Louisiana State University (LSU) - Paul M. Hebert Law Center

The Law School

The Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University was founded in 1906, and is the only law school in the United States with fully developed programs in both civil and common law. Consistently ranked among the top public law school graduate programs, LSU Law affords students with either a civil law or common law background the opportunity to pursue graduate legal studies with an eye toward global practice.

Our Graduates usually meet success within the year following graduation. Many pass the New York Bar and will now be able to sit for the Louisiana Bar exam, even if they are not a permanent US residents. Many have found positions in law firms, law schools, and courts in the United States; others have returned to their home country, and were able to enhance their professional goals.

Our recently renovated Law Center complex is equipped with the latest in computer technology and provides free WiFi access to all students. Students can take a moment to relax outside in Centennial Plaza, or in the spacious and comfortable student lounge, equipped with its own coffee shop. Our Law Library is considered one of the best in the country; it contains the full complement of state, federal, international legal materials, and a unique collection of foreign and comparative law materials.

The Program

The Law Center offers an advanced Graduate Program leading to the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Comparative Law. The degree requires two semesters in residence and a minimum of 26 credit hours of study.
The Graduate Program lasts for ten months, beginning in August and ending in May. All candidates attend a special Orientation program beginning two weeks prior to the start of the fall semester. This program acclimates the students to the language and study of law at a United States law school, as well as provides opportunities for course selection, to complete enrollment and administrative requirements, and other activities to orient students to life as a U.S. law student.
In addition to Introduction to U.S. Law and Writing and Research Workshops, candidates are able to select from a full range of law courses, seminars, and skills development classes, especially in the business, transactional, corporate, and commercial law areas that are often important to international lawyers.
Please visit our website for more detailed information about our Graduate Program.
www.law.lsu.edu/index.cfm?geaux=academics.llm

The Faculty

Our exceptional faculty is comprised of noted scholars and outstanding legal professionals. The faculty=s depth of knowledge of both civil and common law provides students with one of the most thorough and profound Comparative Law programs available. In addition, we regularly host prestigious international scholars to teach short courses in such areas as international and comparative law, often connected to Europe and Latin America.
Courses are taught in an interactive style, which allows for the free exchange of ideas between the faculty and students. In addition, the Law Center provides the kind of personalized attention and opportunities for one-on-one interaction with the faculty that is often not available in other programs.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have completed a Juris Doctor from an ABA approved law school, or its equivalent (e.g., a four-year LL.B.) from an approved foreign law school. Admissions decisions are made by the Graduate Committee of the law faculty.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate to the Graduate Committee their ability to conduct both classroom and research work in English. A minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based) or 100 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is generally required. In addition to this score, a writing sample may be required by the Graduate Committee for use in admission decisions. Conditional acceptance with an approved ESL course is possible.

Application Procedure

Applications for the Graduate Program can be downloaded from our website at:
www.law.lsu.edu/globals/pdfs/admissions/LLMApplica…
The deadline to submit completed applications is February 1. Applications will be accepted after February 1, but may not receive full consideration with regard to financial aid.

Applications should be accompanied by the following supporting materials: official transcripts of all law and related study, as well as other university education; three letters of recommendation; a personal statement, including research interests and reason for pursuing graduate legal education; a check or money order for $50 (in United States funds) payable to the LSU Law Center as an application fee; an official TOEFL score sheet (for non-native English-speakers); and a photo (passport photo). Please see our website for specific information regarding the application process.
www.law.lsu.edu/index.cfm?geaux=academics.llm

Applicants also have the option of using the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) to submit the required documentation.

Tuition and Fees

Currently, tuition for the LL.M. Program is $11,722 for Louisiana residents. For nonresidents of Louisiana, a fee of $10,096 is added to the cost of tuition, for a total of $21,818. Mandatory student fees total approximately $1,700 per year. Students are responsible for their travel costs, living expenses, books, etc., during their time at the Law Center.

Financial Aid

The Law Center awards a limited number of scholarships based on academic and professional merit (if applicable). Candidates may apply for financial assistance from the Law Center, which includes "full scholarships" (tuition and nonresident fee waiver) or "partial scholarships" (nonresident fee waiver only). Scholarship awards do not cover the cost of the mandatory fees. For example, a student who is awarded a "full scholarship" (tuition plus a waiver of the nonresident fee) would be responsible for the cost of the mandatory fees, textbooks, living expenses, and travel expenses. A student who is awarded a "partial scholarship" (a waiver of the nonresident fee) would be responsible for the cost of tuition ($11,722), plus mandatory fees, textbooks, living expenses, and travel expenses. All scholarship decisions are made by the Graduate Committee of the law faculty.
For additional information about financial aid, from the Law Center and other sources, please visit our website.
www.law.lsu.edu/index.cfm?geaux=academics.llm

Location

Louisiana State University is located in historic Baton Rouge, along the banks of the Mississippi River. Our beautiful campus is approximately 2000 acres in size, and magnificently landscaped with nearly 1200 Live Oak trees, as well as numerous other lovely trees and plants, such as Crepe Myrtles, Magnolias, and Azaleas. Located next to campus are the LSU Lakes, with over four miles of walking paths. Fifty-seven of the buildings on campus are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Louisiana State University is the largest university in the state, with approximately 30,000 students.
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and home to the state government. It is currently the largest city in Louisiana, with a population of approximately 430,000 in the metro area.
Baton Rouge (which literally translates to “Red Stick” in French), has a colorful past. It was formally founded in 1699 by the explorer Pierre Le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville. The town’s name originated from a large stained pole that separated the territory of two Native American tribes. Prior to becoming part of the United States in 1812, Baton Rouge was ruled by France, England, Spain, and the short-lived Republic of West Florida. The unique culture and legal tradition of the state can be directly traced to the French and Spanish influences of the colonial period. In the Baton Rouge area, you can visit an authentic plantation, see a live alligator on a bayou tour, eat Cajun and Creole cuisine, and attend a traditional Mardi Gras parade.

Student Life

Graduate Law Students have access to many activities and organizations, both at the Law Center and on the main campus. Among the many student organizations at the Law Center are the Student Bar Association, the International Law Society, and the Federalist Society, to name but a few. Annual social activities include Tiger Tailgate parties prior to home football games, Friday student gatherings, a Halloween party, Assault & Flattery (where students get to poke fun at their professors), and many other activities that all students are encouraged to participate in. LSU also has a robust sports program, and most law students have the opportunity to attend a football game in Tiger Stadium with over 90,000 cheering fans. It is an experience not to be missed!
You may also be surprised to learn that the LSU campus is home to the only live Bengal Tiger mascot at a U.S. university. “Mike VI”, LSU’s mascot, lives in a spacious wildlife habitat across from the football stadium; he loves attention and will put on a show for the people who come to visit him at his enclosure.
When you add the unique and distinct culture of Louisiana to the strong academic curriculum and personal attention of the Law Center, you get a program that can=t be beat. Visit our website today for more information about our program, or contact the LL.M. Program staff by email at llmadmissions@law.lsu.edu, or by telephone at
001 (225) 578-7831; 001 (225) 578-7574; or 001 (225) 578-1126.