	On The Move Archives

	November 2008

Faculty Meet to Discuss Future of Law Center

The LSU Law Center faculty and administration gathered for a two-day retreat and worked to develop a long-range plan for the Law Center as part of the American Bar Association accreditation review in 2009-2010. The retreat set the stage for further, in-depth examination of key issues by the faculty Long Range Planning Committee, chaired by Professor Ken Murchison, and its various subcommittees of faculty and staff. Among the issues identified by the faculty as priority are curriculum, faculty development, and admissions and scholarship.

The Law Center also plans on obtaining active input from the students, alumni, and others with a vital interest in the Law Center's future.

LSU Law Students Achieve State’s Highest Passage Rate on July 2008 Bar Exam

LSU Law Center students achieved the highest passage rate among all examinees on the latest Louisiana State Bar Exam, according to results recently released by the Committee on Bar Admissions for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

LSU Law students continued their traditional first place passage rate, with 78.2 percent of examinees receiving passing scores on the July 2008 administration of the Bar. In all, 165 LSU Law Center students took the exam and 129, or better than three out of four, successfully passed the Bar.

Friends and Alums Make Gifts to A Tradition of Excellence/Forever LSU Campaign

The LSU Law Center is pleased to announce several new gifts to the Tradition of Excellence campaign.

The Law Center established a goal of $28 million as its part of the Forever LSU Campaign. Funds raised by the Law Center stay at the Law Center to meet specific needs and priorities such as student scholarships, funding for the new clinical legal education program, faculty recruitment and retention, and moot court activities, among others.

Hester and Miller Added to Law Center’s Young Alumni Leadership Council

LSU Law Center Chancellor Jack M. Weiss announced the appointment of Christopher H. Hester, an associate at Watson, Blanche, Wilson and Posner in Baton Rouge, and Jennie Jackson Miller, an associate in the Corporate/Securities section of Andrews Kurth LLP's Houston office, to the LSU Law Center's Young Alumni Leadership Council (YALC).

Young Alumni Discuss Career Opportunities and Legal Education

"Law school changes the way you think," said B. Slattery Johnson, a 2007 graduate of the Law Center and member of the Young Alumni Leadership Council. Four members of the council spoke to LSU Law students and Honor's College recruits at the event held in late October at the Law Center. The program targeted top LSU undergraduates in the Law Early Admissions Program (LEAP), but was also structured as a Career Services program for current law students.

Law Center Team Wins First Place at National Pretrial Competition

The LSU Law Center team of Megan Donohue, LaToya Jordan, Adam Savoie, and Celeste White won first place at the inaugural National Pretrial Competition held at Stetson University College of Law.

LSU Law Wins First Place at the LSBA Mock Trial Competition

The LSU Law Center team of Megan Donohue, LaToya Jordan, William Murray and Mackenzie Smith won First Place at the LSBA Mock Trial Competition held in Baton Rouge at the Middle District of Louisiana Courthouse on October 18, 2008. In addition to the team success, Ms. Jordan won the award for "Best Attorney" given to the top individual advocate in the tournament.

For details and photos, click here.

Chancellor's Council Welcomes New Members, Renews Others

The Chancellor’s Council welcomes new members Ed Fetzer (’59), Steven W. Harris (’73), Joel Chaisson (’83), and Philip Hunter (’76). Renewing memberships were J. Bennett Johnston (’56), Deborah Gentry ‘(78), Christine Lipsey (’82), Timothy Falcon (’85) and Saul Litvinoff.

We are still trying to identify member profiles on the Web so we can link to them from the membership roster. Check out the Chancellor’s Council listing to see if we have a link to your online profile. If not, please email Bobbi Zaunbrecher and let her know where we can find your profile.

Parker Joins LSU Law Center as New CFO

Stephen A. Parker has joined the LSU Law Center as chief financial officer. Previously, he worked at Baton Rouge Community College, where he served as executive director for finance.

IRA Charitable Rollover Extended

Signed into law as part of the $700 billion economic bailout bill was the extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover, a giving incentive that permits you to make a donation of up to $100,000 to qualified non-profits from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs without having to count the distributions as taxable income. The IRA rollover provision expired at the end of 2007.

The Law Center – through the LSU Foundation – is one such qualified recipient. For more information on the IRA Charitable Rollover, visit the LSU Foundation Website.

Beating Bama: The Longest Yard

“These are tough economic times," said Mike Rubin, chair of the Alumni Campaign Fund, "but think how difficult these times are for our LSU Law School students. Now is the time for all of us alumni to support the work of the Law School.”

Prospective Students Learn About Law Center Through Open House

Nearly 40 prospective students attended a recent Open House at the LSU Law Center and received a first-hand look at what it means to be an LSU Law student. The event, sponsored by the Law Center's Office of Admissions and LSU Career Services, featured remarks from Chancellor Jack Weiss and Student Bar Association President Jeffrey Coreil. N. Gregory Smith, G. Frank & Winston Purvis Professor of Law, conducted a Mock Class, and a Q & A session was held with student representatives ranging from 1L's to 3L's.

"Whatever your dreams in the law ... we can provide it here," Weiss said to the students.

1968, 1983, 1988, and 1998 Class Reunions

The 1968, 1983, 1988, and 1998 class reunions will be held on Friday, November 14. Whether it’s been 10, 20, 25, or 40 years, please register today to reminisce and re-connect with classmates.

Class of 2003 Holds Five-Year Reunion

The Class of 2003 held the first five-year law class reunion on September 26th. Seventy-eight classmates, spouses, and friends gathered at DeLaronde Hall. Chancellor Jack Weiss was there to greet the young alumni. "Typical Reasons" – better known as "Jackie's Brother's Band" – played for the party. The group was a staple at law school parties during this class' time in law school. View photos of the reunion here.

In honor of their class reunion, classmates are encouraging each other to participate in the Annual Fund. Scott Huffstetler is chairing that effort which has already resulted in a 6 percent increase over last year.

Hats 'n Canes Continues With Class of 2009

On September 27th the Class of 2009 carried on the tradition of Hats 'n Canes that – with some interruption in the 1970s – has been a part of the LSU Law Center since 1937. Visit the gallery for photos.

Pugh Institute Informs Students on Bankruptcy Court System

The Pugh Institute at the LSU Law Center recently sponsored a breakfast at the LSU Faculty Club for law students to meet judges and practitioners in the area of Bankruptcy. Judges present included Harlin "Cooter" Hale ('82) with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Texas; Judge Douglas Dodd with the Middle District of Louisiana; Judge Elizabeth Magner ('83) with the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Judge Robert Summerhays with the Western District of Louisiana. Others present included U.S. Region 5 Trustee R. Michael Bolen, LSU Law Center Professors Lucy McGough and Paul Baier and LSU Law Center Professor Emeritus George Pugh.

Over breakfast and coffee, the judges shared with the students an overview of the Bankruptcy Court system, ways to pursue careers in this area, and expectations for being a Bankruptcy Court Judge.

Faculty/Staff Highlights

Find out more about the recent achievements and work being done by the LSU Law Center's Faculty and Staff.

Alumni News

Find out the latest news on where and what your classmates are doing these days.