LSU Law Parole and Re-entry Clinic students celebrate milestone day, release of six clients from prison | |
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Professor Robert Lancaster and the eight students in the LSU Law Parole and Re-entry Clinic met for class at the downtown Baton Rouge headquarters of The Louisiana Parole Project on Monday evening, Oct. 23, for a very special occasion.
“We’ve never had the opportunity to hold class like this before,” Lancaster told his students at the start of class, “but after the phenomenal success we recently had, I thought it’d be great for all of us to come together to share our experiences—now that we’re all on the outside.”
During the previous week, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, six students in the Parole and Re-entry Clinic assisted clients with their hearings before the Louisiana Parole Committee. All six clients had spent more than 20 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, and five of them were initially sentenced to life. Now, for the first time since being released, they were meeting with with the LSU Law students who helped secure their long-sought freedom.
“He didn’t miss a beat for me from day one,” said Jerry, one of the newly freed men, as he sat beside third-year LSU Law student Chandler Thornton, who assisted him at the parole hearing. “He had memorized that brief, and boy, he couldn’t wait to tell it. I appreciate it every single day.”
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LSU Law Professor Keith Hall lands $98K grant to study carbon storage compensation in collaboration with colleagues across campus | |
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LSU Law Professor Keith Hall has been granted approximately $98,000 from the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation to study methods for compensating landowners, as well as state and local governments, for carbon capture and storage.
“LSU has a wealth of expertise in the legal, science, social science, and engineering fields, and what’s really exciting about this study is that it will involve an interdisciplinary team of LSU professors from across campus, as well as a graduate student studying economics,” said Hall, who holds the Nesser Family Chair in Energy Law at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center and also serves as director of both the LSU Mineral Law Institute and the LSU John P. Laborde Energy Law Center. “This project is an example of interdisciplinary collaboration at its best.”
Hall will lead the study, assisted by Professor Greg Upton, interim executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies; Professor Joanna Walker of the LSU Center for Energy Studies; and Professor Daniel Keniston, who serves as director of graduate studies in the Department of Economics at the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business.
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LSU Law graduates achieve highest passage rate on Louisiana Bar Exam for first-time and all takers, July 2023 results show | |
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With 92.2% of LSU Law graduates passing the Louisiana Bar Exam on their first attempt, the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center achieved the highest pass rate among all Louisiana law schools on the July 2023 exam, according to newly released results from the Committee on Bar Admission of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Among all takers of the Louisiana Bar Exam in July, 87.8% of LSU Law graduates passed, which also ranks first among Louisiana law schools.
“The LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center has an extraordinary faculty who are experts in the civilian tradition, and we are committed to training exceptional lawyers,” said LSU Law Dean Alena Allen. “We are incredibly proud of the LSU Law Class of 2023 and know that they will make their mark locally and nationally.”
The pass rate among LSU Law graduates taking the exam for the first time in July (92.2%) is 17 percentage points higher than the average of all first-time takers (75.2%), and the pass rate among all LSU Law graduates (87.8%) is 18 percentage points higher than the average of all those who sat for the exam in July (69.7%).
See the complete June 2023 Louisiana Bar Exam results.
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Trifecta: LSU Law student, faculty, and staff member selected for AALS 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll | |
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Third-year LSU Law student Peach Hadley, Professor Jack Harrison, and Director of Career Services Gwen Ferrell have been selected by the Association of American Law Schools for its 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll.
Now in its third year, the annual honor roll “celebrates the exceptional work of individuals engaging in, expanding, and/or supporting their law school community in providing pro bono legal services.” Only about 200 law school faculty, staff, and students are included on this year’s list.
“My drive to study law has always been anchored in a commitment to wield it as a tool for realizing egalitarianism,” said Hadley, who serves as Pro Bono Chair for the LSU Law Public Interest Law Society. “To be acknowledged for my contributions to that vision is deeply humbling.”
