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Mahogane Reed
Class of 2016
LSU Law Student
Name: Mahogane Reed
Year in Law School/Graduation Year: 2L/2016
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Undergraduate University: Louisiana State University
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., Political Science
What I did before I went to law school: After graduating from LSU, I took a year off and pursued a brief career in restaurant management.
Why I chose LSU Law: One main reason: value. When comparing law schools, I was extremely concerned about not only the quality of my legal education, but also the amount of money I would end up paying for that education. I was accepted to multiple schools all over the country but stuck with LSU because I will graduate with a smaller amount of debt and will have received an excellent education.
My biggest surprise about LSU Law: The educational backgrounds of the different faculty members are very impressive. Professors are graduates from schools from all over the country, including prestigious Ivy League institutions, and they hold students here at LSU to the same standard they would hold students at the schools from which they graduated. Thus, the quality of our education at LSU is much higher than I expected.
Favorite class and why: My favorite class by far was Evidence. It is the most practical class I’ve taken so far in law school and will prove extremely beneficial should I decide to be a trial lawyer.
Favorite professor and why: My favorite professor has to be Professor Thomas, who taught me Basic Civil Procedure I and II as a 1L. She was extremely hard on us as first-year students and, although the learning experience wasn’t always pleasant, I learned a great deal about the substance of the course and about the importance of maintaining a good work ethic throughout law school and my career.
Legal interests (ex: criminal law): Immigration law
Honors/Extracurricular Activities in law school: Secretary, Black Law Students Association; Member, PILS; Junior Associate, Louisiana Law Review, Vol. 75
Career Aspirations: I’m still unsure about the area of law I’d like to practice in, but eventually I’d like to hang a shingle and start a solo practice firm in my hometown of Austin, Texas. The reason behind me coming to law school was to have something to take back to my community, not only in the way of legal services but also to serve as an example to those who grew up in my community or in a community similar to mine. Even if I don’t make a lot of money during my legal career, my utmost aspiration is to be a leader in my community.
Life in Baton Rouge: Coming from Austin, Texas, one would think that I would find Baton Rouge boring in comparison. Baton Rouge, though, has a unique culture that is very focused on community and family. The small festivals and live music performances throughout the city provide family-friendly events at which the community can gather and enjoy one another. A great example of this is LSU football season! I love Baton Rouge.
