.

During the intersession between the fall and spring semesters, second- and third-year students can enroll in free Apprenticeship Week classes, taught by master lawyers and judges. These single-credit courses feature topics that are timely, varied, and unique to LSU Law. Recent offerings include The Law of Drones, Name Image and Likeness (Sports Law), Privacy and Data Security, and Video Game Law

TAKE A STEP INTO THE REAL WORLD

Field placements provide students with 120 hours of for-credit legal work in local, state, or federal government agencies; judicial chambers; or public interest and not-for-profit organizations. While these opportunities abound in Baton Rouge, you can also earn credit for a placement while you’re home for the summer break, or in a location/ organization for which you have a passion.

Recent hosts of field placements include:

• The Louisiana Supreme Court

• Louisiana Governor’s Office

• Federal Public Defender’s Office

• U.S. District Courts

• State district courts and courts of appeal in Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Alabama

• California Attorney General

• Louisiana Department of Justice

CHANGE LIVES

Through our LSU Law Clinics, the Law Center offers second- and third-year students the opportunity to be sworn into practice and represent clients under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Our partnerships allow us to provide representation for people who are without effective counsel.

Our students’ clinic experiences are truly lifechanging—both for the clients they represent and themselves. Many students find their career callings through their real-world work with real clients in our clinics.

Current clinic offerings include Criminal Prosecution, Parole and Re-entry, Juvenile Defense, Veterans Rights, Civil Mediation, and Wrongful Conviction—and we’re working to add a Business and Community Development Clinic and a Tax Clinic in the near future. Our partners currently include the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, Baton Rouge City Court, Louisiana Parole Board, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, Innocence Project New Orleans, and U.S. Department of Justice.

Because our students have a proven track record of successfully representing their clients in our clinics, our partner agencies and local courts have great respect for the program, and they proudly support it. In fact, the Louisiana Supreme Court has even previously appointed a group of our students to defend an unrepresented prisoner in a case before them—and we weren’t surprised when they prevailed.

"My time spent working at the Colorado Supreme Court provided me with endless opportunities to refine my legal writing and analysis skills. Additionally, I gained insight into the judicial decision-making process. This knowledge cannot be found in a classroom, but has certainly given me a new perspective on—and has bettered my understanding of— what I have learned in class. In sum, I cannot overstate what a rewarding experience it is to work in the judiciary, and I would highly recommend other students consider judicial externships."

—Isabella Eakins, 3L, on her 2023 field placement at the Colorado Supreme Court

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

THE LSU PAUL M. HEBERT LAW CENTER'S ADVOCACY PROGRAMS ENCOMPASS OUR AWARD-WINNING MOOT COURT, TRIAL ADVOCACY, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION COMPETITION TEAMS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS.

Should you choose to be a member of one of our nationally ranked external competition teams, you’ll have the opportunity to compete in more than 30 different advocacy events held throughout the country. Our Advocacy Programs will also provide you with the chance to compete against your classmates in one of our six internal competitions, develop your skills as a member of the Board of Advocates, be recognized as a member of the Order of Barristers, and take advantage of our many advocacy-focused resources, workshops, and training sessions.

Our external and internal advocacy teams are judged by outstanding jurists who are leading legal experts, attorneys, and judges in their communities. Along with providing invaluable feedback to our students as they hone their courtroom skills, their interactions typically lead to at least one of our talented students landing a direct job offer from their participation in our external and internal competitions. LSU Law external advocacy teams have won 20 national championships in as many years, in competitions dealing with Admiralty, Criminal Law, Family Law, Environmental Law, Space Law, and more.

Students start off their third year of law school with the three-day Vinson & Elkins Trial Advocacy Program. Taught by some of the nation’s leading experts in courtroom practices, the program uses a curriculum developed by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Students research and argue a position, receive feedback, and hone their advocacy skills under the direction of a talented volunteer faculty.

A LEGAL EDUCATION WITHOUT BORDERS

YOU’LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU AT LSU LAW BECAUSE LOUISIANA’S DISTINCTIVE LEGAL SYSTEM MAKES US A GLOBAL EDUCATION CENTER WHERE STUDENTS GAIN ENRICHING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES WHILE BROADENING THEIR LEGAL PERSPECTIVES.

For nearly 30 years, LSU Law students have traveled to Lyon, France during the summer to learn from internationally distinguished professors and lecturers as part of our six-week study abroad program. If you choose to take advantage of this incredibly rewarding opportunity, you’ll study comparative and international law in the third-largest city in France at the Université Jean Moulin-Lyon III. The flexible program structure allows you to customize your course load to match your interests and spend your threeday weekends exploring Europe.

And your opportunities to study abroad aren’t limited to France. You can also choose to study abroad for a semester at one of our partner universities in Europe and South America, or even take on an international internship.

Your studies and experiences abroad will give you a competitive advantage over your peers and provide you with an unparalleled perspective on how the law is practiced and applied globally.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE. RIGHT HERE AT HOME.

You don’t have to wait until your second or third year of law school to broaden your horizons. Every year, our LL.M. program and the Center of Civil Law Studies welcome law students and legal professionals from around the world to study at the only law school in the nation with a fully integrated program for common and civil law.

