Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center, in Baton Rouge, La., is one of the best value law schools in the nation, ranked No. 12 in 2019.
With in-state tuition at just $23,672 in FY’20, it is one of the most affordable law schools in the nation, and it delivers when it comes to both employment and bar pass rates. For the Class of 2019, 91percent landed a job within 10 months of graduation, and the school reported a first-time test taker bar pass rate of 85.6 percent for the Class of 2019.
LSU Law’s curriculum includes common law, taught in other law schools, and civil law, as well. Civil law systems are found on all continents and cover about 60 percent of the world. Unlike other states, Louisiana uses a combination of civil and common law. LSU Law teaches both systems and gives students the option to take additional credit in civil law courses beyond first year in order to earn a Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law, in addition to their Juris Doctorate. Faculty, students and alumni say this gives students a leg up in a global, interconnected world. Students decide whether to pursue this diploma in their second year.
LSU Law’s comparative law program is designed to strengthen the Law Center’s leadership role as curator of the Louisiana Civil Code and the Civil Law generally; and extend recognition to Law Center graduates, who, in order to master both the Civil and the Common Law Systems, complete in-depth study of the Civil Law.
The school also excels in trial advocacy and litigation, with winning moot court teams, and professional skills training in research and writing. It also offers extensive externships and pro bono opportunities. The Law Center’s Advocacy programs are among the largest law student advocacy skills training programs in the United States. More than 200 students participate in six different LSU-hosted internal advocacy competitions, more than twenty-five traveling advocacy competition teams, and a series of skills workshops and boot camps.
Students can also choose to earn an Energy Law and Policy certificate through the school’s Laborde Energy Law Center.