LSU Law made the Top 10 list for “real lawyers” based on an analysis of the employment data in the 2014 U.S. News and World Report law school rankings. Professor Derek Muller with Pepperdine University School of Law compiled the list. He defines a “real lawyer” school as one whose graduates were most successful in securing jobs that are full-time and long term, and that require bar passage.
Employment and salary statistics show that 92% of LSU Law graduates from the class of 2012 were employed within nine months of graduation. Some 77% of the graduates were employed in positions where bar passage was required; an additional 7% were employed in positions where J.D. was an advantage.
The LSU Law Center ranked 11th in the nation in the percentage of 2011 graduates employed in full-time, long-term legal jobs within 9 months of graduation, according to an analysis published on June 25, 2012, by the Wall Street Journal. The ranking was based on detailed legal employment data reported by all accredited law schools to the American Bar Association.
In addition to the impressive employment statistics of LSU Law graduates, LSU Law continues to move upwards in a number of state and national rankings of law schools. The school recently moved up three spots to #76 in the 2014 U.S. News rankings. The #76 ranking is the second highest in LSU Law history, bested only by the school’s ranking of #75 in 2010.
LSU Law students have historically had high success rates on passage of the state Bar Exam. In February 2012, the National Jurist magazine recognized LSU Law as the #1 school in the nation in terms of first-time bar passage ratios in a predictive statistical model based on LSAT scores. LSU Law Center students achieved the second highest passage rate among all examinees on the latest Louisiana State Bar Exam, according to results released October 12, 2012 by the Committee on Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Louisiana.
An important element in the school’s continuing success is its focus on strong academics and practical experience. LSU Law students have the opportunity to “learn by doing” through a number of experiential opportunities at the Law Center. Through the LSU Law Clinic, the Law Center offers second- and third-year students the opportunity to practice law and represent indigent clients in Baton Rouge and surrounding communities. Current clinic offerings include: Civil Mediation; Family Law; Family Mediation; Immigration Law; and Juvenile Defense.
The Field placement program places selected students with local, state, and federal government agencies, judicial chambers at the state and federal level, and not-for-profit agencies. Placements during the regular academic year include: Louisiana Supreme Court; Louisiana Department of Justice; Catholic Charities; and Innocence Project New Orleans.