From your very first day at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, you will study alongside and collaborate with students from dozens of countries around the world, which will provide you with fresh perspectives and enhance your legal education.

LEARN MORE FACULTY

WHO WILL INSPIRE YOU TO

WHETHER THEY’RE ENGAGING STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, SHARING THEIR SCHOLARSHIP WITH COLLEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD, SPEAKING WITH MEDIA OUTLETS, OR WRITING TREATISES, BOOKS, AND ARTICLES FOR LEADING LAW JOURNALS, OUR PROFESSORS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

STUDENT-CENTERED MENTORS

Our faculty understand that everything we do at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center begins and ends with student success. Your professors will be highly engaging in the classroom and readily available outside of it. Through your studies with them, you’ll develop close working relationships that will help you succeed while you’re in law school and open doors for you long after you graduate. Our focus on providing you with real-world, hands-on instruction is designed to prepare you to be practiceready on graduation day and pass the bar on your first try.

REQUIRED READING

Our faculty are as diversely talented as our students. They hold a wide range of opinions on the law, its applications, and implications for our society, and they are frequently cited experts in their fields of study. You will regularly hear them interviewed by media outlets and see their writings published in leading law journals. Their scholarship, which also includes legal treatises, book chapters, and books, enriches our campus community, adds value to our curriculum, and enhances your understanding of the law.

INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN

When they’re not in the classroom, our faculty can be found presenting their research at legal conferences and symposia across America and throughout the world. In the past year alone, our faculty have been invited to share their scholarship and research in dozens of U.S. states and countries, including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Qatar. As a student at LSU Law, you’ll benefit from the international perspective and connections our professors bring with them into the classroom.

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

LSU Law professors consistently answer the call to serve their community and lend their legal expertise. They hold leadership positions with prominent legal associations and are regularly tapped to address important initiatives of the American Bar Association, Louisiana Supreme Court, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Louisiana Legislature, Association of Legal Writing Directors, Louisiana Judicial College, Louisiana Law Institute, Southeastern Association of Law Schools, and Louisiana Association of Defense Council, among many others. They also direct the LSU Laborde Energy Center, LSU Mineral law institute, and Pugh Institute for Justice, all of which are located here at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

MAKE A CASE THAT’S HARD TO IGNORE.

Competition for a top-of-the-line legal education is tough. But you’ve got this. If you hold a baccalaureate from an accredited college or university and have taken the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in the past five years, we want you to make your case for joining our exceptional community of legal scholars.

We also pride ourselves on taking the holistic approach to accepting students. High LSAT scores and GPAs are important, but so is a culture of broadly diversified students and scholars.

So bring us more than test scores. Bring us your passion and aptitude for law. What will you bring to LSU Law that no one else can? And how can we get you where you want to go? We want to hear your background, talents, experiences, and perspectives. Set yourself apart from the rest, and get that acceptance letter you’ve been waiting for.

GREAT VALUE. GREATER SUCCESS.

We work to keep tuition low and the value of your degree as high as possible. We’ve been recognized as offering one of the best-value legal educations in the country. Approximately one-third of LSU Law students receive some form of scholarship assistance. LSU offers merit-based and endowed scholarships with awards all the way up to full tuition paid. Admitted firstyear students are automatically considered for assistance, as well as rising second- and third-year law students who are making significant academic progress.

APPLY FOR FAFSA.

Students are also able to apply for federally funded need-based loans. To do so, you should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you have decided to apply to law school.

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

Applications should be on file no later than June 1.

APPLICATION FEE

The application fee is waived for all who apply on or before June 1.

ESSAYS

LSU Law requires two distinct essays: Personal Statement and Why LSU Law.

Personal Statement — This essay is an opportunity to share your voice, perspective, and values. These values are not limited and can encompass lived experiences, unique backgrounds, and other attributes that enable our students to contribute a different perspective to the LSU Law educational environment.

Why LSU Law — Our mission is to train competent and ethical lawyers capable of serving the cause of justice and advancing the common good. In this essay, you should describe how your goals overlap with LSU Law’s mission and why you believe the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, specifically, is the appropriate place for your legal education.

RESUME

Applicants are required to submit a resume along with the application.

LSAT

All applicants must take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The test is administered four times per year at testing centers near you. LSAT scores more than five years old will not be considered in the admissions process.

CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE

The Law Center requires its applicants to subscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). The Office of Admissions will request this report, which includes LSAT scores, a writing sample, copies of all academic transcripts, and a summary of all undergraduate grades.

VISIT THE CAS WEBSITE

Learn more at lsac.org/applying-law-school

TRANSCRIPTS

Admitted applicants are required to arrange for the submission of official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work directly from all institutions to the Office of Admissions no later than July 1.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

LSU Law requires two letters of recommendation that must be submitted through the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) of LSAC. Letters of recommendation should be written by teachers, employers, or others who have a significant personal knowledge of the applicant’s academic ability and aptitude for the study of law.

LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Office of Admissions

1 East Campus Drive, Suite 202 Baton Rouge, LA 70803

225.578.8646

lawadmissions@lsu.edu

law.lsu.edu

The LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center is committed to providing equal opportunity for all qualified persons in admission to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities which the Law Center operates without regard to race, creed, color, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, or veteran status.