What are your immediate career plans?
I will be the judicial clerk for Judge Gerard Caswell, Chief Judge of the 27th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Landry, for a one-year term.
What are your long-term career aspirations?
Even before I began my legal education, I had planned to come back to serve my local community and the entire Acadiana region in a small, diverse practice, focusing on both local government law and general litigation. You won’t see me on a billboard!
Please tell us about the organizations and activities you participated in at LSU Law, including any awards or honors you received.
I enjoyed serving as a Senior Associate on the Louisiana Law Review and had the privilege of having been a published contributor. My research focused on the unconstitutionality of the Louisiana governor’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Advocates as Vice-President of Judicial Relations and, alongside my partner Tyler Fredrick, won the Robert L. Tullis Moot Court Competition and the Best Brief award.
Aside from those duties, I had the privilege of being a member of the Federalist Society, Advocates for Life, and the Running Club. Regarding awards, I received the CALI award in Local Government Law; Successions, Donations, & Trusts; and Legal Writing I. The honor closest to my heart, however, was the L’Ecrevisse—the Crawfish—Scholarship. I really thank LSU Law for helping rural students achieve their dreams.
Please tell us about any LSU Law faculty, classes, or other experiences that were particularly impactful on your legal education.
LSU Law faculty push you to be a better thinker and an advocate for the client, no matter what their position is. John Devlin, Bill Corbett, Ray Diamond, and Randy Trahan each changed my conception of the purpose of the law. One of the most important things I learned was from Professor Marlene Krousel: You can be as smart as you want, but the better writer always wins.
What are your fondest memories from your time at LSU Law?
My time in law school coincided with my service in law enforcement. One time during the pandemic, I had to Zoom into our Administration of Criminal Justice class in uniform while on shift. Having a classroom full of fellow 1Ls hang out with me at work was hilarious!
I also enjoyed flying to Los Angeles to lead LSU Law’s ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team. Many of the judges there were quite confused when I showed up in boots.
What advice would you give to students entering law school who aspire to become an Order of the Barristers member when they graduate?
Be yourself, and think about the readings in terms of litigation. If it was your case, what would you say? When you say it, say it from the heart. Also, play hooky from class a few times to sit in a real courtroom.
Lastly, the Advocacy Programs are the things that separate mere lawyers from great advocates. Take advantage!
