LSU law school boosts scholarships

Law Journal

As the number of law school applicants decreases in Louisiana and nationwide, LSU is upping the ante on its scholarships for law students to keep the “best and brightest” in Louisiana.

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved increasing the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s scholarship dollars more than 40 percent to about $1 million for the coming school year during board meetings this week at LSU-Shreveport.

The increase is part of the law center’s new “Louisiana Distinguished Public Service Scholars” program that will ultimately be funded by LSU tuition and fee increases, although the tuition proposals are still pending, LSU Law Center Chancellor Jack Weiss said.

With about 570 law students at LSU, Weiss said this new program is necessary “to maintain our current student demographics, much less enhance them, which is my goal.”

The new scholarship money is intended for the best in-state applicants who show an interest in legal public service, which is meant to coincide with LSU’s burgeoning clinical legal education program, according to the scholarship proposal.

Not only is more clinical education being demanded for continued American Bar Association law school accreditation, but it provides students with more real-life legal experience with clients apart from standard internships.

Although more money will be awarded to students, Weiss said LSU may not need to use the full $1.03 million scholarship allotment approved by the LSU board.

As for tuition, Weiss said, “We’re being limited by the budget we currently have.

“To put it bluntly, we cannot do what we need to do &hellip without a tuition increase,” Weiss said, noting that LSU’s tuition is below its peers.

Quoting LSU System President John Lombardi, Weiss added, “Money matters.”

Mike Gargano, LSU System vice president of student and academic support, called the plan a “significant” and necessary increase for scholarship funding.

Nationally, the number of law school applicants decreased from nearly 97,000 in 2003 to just 80,000 last year, Gargano said.

At LSU, law school applications dropped from 1,845 in 2003 to 1,299 last year, he said. Then there is the issue of Louisiana’s decreasing population.

With fewer students to choose from, Gargano said “the competition for students becomes that much more fierce.”

The scholarship adjustment is needed “to better confront these national dynamics,” he said.

Weiss also announced the hiring of Indiana University clinical law professor Robert Lancaster as the new director of LSU’s clinical legal education program.

Lancaster is a 1993 Tulane Law School graduate.

Related listings

  • Bar Associations Website Design by Law Promo

    Bar Associations Website Design by Law Promo

    Law Journal 08/18/2021

    Bar Association Membership Management System Designed to Help You Grow. Law Promo’s experience with bar associations and other legal organizations enables us to develop quality websites that meet the needs of your association, saving your admin...

  •  Hong Kong court: Denying same-sex spousal benefits unlawful

    Hong Kong court: Denying same-sex spousal benefits unlawful

    Law Journal 06/03/2019

    Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal said Thursday the government cannot deny spousal employment benefits to same-sex couples, in a ruling hailed as a major step forward for same-sex equality in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.The court over...

  • Court to explore competency claim of ailing Alabama inmate

    Court to explore competency claim of ailing Alabama inmate

    Law Journal 10/01/2018

    The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in the case of an inmate sentenced to death for killing an Alabama police officer in 1985 but who lawyers say can no longer remember the murder because of stroke-induced dementia.Justices will decide...

Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?

IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child. Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer.” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.

Business News

Indianapolis Personal Injury Law Firm Williams & Piatt are devoted to fighting for the injured. We represent people who have been injured
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Surry County. If you are charged with a criminal offense, please consult with an attorney. >> read