Prominent civil rights and employment law attorney Allison Jones, a 1985 LSU Law graduate, will deliver the commencement address for the LSU Law Class of 2022. Commencement exercises will take place at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on the LSU campus.
“Throughout her distinguished career, Allison Jones has been an admirable champion of truth, justice, and equality under the law,” said LSU Law Interim Dean Lee Ann Wheelis Lockridge. “Her lifelong commitment to excellence and equality reflects our core values at LSU Law, and we know she will inspire our graduates to excel in their legal careers as they journey forward.”
Jones is an attorney with Downer, Jones, Marino & Wilhite in Shreveport, Louisiana. Throughout her distinguished career, Jones has settled, mediated, and litigated hundreds of employment law and civil rights cases, several of which garnered national attention. In particular, she is known for her expertise in the field of gender discrimination and gender equality.
“I am so honored to be the speaker at the commencement ceremonies for the LSU Law Class of 2022,” said Jones. “This class has demonstrated resiliency and determination when faced with the public health crisis of the pandemic and other challenges. It has excelled in every category, and we all have much to celebrate over the accomplishments achieved. I hope to make the commencement ceremony a meaningful and proud moment for each graduate and all their family and friends who are in attendance.”
Among her notable successes, Jones represented the plaintiff in a gender discrimination action jury trial that resulted in the largest jury verdict awarded in the State of Louisiana for gender discrimination ($3,279,000), which was affirmed on appeal. She represented a parent plaintiff group in a Title IX gender equity lawsuit against Caddo Parish School Board that resulted in the allocation of several million dollars to bring the public school system into compliance.
Jones also represented female members seeking access to public restaurant facilities at Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, resulting in the Louisiana Supreme Court’s first ruling that gender-segregated dining facilities in public accommodations are unconstitutional. She has also tried many jury trials in both state and federal courts dealing with commercial business transactions and oil and gas lease issues. Since 2015, Jones has served as an instructor for the LSU Law Trial Advocacy Program, and she is a frequent speaker at seminars and has numerous publications in local and state bar journals.
