Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Paul M. Hebert Law Center. It is the law school of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is renowned for its rigorous program in comparative law, blending instruction in both the common law and civil law traditions. Founded in 1906, the institution was renamed in 1977 to honor its longtime dean, Paul M. Hebert, a pivotal figure in legal education and a former chairman of the United States Civil Service Commission. The law center is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and is a primary feeder for the Louisiana Bar.

History

The institution traces its origins to the establishment of the Louisiana State University Law School in 1906, operating initially in New Orleans before relocating to the main campus in Baton Rouge. Under the influential deanship of Paul M. Hebert, who served from 1937 to 1977, the school developed its distinctive bijural curriculum and gained national prominence. This period saw significant growth, including the construction of its primary facility, the Wexford S. and Laura L. Palmer Memorial Building, in 1967. The school was formally renamed the Paul M. Hebert Law Center by an act of the Louisiana State Legislature in recognition of Hebert's transformative leadership, which included his service on the International Court of Justice and contributions to the Uniform Commercial Code.

Academics and programs

The law center offers the Juris Doctor degree through a unique curriculum that provides deep training in both the Louisiana Civil Code and the Anglo-American common law system. This comparative law approach is central to its identity and is supported by specialized programs like the Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law. Students can also pursue advanced degrees, including a Master of Laws and a Doctor of Juridical Science. The school is noted for its strong programs in energy law, environmental law, and coastal law, leveraging its location in a major Gulf Coast energy hub. Its advocacy programs, particularly in trial advocacy and moot court, regularly compete successfully in national competitions such as the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

Campus and facilities

The primary home of the law center is the Wexford S. and Laura L. Palmer Memorial Building, a modern facility located on the campus of Louisiana State University. The building houses the Louisiana State University Law Library, one of the largest legal collections in the Gulf South, containing extensive holdings in civil law and common law jurisdictions. The campus also includes the McKernan Auditorium, several dedicated trial advocacy courtrooms, and the Clinical Legal Education suite. The law center's location provides students with proximity to key state institutions like the Louisiana State Capitol, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and numerous federal and state agencies, facilitating externships and practical experience.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty has included eminent scholars such as former dean and International Court of Justice ad hoc judge Paul M. Hebert, and Saul Litvinoff, a renowned authority on the Louisiana Civil Code. Distinguished alumni occupy prominent positions across the legal and political landscape, including former United States Senator John Breaux, former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster, and former Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court Pascal F. Calogero Jr.. Other notable graduates include United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit judge James L. Dennis, and Major League Baseball executive and former United States Attorney Michael S. Moore.

Publications and centers

The law center publishes the flagship Louisiana Law Review, a leading scholarly journal cited by courts including the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States. Other student-run publications include the Journal of Energy Law and Resources and the Civil Law Commentaries. Its research mission is advanced through several interdisciplinary centers, such as the LSU Law John P. Laborde Energy Law Center, the Coastal Law and Policy Clinic, and the LSU Law Center's Program on Civil Law and Legal Translation. These centers often collaborate with entities like the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Water Institute of the Gulf on critical regional issues.

Category:Louisiana State University Category:Law schools in Louisiana Category:Educational institutions established in 1906