Harrison has dedicated his career to advocating for and working on behalf of juveniles in the justice system. After graduating from LSU Law in 2004, he spent 14 years as a juvenile defender for the East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender. Prior to being appointed a full-time faculty member at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center in the clinical legal education program in 2021, Harrison had served as an adjunct professor at LSU Law since 2009.
Ferrell has been with the LSU Law Office of Career Services since 1999, was named interim director in September 2019, and has served as director since February 2021. Last year, she was elected to serve as the 2022-24 Vice President of Member Services and Education for the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).
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An LSU Law student organization seeking to foster a welcoming and comforting environment for LGBTQ+ students and allies, OUTLaw strives to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
“OUTLaw’s mission is to develop a sense of community for LGBTQ+ individuals and contribute to LSU Law’s general student atmosphere,” said 3L and OUTLaw President Trystan Melancon.
To bring its mission to fruition, OUTLaw regularly hosts events throughout the academic year and spotlights LGBTQ+-friendly activities in the Baton Rouge area.
“We want to host as many events as possible for the LSU Law community,” said Melancon, who also serves as a Louisiana Law Review senior editor. “One of my goals as president is to organize enjoyable events that raise awareness about LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences, while allowing members of our community to meet new faces and enjoy each other’s company.”
Read the full Student Organization Spotlight.
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Third-year student Rochelle Bogle selected for ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium Fellowship | |
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Rochelle Bogle, a dedicated advocate for justice and legal reform who is in her third year of studies at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, has been selected for the ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium Fellowship (LEPPC). In this fellowship, Bogle will research police practices in Louisiana, providing critical insights that could drive positive change in law enforcement and beyond.
“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as the LSU Law fellow for the ABA Legal Education Police Practices Consortium,” stated Bogle, who was nominated for the fellowship by LSU Law Dean Alena Allen. “This is an opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue and research surrounding police practices.”
The deans of ABA-accredited law schools created the LEPPC in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and other Black Americans by police in 2020. Designed to address the pressing need for comprehensive, coordinated research, and analysis of police practices in the United States, its mission is to bridge the gap between legal education and the practice of policing to foster a collaborative environment in which legal scholars and practitioners can work together to study and propose reforms to policing.
“The consortium’s mission aligns perfectly with my passion for justice and legal reform, and I am excited about the possibilities this fellowship holds,” said Bogle, who serves as president of the Black Law Students Association at LSU Law and is also a member of the Board of Advocates.
Read the full story.
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LSU Law students, faculty, staff, and alumni help prepare LSU and UL undergrads for National Moot Court Competition | |
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To help undergraduate moot court teams at LSU and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette prepare to vie for the National Moot Court Competition championship next year, LSU Law hosted a head-to-head scrimmage for the teams at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Sunday, Oct. 15.
“This was probably one of the best things I have done in preparation of going to law school,” said LSU Moot Court President Elijah Olofintuyi. “I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, but the competition went way smoother than I thought it would. The judges actually helped me develop my argument, and it was a great experience learning to think critically and on my feet.”
The scrimmage was sponsored by the LSU Law Board of Advocates, the student honor organization dedicated to the promotion and development of oral and written persuasive advocacy skills.
“There are not many ways for undergraduate students to see what law school is like, so I think moot court competitions are a great way for them to experience at least one side of law school,” said third-year LSU Law student Yenifer Flores, who serves as the Board of Advocates Director of Judicial Relations–Appellate and volunteered to recruit judges for the scrimmage.
Board of Advocate members McKenzie Connelly, Samantha Jacobsen, and Alec Keane served as judges of scrimmage, along with LSU Law Class of 2021 alumni Maria Chiriboga and Kelsey Jenkins.
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Samantha Jacobsen has ‘absolutely surreal’ experience of representing LSU Law on 2023 LSU Homecoming Court | |
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Third-year LSU Law student Samantha Jacobsen was one of 14 students selected for the 2023 LSU Homecoming Court, serving as an ambassador for the university at events held throughout the week leading up to the football game against Army on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Although she wasn’t named Homecoming Queen during the LSU-Army football game, she was “really thrilled” by the opportunity to represent LSU Law as part of the court and be a part of the on-field festivities in Tiger Stadium during halftime.
