Mark Denson Ackal
Lafayette, Louisiana
- Juris Doctor, Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law
- magna cum laude graduate
- Paul M. Hebert Scholar
- Dean’s Scholar
- Louisiana Law Review Development Editor
- Undergraduate: University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Bachelor of Science, Economics
What are your immediate career plans?
This coming September I will be starting at Phelps Dunbar as an associate attorney in the litigation practice group.
What are your long-term career aspirations?
My aim is to become a partner in the group I am joining. But, above all else, my goal is to become the best litigator I am capable of being.
Please tell us about the organizations and activities you participated in at LSU Law, including any awards or honors you received.
I held the title of Development Editor for Louisiana Law Review, and I have a forthcoming publication in Volume 16 of the Journal of Civil Law Studies. I received CALI Awards for Constitutional Law 14th Amendment and Conflicts of Law. Additionally, I served as a tutor for Professor (Olivier) Moretéau’s Legal Traditions course.
Please tell us about any LSU Law faculty, classes, or other experiences that were particularly impactful on your legal education.
I really enjoyed the intellectual property courses taught by Professor (Lee Ann Wheelis) Lockridge and Professor (John) Church. I signed up for Intro to Intellectual Property thinking it would be a good gap filler in my schedule but left with a genuine interest in the subject matter. I have since had the opportunity to work on real IP cases and found that I really enjoy it.
What are your fondest memories from your time at LSU Law?
Unwinding with friends immediately after exams ended. I think the friends I’ve made at LSU Law are more important than any of the substantive knowledge or exam grades I’ve received.
What advice would you give to students entering law school who aspire to become Order of the Coif members when they graduate?
I truly believe I did not receive this honor by being smarter or working harder than anyone. My superpower is knowing when to unplug and relax. Taking time to rehabilitate and then going back to work with a refreshed mind will always yield a better return than forcing myself to stare at a laptop while I am exhausted. In other words, it’s better to do one hour of work at 100% efficiency than four hours of work at 20% efficiency.
