LSU Law News
September 2019
3 LSU Law students network with, learn from industry leaders at Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference
September 30, 2019Daniel Bosch (from left), Jay Knighton, Vanessa Anseman and Cecilia Vazquez at the 2019 Houston Marine and Energy Insurance Conference LSU Law was recently represented by three students at the Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference for the first time. “Attending the conference has broadened my understanding of the interconnected nature of energy, maritime, and insurance markets. We were able to learn so much about the industry by networking with insurance representatives, attorneys, manufacturers and industry experts,” says Daniel Bosch, president of the LSU Law Maritime and Admiralty Law Society. “The conference is truly a meeting ground of so many…
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LSU Law professor participates at UN General Assembly
September 30, 2019LSU Law Professor Lécia Vicente participated in the 74th United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 23-27 in her capacity as Advisor to the Secretary of State for External Relations of Angola. Aside from the general debate, Vicente participated in events such as "The Futures of Education: Learning to Become” high-level panel, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Portugal and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the high-level segment of the Africa Investment Summit on shaping the future of financing for development, organized by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria in collaboration with the Africa…
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Yale Law Professor James Forman delivers guest lecture on mass incarceration at LSU Law Center
September 27, 2019After laying out how American came to be the nation with the world’s highest incarceration rate, Forman turned to ideas for addressing the problem. Noting roughly 1 million people are released from prison every year, he called for more businesses to implement fair chance hiring policies for those who have been incarcerated and urged faith-based institutions to provide more re-entry support services. He also encouraged the LSU Law students in attendance to participate in a Law Clinic such as the parole assistance and re-entry clinic. Forman concluded his lecture by asking those in attendance not to let the enormity of…
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Harrington named director of LSU Law Center of Continuing Professional Development
September 27, 2019Scott Harrington has been named director of the LSU Law Center of Continuing Professional Development (CCPD), after serving as interim director since July upon the retirement of long-serving director Glynn Pellegrin. Harrington's service at the CCPD dates to 1998, when he joined the team as a student worker. Before taking over as interim director this summer, he served as associate director for 11 years, and prior to that held roles as coordinator and assistant coordinator. He was appointed CCPD director on Sept. 16. “We are extremely excited about Scott assuming this role. He is intelligent, experienced and innovative,” says LSU…
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Elliott, Robles-Coles win Fall 2019 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition
September 26, 2019LSU Law students Jesse Elliott and Miguel Robles-Coles narrowly defeated fellow students Kaitlyn Mistretta and Jordan Tambara to win the Fall 2019 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition finals on Sept. 23 at the LSU Law Center. The finals were judged by an esteemed panel including 19th Judicial District Judge Fred T. Crifasi, East Baton Rouge Parish District Defender Michael A. Mitchell and East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar C. Moore III, and the event concluded a month of intense competition among 26 student teams. The Flory Mock Trial Competition is an internal advocacy competition in which student teams…
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Ben Aguiñaga ('15) reflects on his recent clerkship at the U.S. Supreme Court
September 24, 2019Ben Aguiñaga has been enjoying some well-deserved downtime in recent months. Since wrapping up his clerkship for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito during the 2018-19 term, the 2015 LSU Law graduate took a three-week road trip with his wife and puppy over the summer, and has spent recent weeks at home working to perfect pork belly, brisket and ribs on his new smoker. “I was surprised to learn that the court has its own smoker—complete with a gavel atop the smokestack,” he says when asked if anything about his experience at the Supreme Court came as a surprise. “I…
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LSU Law Mississippi alumni spotlight: Armin Moeller
September 23, 2019He’s been named a Mississippi Leading Attorney by Mississippi Business Journal. He’s been inducted into Human Resource Executive magazine’s Hall of Fame among “The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys.” And with a recent “Best Lawyers” distinction on the 2020 list, he’s now been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his work in employment law- and labor law-management for 30 straight years. Meet Armin Moeller, a New Orleans native and 1972 LSU Law graduate who has spent much of his nearly 50-year career practicing in Mississippi. “I credit my LSU Law education for preparing me to grow and develop…
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Public invited to attend, livestream Flory Mock Trial Competition finals on Monday evening
September 20, 2019The Fall 2019 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition bracket (click to enlarge) After a month of intense competition, a field of 26 teams of LSU Law students has been whittled down to two, with the teams set to square off at the Fall 2019 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition finals on Monday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. at the LSU Law Center. At the finals—which are open to the public and will be streamed live on the LSU Law Advocacy Programs Facebook page—LSU Law students Jesse Elliott and Miguel Robles-Coles will face off against Kaitlyn Mistretta and Jordan…
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Deadline to apply for spring 2020 clinics and field placements is Oct. 4; informational meeting taking place Sept. 23
September 19, 2019Applications for spring 2020 clinics and field placements are now open, and interested second- and third-year students are encouraged to get more details on opportunities at an informational meeting on Monday, Sept. 23, and apply before the Oct. 4 deadline. Experiential opportunities at the Law Center provide students with the opportunity to earn credit while learning through practice. For example, LSU Law Prosecution Clinic students have the opportunity to serve as special assistant district attorneys for the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office, assisting with felony matters and prosecuting misdemeanors. Students enrolled in the Civil Mediation Clinic mediate cases in…
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Ferrell named LSU Law interim director of Career Services and Employer Relations
