Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center History

Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center was established in 1906 and is a public institution. The campus is in an urban area in Baton Rouge. The primary mission of the law school is to develop to the highest level the intellectual and professional capabilities of Louisiana citizens through resident instruction while enriching instruction and establishing new frontiers of knowledge through research and scholarly activity. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Baton Rouge area. Legislative and executive branches of state government are also accessible to students. Housing for students is available in residence hall accommodations, as well as rooms and apartments in privately-owned facilities and university facilities.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and M.C.L. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 12 hours credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./B.C.L. (Juris Doctor/Bachelor of Civil Law), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), and J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration).

The Paul M. Hebert Law Center offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, maritime law, media law, securities law, tax law, and torts and insurance. In addition, third-year students may take clinical courses in preparing for trials and oral arguments, generally worth 2 credits. Seminars are offered for 2 hours of credit. Special lecture series are the Edward Douglass White Lectures, the James J. Bailey Lectures, and the John H. Tucker, Jr. Lectures. Students may study for 6 weeks during the summer in France. Freshman tutorial programs are available. There are externships whereby 5 students may be selected to work under the supervision of any agency and the instructor in certain courses.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 97 total credits, of which 70 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 1.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Administration of Criminal Justice I, Basic Civil Procedure I and II, Civil Law Property, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing I and II, Legal Traditions and Systems, Obligations, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Evidence, Legal Profession, and Trial Advocacy. The required orientation program for first-year students provides some 2 hours with students, about 1 hour with faculty, and a 2 hour Professionalism Program sponsored by the Louisiana State Bar Association.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and by taking a seminar in which they must submit a paper.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 443,507 hard-copy volumes and 2,153,035 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 8221 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Dow-Jones, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, OCLC, ONLINE public access catalog, the Internet, Hein Online, LLMC-Digital, Jstor, and BNA-ALL are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a U.S. government document depository, a depository for Louisiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals briefs and records, and international, comparative, and foreign law collections, which include Roman Law and Judge Paul M. Hebert Nuremberg War Crimes Trial Archive. Recently, the library renovated to add office space, an electronic classroom, a microform room, and a reserve room. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 9240 to 1 and to students is 696 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by means of an active recruiting program that identifies students through test scores and information received through the Law Services Candidate Referral Program. Requirements are different for out-of-state students in that credentials are usually higher than for in-state applicants, due to a 10% limit on out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and have reasons for seeking a transfer, and provide information on their overall first-year academic performance.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1682 applied, 467 were accepted, and 216 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. One transfer enrolled in a recent year. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 68; the median GPA was 3.49 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 15; the highest was 97.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include academic achievement, LSAT results, and letter of recommendation. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a nonreundable application fee, 2 letters of recommendation, and a $500 seat deposit credited toward tuition. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. Check with the school for current application deadlines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 82% of current law students received some form of aid. Required financial statements are the FFS and the FAFSA. Check with the school for current application deadlines. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application shortly after applying.

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Paul M. Hebert Law Center Students

About 50% of the student body are women; 10%, minorities; 8%, African American; 1%, Asian American; and 1%, Hispanic. The majority of students come from Louisiana (89%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 18 to 56. About 6% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 88% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Louisiana Law Review and the newspaper Civilian. Moot court competitions include the Tullis Moot Court at the Law Center and at the regional and national Jessup Moot Court and National Moot Court competitions. Teams also participate in the F. Lee Bailey, Frederick Douglass, and Entertainment Law moot courts, and the American Trial Lawyers and Louisiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Mock Trial competitions. Law student organizations include the Student Bar Association, Flory Trial Club, and the Moot Court Board.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 4 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is a 7-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.