Twenty graduates in the LSU Law Class of 2022 have been selected for induction into The Order of the Coif, the highest honor a law student can receive.
Membership into the honorary law fraternity is strictly limited to the top 10% of each graduating class of law students. Of the more than 200 American Bar Association accredited law schools in the country, LSU Law is one of just 86 with a chapter in The Order of the Coif.
“We are extremely proud of each and every one of the 200 graduates in the LSU Law Class of 2022 because all of them worked incredibly hard and made great sacrifices to earn a law degree, which is the most difficult postgraduate degree that one can attain,” said LSU Law Interim Dean Lee Ann Wheelis Lockridge. “Our graduates who have earned membership into The Order of the Coif in addition to their law degrees are most deserving of special recognition. This high honor reflects their unparalleled commitment to academic excellence, and we take immense pride in honoring their great achievement.”
The LSU Law chapter of The Order of the Coif was established in 1942, with a purpose of stimulating scholarly work of the highest order and fostering a high standard of professional conduct. Outside of ordinary membership for law school graduates, honorary membership into The Order of the Coif may be granted in special cases to lawyers, judges, and teachers who have attained high distinction for their scholarly or professional accomplishments.
Emma C. Looney | Lake Charles, Louisiana
What are your immediate career plans?
I will be clerking for a year in the Eastern District of Louisiana with the Honorable Judge Carl Barbier. After clerking, I will be returning to Baton Rouge to work in the Litigation group at Phelps Dunbar.
What are your long-term career aspirations?
Long-term, I’d like to be a litigator and a trial attorney. I hope to gain court room experience and become a successful advocate for my clients.
Please tell us about the organizations and activities you participated in at LSU Law, including any awards or honors you received.
- Louisiana Law Review Volume 82, Articles Editor and W. Lee Hargrave Award recipient
- Deans Cup, Third Best Oralist
- Tullis Moot Court Competition, Second Best Oralist
Please tell us about any LSU Law faculty, classes, or other experiences that were particularly impactful on your legal education.
One of the most impactful classes I took at LSU Law was Successions with Professor Trahan. This class was truly a capstone for the Civil Law curriculum, and I enjoyed experiencing this class with all of my friends.
What are your fondest memories from your time at LSU Law?
One of my fondest memories at LSU Law is serving on the Editorial Board of the Louisiana Law Review. I will forever cherish getting to work closely with my friends to publish four Issues of the Louisiana Law Review of which we are immensely proud. I’ll never forget spending time with my friends and co-editors in the Law Review Suite while working, studying, and relaxing.
What advice would you give to students entering law school who aspire to become an Order of the Coif member when they graduate?
Although studying hard is important, I feel that the key to law school is to find a group of friends who will support you regardless of your success.
