The LSU Law Center conferred degrees upon 177 students at commencement exercises held May 24, 2007. Ceremonies were presided over by Chancellor John J. Costonis. LSU System President William L. Jenkins spoke to the graduates and assisted in the conferring of degrees. Also assisting was LSU Board of Supervisors member Francis M. "Hank" Gowen, Jr. (’71).
One hundred seventy-one students were awarded the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.). Six students were awarded the Master of Laws (LL.M.). The LSU Law Center features the only joint degree (J.D./B.C.L.) program in the Unites States, and only one of two such programs in the Western Hemisphere.
State Treasurer John Neely Kennedy was the Commencement speaker. The Honorable Robert W. Kostelka, State Senator, District 35, spoke on behalf of the LSU Law Class of 1957. The class celebrated its 50th year reunion following the Commencement.
Caroline Dana Preis, 2007 LSU Law Center Senior Class President, offered the Invocation. The Star Spangled Banner was sung by Brian Bonin.
Ceremonies honoring the 2007 student members of The Order of the Coif were held at 9 a.m. in the Law Center’s McKernan Auditorium. The Order of the Coif is the highest academic honor that graduating law students may receive. Eighteen students were inducted into membership in The Order. Speaking as Honorary Member of The Order of the Coif was Justice Jeffrey P. Victory. Justice Victory was elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court in 1994. He received his Juris Doctor in 1971 from Tulane University School of Law.
