Alumni News

Hats N Canes Traditin Continues at LSU Law
November 23, 2009

LSU Law 3Ls and their family members gathered on Saturday, Nov. 14 on the steps of the Old Law Building to continue the annual tradition of Hats ‘n Canes – a tradition that began in 1930.

The soon-to-be graduates sported their black hats and canes, while Chancellor Jack Weiss toasted the class. He offered his congratulations and special thanks for the hard work and significant accomplishments of the Class of 2010.

In the earliest years of Hats ‘n Canes, seniors carried black canes with curved handles and silver bands engraved with the student’s name, year of graduation, and the words, “The LSU Law School.” A Reveille article announcing the 1930 event stated, “Walking canes will carried, flourished, and brandished” [as a] “badge to distinguish law seniors.”

The celebration each fall is a highly anticipated right of passage for LSU Law graduating law students. The event was organized by 3L President Mike Smith and 3L...

Michelle R. Shamblin, a 2009 LSU Law graduate, has been chosen for one of only four Bristow Fellowships in the Office of the Solicitor General of the United States. She is the first LSU Law graduate to receive the prestigious fellowship offered by the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This is a tremendous honor for Ms. Shamblin and one of which all of us at the Law Center should be extremely proud,” said Chancellor Jack M. Weiss. “Ms. Shamblin was an outstanding student who excelled in her academic pursuits at the LSU Law Center. We expected great things from her, and her selection as a Bristow Fellow is evidence that LSU Law students can compete with the best from throughout the nation.”

Shamblin is currently clerking for the Honorable Edith H. Jones, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She will assume her new position in Fall 2010.

"I am simultaneously excited and humbled by the tremendous opportunity that...

Chancellor Jack Weiss was the featured speaker at the Baton Rouge Press Club on November 16. His remarks focused on the following:

• the importance of LSU Law as one of the three flagship campuses of the LSU System and the flagship public law school of the state, with particular emphasis on its role in economic development for Louisiana;

• various curricular and educational policy reforms that will help its students to be more competitive in the job market, while retaining the rigorous program that is the hallmark of our legal education; and,

• potential state funding issues and the importance of state support to the Law Center’s flagship agenda.

Read the full text of the Chancellor’s remarks.

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Chancellor Jack Weiss was the featured guest on the Jim Engster radio show earlier today. Listen to the interview.

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The LSU Law faculty have endorsed a number of important curricular and policy reforms designed to improve the Law Center’s academic program and further the competitiveness of our students. Although some recommendations will require approval of the LSU Board of Supervisors, and some implementation details remain to be worked out by the faculty, “the substance of the changes is exciting for the future of the school,” said Chancellor Jack Weiss. “This is a watershed moment for the LSU Law Center.”

Read the Chancellor’s messages to Friends of LSU Law and Students.

October 19, 2009

Dear Friends of LSU Law:

I’m very pleased to forward to you an email I sent to our students on Saturday night (October 17, 2009) shortly after the LSU Law faculty concluded its two-day Long Range Planning meeting in New Orleans. As you will see from the message, the faculty endorsed a number of important reforms that will further the...

LSU Law Center students achieved the highest passage rate among all examinees on the latest Louisiana State Bar Exam, according to results released October 9 by the Committee on Bar Admissions for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

Students continued their traditional first place passage rate, with 90.9 percent of examinees receiving passing scores on the July 2009 administration of the Bar. In all, 154 LSU Law Center students took the exam, and 140 successfully passed the Bar.

"We are very proud of the strong showing of our graduates on this latest Bar Examination. Their preparation and hard work, coupled with the support of our faculty, has produced a talented group of young lawyers who are ready to hit the ground running,” said Jack M. Weiss, LSU Law Chancellor. “The results confirm our belief that the demanding, yet personal legal education offered at LSU Law, prepares our students well for the competitive global marketplace.”

“The Bar results also...

There was no doubt the evening of September 24 belonged to the Honorable Ralph E. Tyson. Tyson was recognized as LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s 2009 Distinguished Alumnus at the Country Club of Louisiana, before a large crowd of family, friends, classmates and colleagues. The gathering included members of the federal, state and local judiciary, three university chancellors and the mayor. By the end of the evening, the whole day was his, too, as Mayor Holden officially proclaimed it Ralph Tyson Day, and added “Honorary Mayor” to Tyson’s list of accolades.

"Ralph Tyson has devoted more than 30 years of his career to exemplary public service—as prosecutor, state court judge, and federal district judge," said LSU Law Chancellor Jack M. Weiss. "At every step of the way, Judge Tyson has gained the respect and admiration of his peers. We are proud to honor this consummate professional and esteemed community leader as our distinguished alumnus of...

Class of 2012 Arrives: Chancellor Welcomes Students
September 10, 2009

The second floor student lounge is busy once again, and a line now forms in the Law Center’s CCs Coffee for the much-needed afternoon cup of java. Students— new and returning —are getting back into the swing of school that began for 1Ls August 17.

The excitement and anticipation of being a first-year law student can be a bit overwhelming. The Law Center’s annual Orientation and Student Organization Fair helps students to get their bearings and feel welcomed in their new home-away-from home for the next three years.

Chancellor Jack Weiss, along with various faculty, staff, and students, welcomed the incoming class to the Law Center. The Class of 2012 is comprised of 235 students.

“We really feel that we hit the Trifecta with this year’s entering class. We have more students, more highly qualified, and more diverse than we have had in recent years. I think the word is out that LSU Law is on a positive, upward trajectory and a fabulous group of...

Center Establishes New Teaching Fellowship Program
September 4, 2009

The Law Center hopes to soon have future law teachers from throughout the country teaching at the Law Center as part of a newly established Future Law Teachers Fellowship Program. The fellowship will provide an opportunity for outstanding candidates to prepare themselves for careers in legal education, while gaining experience teaching legal research, legal writing, and oral advocacy to first-year students.

Fellows will be mentored by LSU Law faculty as they engage in scholarly research and writing, as well as publication of their work.

“This is a tremendous new program for us, and one that we think will pay dividends not only to the Fellow, but to our students and faculty,” said Chancellor Jack Weiss. “ In addition to benefits that we will get in the classroom, we also expect that the program will enhance the Law Center’s national reputation as an institution that promotes scholarship and exceptional teaching.”

Candidates for the...

Law Center Remembers Professor Kalinka
September 4, 2009

Professor Susan C. Kalinka, the Harriet S. Daggett-Frances Leggio Landry Professor of Law at the Law Center, was honored at a memorial service held on Saturday, August 29. Professor Kalinka died August 24. She had been diagnosed recently with cancer, and had been undergoing treatment for only a few weeks when she passed unexpectedly.

Professor Kalinka joined the Law Center faculty in August 1988. She taught courses in a variety of tax law, real estate law and policy topics. She earned her law degree from Emory University School of Law.

“Professor Kalinka was an exceptional teacher and scholar of tax law. She inspired dozens of students to seek specialized degrees in tax law and to pursue careers in that field. She was passionate about her work and about her students. She will be missed greatly and remembered fondly,” said Chancellor Weiss.

Beloved by her students, Professor Kalinka was known for the relationships that she developed beyond the classroom....

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