When third-year LSU Law student Erica Bayles decided to shift career paths and pursue a law degree, she had already accomplished two of her life goals—starting a family and becoming a teacher. Despite being a busy mother of five with an established career in education, Bayles didn’t want to deny her longtime dream of becoming an attorney, so she enrolled at LSU Law, where her husband, Blase Inzina, had earned his law degree in 2002.
Though she had some reservations about pursing a law degree while raising children, Bayles drew inspiration from the law school journey of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“I did a lot of research on her life and career when she passed, and I learned that she went to law school as a mother during a time when it was much more difficult to do so,” Bayles said. “She faced numerous challenges, and her story motivated me to pursue my lifelong dream and apply to law school despite having young children and a previous career.”
Before she committed to LSU Law, Bayles had planned on attending one of the few accredited online law schools in the country, given the challenges of managing a family and residing an hour away from the LSU Law campus. But a chance encounter with one of her husband’s former LSU Law professors, Judge Guy Holdridge (’78), at the Bench Bar Conference in New Orleans changed those plans.
“Judge Holdridge convinced me to apply to LSU Law because ‘everything is online and probably will be next year too,’” Bayles recalled of the meeting, which occurred as law schools across the country were shifting to remote teaching due to the pandemic. “It was not. But I am forever grateful to Judge Holdridge for his persuasion. I know law school would not have been nearly as enlightening or enjoyable online.”
Bayles began her studies at LSU Law with the primary intention of developing the skills necessary to join her husband’s Lafayette-based firm. But along the way, she discovered a keen interest in advocating for pro-life policy, particularly within the areas of adoption and foster care.
Bayles joined the Public Interest Law Society at LSU Law and served on the leadership team for Street Law, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing practical and participatory education about law, democracy, and human rights. Through her work with the groups, she was able to leverage her teaching experience to help educate young students at local schools about the importance of leadership and becoming a source of positive change in their community.
“My experience in law school has made me realize the impact I want to have. I feel that the education I’ve received from LSU Law has opened doors and will make it possible for me to be an effective advocate for those who need a voice,” Bayles said. “Professor (Ray) Diamond told me once that some people go to law school with a purpose and lose it, and others go to law school without one and find it.”
A recipient of the Sandra Varnado Scholarship, Bayles said she deeply relates to Varnado (’06), who also turned away from a teaching career to pursue a law degree as a non-traditional student with children.
“The Sandra Varnado Scholarship is incredibly important to me,” Bayles said. “According to what I’ve read, Ms. Varnado completed her legal education as a single mom, without the assistance I’ve been blessed to have from my husband, and she still achieved high academic success. She motivates me to forge ahead and to encourage others who are on a similar path.”
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To attract and retain a talented student body at LSU Law, we must offer meaningful and nationally competitive scholarships. Every major law school in the country attracts top students through scholarships, and the LSU Law Center is a part of this very competitive environment.
Resident tuition has increased to over $23,000 for first-year students. With fees, room and board, personal costs and transportation, the cost of a legal education may exceed $35,000 per year.
The Law Center works diligently to attract outstanding students, and private scholarship funds are critical to our efforts to provide financial assistance to deserving students.
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