About the Awards
Young Alumnus
In the first ten years of a lawyer’s career, much time and effort is dedicated to demonstrating value to an employer, carving a professional niche, and building a family. Many young lawyers are very successful in adding service to the profession, the community and/or the law school to this delicate balance. These young leaders tend to continue to give priority to service throughout their lives. They truly make a difference and are to be encouraged at every turn.
This award recognizes one lawyer who has been in practice for ten or fewer years, has demonstrated leadership, and who has benefitted the profession, the community and/or LSU Law Center through direct action or advocacy.
Engaged Alumnus
The LSU Law Center would be a different place without alumni who engage in the life of the law school. Our alumni design and teach classes, counsel students, employ graduates, judge competitions, and contribute money. They advise the Dean, the Energy Law Center and our Institutes. They provide over half a million dollars in financial aid to students each year, support clinics, advocacy and faculty scholarship.
This award recognizes a graduate who has been of extraordinary service to the Law Center through a combined investment of time, expertise, financial support, and leadership.
Service to the Profession
Whether you are deploying your legal skills to advance access to justice or serving sandwiches in a shelter, your humanitarianism serves the profession. Bar associations, the courts and judicial associations, civic clubs, non-profit boards, governmental commissions, art and culture organizations, faith missions—these are just a few of the vehicles through which a graduate can operationalize their passions—doing good and doing it well.
This award recognizes that service to society and to the profession are inseparable. Its recipient is a graduate who elevates the profession through extraordinary and consistent leadership in one or more of the many organizations that make a difference in our world.
Legal Innovator
Not every graduate envisions themselves on a partnership track in a law firm. Some never challenge the bar. Others practice for a period of time then pursue other opportunities. Some just hear “a different drum.” They leverage their law degrees toward a business endeavor, journalism, technology or something as yet uncategorized.
This award recognizes an LSU Law graduate who created success on the road less travelled.
Career Champion
Of the many attributes by which a law school may be measured, there is none more important than employment outcomes. Those outcomes are best achieved when we partner with employers to prepare our graduates to be great colleagues. Students learn professionalism by seeing it in action and having the opportunity to emulate what they see.
This award recognizes a law firm or other organization that has provided significant, consistent contributions toward the advancement of career services, professionalism, and employment outcomes through student programming by such actions as:
- providing summer employment, clerkships or field placements
- funding scholarships, fellowships or other academic or professional programming
- hiring LSU Law grads
- interviewing on campus
- deploying innovative outreach, recruitment and retention practices
Honorary Alumnus
From time-to-time the Law Center experiences acts of advocacy, philanthropy, collaboration, or support originating with someone who did not graduate from LSU Law and for whom “thank you” seems insufficient.
This award recognizes the collegiality most often felt among alumni, but present in the honoree’s relationship with LSU Law as demonstrated by their investment of time, money or professional capital in advancing the mission of the law school.
Note: this award does not confer an honorary degree from LSU Law.
Outstanding Public Service
Historically, LSU Law graduates have populated the armed services of the United States, governing bodies, and other public institutions, serving in capacities that may be described in many ways, from “high-profile elected or appointed” to “anonymous but mission-critical career.” Regardless, these alumni are providing leadership that distinguishes them and brings honor to the law school in an arena that is not traditional private practice.
This award recognizes that extraordinary accomplishments in service with the United States Armed Forces or exceptional dedication to serving others as an elected or appointed public official, or in other public service roles, may distinguish a graduate and bring credit to the law school.