“I kept pinching myself throughout the whole process,” said Jacobsen, a Tampa, Florida native who earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and international affairs at Florida State University in 2021. “It was absolutely surreal walking on the field and seeing everyone in the stands—especially as an out-of-state student. It was great to show my love for LSU.”
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HLSA President Jennifer Flores elected to National Latina/o Law Student Association board, organizing regional conference on Nov. 4 | |
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Finding a supportive network of friends during her first year at LSU Law inspired Yenifer Flores to pursue leadership positions where she could provide the same guidance to her peers. Now in her third year of studies, Flores serves on the local level as president of the LSU Law Hispanic Law Students Association and on the national level as South Atlantic Regional Director of the National Latina/o Student Association.
Elected to the national executive board in March, Flores serves as the point of contact for all chapter associations at law schools from South Carolina to Louisiana and Puerto Rico. As part of her duties, she also organized a regional meeting, “Embracing Your Latinidad: Cultural Heritage as Professional Empowerment,” that was held on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Z.A. Ranch in Covington, Louisiana.
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Levie and Vicknair win 2023 Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition | |
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Second-year LSU Law students Andrew Levie and Victoria Vicknair won the 2023 Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition, besting classmates Emily Cormier and Hannah Johnson in the competition’s final round on Monday, Oct. 23, in the Robinson Courtroom at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
The teams presented oral arguments in a fictional U.S. Supreme Court case before a panel of distinguished judges that included Judge Hunter Greene of the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal; Danielle Borel (’14), partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson; and LSU Law Professor John Devlin.
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Louisiana 19th Judicial District Court holds ‘rule day’ hearings at LSU Law | |
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LSU Law alumnus and Louisiana 19th Judicial District Court Judge Kelly Balfour (’01) presided over “rule day” hearings held in the Robinson Courtroom at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Monday, Oct. 30.
Hosted by the LSU Law Advocacy Programs, the court’s visit provides LSU Law students with the opportunity to observe court proceedings and to experience a “day in the life” of a courtroom litigator. Monday morning’s hearing included a series of oral arguments on roughly 15 different motions pending in civil cases on Judge Balfour’s docket.
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US DOJ attorney and LSU Law alumnus Dan Stigall (’00) returns to alma mater to discuss national security issues and careers | |
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When he’s not serving as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice or as the Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in National Security Law at George Washington University Law School, LSU Law alumnus Dan Stigall (’00) enjoys advising and guiding law students who are interested in national security careers.
On Friday, Oct. 20, Stigall returned to his alma mater to discuss national security issues and career paths and with current LSU Law students.
“I remember having a burgeoning sense that I wanted to work in national security and international law when I was in college, but I could not find a direct path to do that,” Stigall said at the event, which was hosted by The Center for Civil Law Studies and the International Law Society.
As it turns out, there are no hard and fast rules on how to pursue a career in national security or international law, Stigall explained. That’s why he encourages law students to keep an open mind when it comes to opportunities to work in law, policy, or in more operational careers.
“Don’t discount the fact that every federal agency deals with international issues in some form,” Stigall said. “Put yourself in a place where an opportunity exists, get your foot in the door, then you can move laterally to where you want to be.”
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Supreme Court of Virginia appoints LSU Law alumna Alexis Fetzer Sharp (’11) as state law librarian | |
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LSU Law alumna Alexis Fetzer Sharp has been appointed by the Supreme Court of Virginia to serve as the next state law librarian of the Virginia State Law Library, effective Nov. 1. Sharp is a three-time LSU graduate, having earned her bachelor’s degree in history in 2008, her J.D. in 2011, and her master’s degree in library and information science in 2013.
As an LSU undergrad, Sharp worked in the circulation department of the LSU Law Library. She then served as a legal research instructor and Law Library Fellow at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center while she completed her master’s degree.
“We are so proud of all that Alexis has accomplished,” said Melanie Sims, LSU Law Library Head of Access Services and Government Information.
