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.