September 18, 2019Gwendolyn Ferrell has been named interim director of Career Services and Employer Relations at the LSU Law Office of Career Services. Ferrell joined LSU Law in October 1999 as assistant director for career counseling and has served as associate director for career services since August 2004. Through August of last year, she also served for nearly three years as LSU Title IX investigator. “Gwen is incredibly dedicated to the success of our students and the Career Services Office,” says LSU Law Dean Tom Galligan. “She will be a fantastic interim director.” Prior to joining LSU Law, Ferrell served in administrative…
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LSU Law offering second-year students pro bono notary services for bar exam documents
September 18, 2019The LSU Law Clinic, Legal Writing faculty and the Career Services Office are teaming up to offer pro bono notary services to all second-year students who are completing their documents for the Louisiana Bar Exam or other state bar exams. To access services, students must bring their driver’s license, passport or military identification, and must have printed all of their documents to be notarized in advance. It's also important that students do not sign their documents in advance, as they must be signed in the presence of the notary. Here's how second-year students can access notary services from each provider:…
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5 LSU Law students share lessons learned from summer law clerk program
September 18, 2019Time management skills for working thoroughly and efficiently on multiple projects at once. How to overcome the fear of making mistakes. The importance of quality legal writing. Tips for achieving a healthy work-life balance. These are just some of the valuable lessons that five LSU Law students learned while working at Taylor Porter as part of the firm’s summer law clerk program. “The clerk program helped show us how what we have learned in the classroom applies in the courtroom and in the office,” says Eric Morvant. “It helped show us how academia balances with the practical side of the…
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LSU Law thanks Pedrami for eight years of service as director of Career Services and Employer Relations
September 18, 2019After serving as director of Career Services and Employer Relations at the LSU Law Office of Career Services for the last eight years, Erin Pedrami is leaving the Law Center at the end of September to work full time for her law firm, which she launched in October 2018. “Thanks to Erin for her service to the LSU Law Center and particularly to your students,” says LSU Law Dean Tom Galligan. “We wish her all the best in her new endeavor.” Prior to joining the LSU Law Center in July 2011, Pedrami was an advertising and marketing lawyer for an…
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3 LSU Law students headed to Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference
September 13, 2019Three LSU Law students are traveling to Texas this weekend to attend the Houston Marine and Energy Insurance Conference, which annually attracts top talent in the marine, energy insurance and admiralty law industries. The HMEI conference will serve as an opportunity for students who are interested in working in the field to network and learn about practicing in maritime. Admiralty and maritime practitioners will be in attendance to share advice and answer questions from students and professionals. The group will be led by Daniel Bosch, president of the Maritime and Admiralty Law Society, who jumped on the opportunity after HMEI…
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LSU Law Center welcomes new faculty members
September 12, 2019The LSU Law Center has welcomed two new faculty members to campus: Clare Ryan, Assistant Professor of Law; and Pedro Gerson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Professional Practice. Before joining the LSU Law Center faculty, Ryan clerked for the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She also served as a Human Rights Fellow and law clerk at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Ryan’s research and teaching focuses on human rights and family law. Her recent work has been published or is forthcoming in the Columbia Journal of Transnational…
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LSU Law Center welcomes first student mental health professional
September 12, 2019LSU Law students now have access to free mental health consultation and therapy services at the LSU Law Center from Catherine Seemann, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Seemann joins LSU Law with more than a decade of experience in providing counseling and wellness services, having most recently served as a social worker and support coordinator at the LSU Health Early Intervention Clinic in Baton Rouge. Seemann’s hiring marks a historic first for the LSU Law Center. While law students previously had access to mental health and wellness services at the LSU Student Health Center, they now have direct access, by…
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LSU Law alumni honored with Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activist awards
September 11, 2019Two LSU Law alumni are among those being honored with the prestigious Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activist award from The Emerge Center and The Emerge Foundation. Each year since 1971, the awards have been given to a class of individuals who give of their time and talents to organizations across our community, above and beyond volunteer requirements, for the betterment of the greater Baton Rouge area. The LSU Law Center alumni included in this year's class are Taylor Porter Partner Harry J. “Skip” Philips Jr. (’83) and Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens Partner Darrel J. Papillion (’94). There are very few…
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11 LSU Law alumni make LSU 100 list of fastest-growing Tiger-led businesses
September 9, 2019Eleven LSU Law alumni from five companies are included on this year’s LSU 100 list of the fastest-growing Tiger-led businesses. Now in its ninth year, the LSU 100 is a highly competitive program that identifies, ranks and celebrates the 100 fastest-growing businesses in the world that are either owned or led by LSU graduates. To qualify for the list, companies must have been in business for at least five years and have revenue of at least $100,000 for the previous three years. Companies must also either have an LSU graduate who owns at least 50% of the business; or who…
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Professor Michele Graziadei delivers 42nd John H. Tucker Jr. Lecture in Civil Law
September 6, 2019LSU Law students, faculty and alumni filled the McKernan Auditorium on Thursday, Sept. 5, to hear Professor Michele Graziadei of the University of Turin—Italy deliver the 42nd John H. Tucker Jr. Lecture in Civil Law, presented by the the Center of Civil Law Studies. Following a warm introduction by LSU Law Professor Olivier Moréteau, Graziadei discussed the European Court of Justice, its various uses of comparative law, and the role comparative law plays in the development of ECJ jurisprudence. A professor in the Department of Law at the University of Turin, where he has been teaching comparative law since 2008,…
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