Paul M. Hebert Law Center - Louisiana State University in Louisiana Law Schools
1. History & Identity
The LSU Law Center was founded in 1906 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Named after Paul M. Hebert, who served as its longest-tenured dean and was also a judge at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials after World War II.
LSU Law is unique in the United States because it trains students in both civil law (as practiced in Louisiana, derived from the French and Spanish legal traditions) and common law (as followed in the rest of the U.S.).
Because Louisiana is the only U.S. state with a civil law system, LSU Law graduates are prepared for practice both within Louisiana and across the U.S.
2. Academics & Curriculum
Degrees Offered: Juris Doctor (JD), with the distinctive “Diploma in Comparative Law (DCL)” awarded alongside, reflecting training in both civil and common law.
Special Focus: Civil law subjects such as obligations, property, family law, and succession law are taught alongside U.S. constitutional law, criminal law, and federal procedure.
Clinics & Practice: LSU Law provides clinical programs in areas like family mediation, immigration, juvenile defense, and prosecution internships.
Dual Degree Programs: JD/MPA (Public Administration), JD/MBA, and international exchange programs.
3. Admissions & Standards
LSU Law has selective admissions with a moderate acceptance rate (around 45%).
Typical entering class profile: Median LSAT in the mid-150s and GPA around 3.4–3.6.
It attracts students nationwide who wish to practice in Louisiana or gain comparative law expertise.
4. Bar Passage & Career Outcomes
LSU Law historically has one of the highest bar passage rates in Louisiana, often above 75–80%.
Graduates commonly work in private practice, judiciary, corporate law, public service, and government positions.
A large percentage of Louisiana judges and state legislators are LSU Law alumni, highlighting its dominance in Louisiana’s legal education.
5. Case Law Influence & Alumni Contributions
LSU Law’s alumni and faculty have played crucial roles in shaping Louisiana and national jurisprudence.
(a) Louisiana Civil Code Cases
Because Louisiana follows civil law, many LSU alumni have been judges in cases interpreting the Louisiana Civil Code.
Succession of Brown (1977) – clarified Louisiana succession law (inheritance without a will). Alumni judges stressed that Louisiana’s civil law principles of forced heirship (children’s mandatory inheritance shares) must be protected.
(b) State Constitutional Law
State v. Peart (1993) – a Louisiana Supreme Court case highlighting inadequate public defense funding. The ruling emphasized defendants’ right to effective counsel. LSU alumni on the bench pushed reforms in indigent defense.
(c) Tort Law
Gustine v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board (1965) – dealt with negligence and liability under Louisiana’s civil law obligations. Alumni jurists applied the “duty-risk” analysis, now a staple of Louisiana tort law.
(d) Criminal Law
State v. Brown (2001) – Louisiana Supreme Court decision clarifying the scope of sentencing guidelines and proportionality in punishment. LSU Law alumni judges emphasized constitutional limits under both Louisiana and U.S. law.
(e) National Influence
Paul M. Hebert himself, as a judge at the Nuremberg Trials, shaped international criminal law by reinforcing doctrines of command responsibility and crimes against humanity — principles later adopted worldwide.
6. Mission & Values
LSU Law emphasizes dual training, preparing graduates to bridge civil law and common law systems.
Values: justice, comparative legal scholarship, public service, and leadership.
Because of Louisiana’s mixed system, LSU Law is one of the few American schools with a truly comparative law curriculum.
7. Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1906 |
| Location | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Named After | Dean Paul M. Hebert (served at Nuremberg Trials) |
| Degrees | JD + Diploma in Comparative Law |
| Distinction | Only U.S. law school focused on civil & common law |
| Bar Passage | ~75–80% (highest in Louisiana) |
| Alumni Impact | Majority of Louisiana judges, politicians, lawyers |
| Notable Case Influence | Succession of Brown, State v. Peart, Gustine v. EBR Parish, State v. Brown |
| Global Impact | Dean Hebert’s work at Nuremberg shaped international law |
✅ In summary: The Paul M. Hebert Law Center (LSU Law) is Louisiana’s flagship law school and unique in America for its dual civil and common law training. Through its alumni and faculty, it has influenced inheritance law, tort law, criminal procedure, and constitutional rights in Louisiana, while Dean Hebert’s role at Nuremberg gave LSU Law international significance.
RELATED Blog
0 comments