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Baton Rouge native and third-year LSU Law student Sarah Procopio discovered her passion for law while spearheading a transformative Louisiana healthcare policy during her undergraduate years at LSU.
While serving as a Louisiana Department of Health Governor’s Fellow as an undergraduate, Procopio developed an interest in healthcare liability, particularly in the context of administering the opiate antagonist Naloxone to those experiencing overdoses. Her commitment to the cause grew in response to an on-campus opioid emergency at LSU, and she began considering tactics to increase education on addiction and prevent on-campus opioid overdoses.
What started as a policy proposal to install opioid overdose prevention kits in LSU residence halls eventually received approval from Gov. John Bel Edwards after navigating through the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Board of Regents. Today, Procopio’s policy is effective in all Louisiana residence halls.
“The process of installing this policy is what ultimately drew me to law school,” said Procopio, who became just the 12th student in LSU history to receive a prestigious Truman Scholarship in 2020. “My calling to attend LSU Law was a natural progression of my interest in civic engagement. I wanted to continue to be an advocate for Louisiana and gain an insight into the mechanics of the legal systems that touch each of us in society.”
At LSU Law, Procopio has enjoyed deepening her passion for healthcare policy and honing her litigation skills by participating in LSU Law’s internal advocacy competitions. She earned the Best Individual Speaker award in the 2022 Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition and won the 2023 Transactional Competition along with her teammate, Yenifer Flores.
Read the full Your Gifts at Work profile to learn more about Procopio, and find out how you can support outstanding students like her through LSU Law scholarships.
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Justice Piper D. Griffin (’87) honored with 2023 President’s Award from American Judges Association | |
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For her outstanding service to the American Judges Association, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Piper D. Griffin, a graduate of the Class of 1987, received the 2023 President’s Award at the AJA 62nd Annual Conference. AJA President Judge Yvette M. Alexander, who also graduated from LSU Law in 1979, presented Griffin with the award.
“I am honored to receive the 2023 AJA President’s Award and to be acknowledged along with my colleagues from Louisiana by this association which, while facilitating judicial camaraderie, provides for collaborative leadership, networking, and access to continued educational resources from judicial peers from throughout the United States,” said Griffin.
Read the full story.
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Dean Allen to discuss impacts of recent US Supreme Court decision to end race-conscious college admissions Nov. 30 at BRBA luncheon | |
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LSU Law Dean Alena Allen will discuss the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to end race-conscious college admission policies during an address to the Baton Rouge Bar Association on Thursday, Nov. 30, at its monthly luncheon.
Just days before Allen began her tenure at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center on July 1, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard College, overturning 45 years of legal precedent.
Allen’s presentation, titled “The Impact of SFFA v. UNC and SFFA v. Harvard College on Legal Education,” will review how the legal landscape has shifted with respect to admissions in higher education as well as discuss opportunities for innovation and implications for the future, particularly as it relates to legal education and the legal profession.
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Professor Summer Chandler has been selected to preset her paper, “Liking, Linking, and Tweeting: Mental Health, Mentoring, and Professional Responsibility in the Age of Social Media,” at the New Voices in Professional Responsibility panel during the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, which will be held Jan. 3-6, 2024, in Washington D.C. | | |
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Professor Tracy Norton presented “Sing Me a Song of ChatGPT” at the 2023 Appellate Advocacy Conference of the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit in New Orleans on Oct. 2-3. | | |
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Professor Keith Hall will serve on the “CCUS Rulemaking and Regulatory Update” panel at the Institute for Energy Law Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage, which is taking place Oct. 11 in Houston, Texas. He also presented on “Conservation Regulation” at the 40th Annual Oil & Gas Short Course in Denver, Colorado, on Oct. 18. | | |
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Professor Heidi Thompson presented “Professionalism: What Does It Mean?” as part of the LSU Law Reunion Weekend CLE program on Friday, Oct. 20. She will also present “What Does [a Cite] Say?” during the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Association CLE program in December. | | | | |
