Where is Southern University Law Center?

The Southern University Law Center, located adjacent to the main campus in Baton Rouge, is a prestigious institution within the Southern University System, offering a Juris Doctor (J.D.) program and advanced legal studies. As one of the nation's leading historically Black law schools, it focuses on preparing diverse students for legal practice through rigorous, practical, and socially conscious education. The curriculum emphasizes civil rights, public interest law, and equitable justice, while covering foundational and specialized legal fields.

The core J.D. program spans three years and includes first-year courses in civil procedure, contracts, criminal law, property, torts, legal writing, and research. These foundational classes build analytical skills and introduce students to the American legal system, with a strong emphasis on case briefing, statutory interpretation, and oral advocacy through moot court simulations.

• Constitutional law, exploring federal powers, individual rights, and equal protection under the 14th Amendment.
• Evidence, covering admissibility rules, hearsay exceptions, and trial techniques.

Second- and third-year courses allow specialization. Civil rights law is a hallmark, with classes on discrimination, voting rights, and affirmative action, drawing from the center's legacy in advancing racial justice. Criminal justice courses include advanced criminal procedure, white-collar crime, and juvenile justice, addressing systemic inequalities in the legal system.

• Family law, focusing on divorce, child custody, domestic violence, and adoption proceedings.
• Business law, including corporate governance, securities regulation, and mergers and acquisitions.

Environmental and energy law programs are prominent, given Louisiana's unique legal landscape. Courses cover natural resources law, toxic torts, oil and gas regulation, and climate change litigation, often incorporating fieldwork and policy analysis.

• International law, with topics in human rights treaties, trade agreements, and immigration policy.
• Intellectual property, addressing patents, trademarks, copyrights, and entertainment law.

Public interest and clinical education are integral, with externships at legal aid clinics, district attorneys' offices, and federal courts. The Criminal Justice Clinic allows students to represent clients under supervision, gaining real-world experience in plea bargaining and sentencing. The Mediation Clinic teaches alternative dispute resolution techniques for civil conflicts.

• Tax law, covering federal income taxation, estate planning, and IRS compliance.
• Health law, exploring HIPAA regulations, medical malpractice, and bioethics.

Advanced programs include the LL.M. in Comparative Law for international students and dual degrees like J.D./M.B.A. with the business college. Bar preparation courses focus on multistate bar exam subjects, essay writing, and performance tests. The center also offers continuing legal education seminars on emerging issues like cybersecurity law and data privacy.

• Appellate advocacy, through competitions like the Frederick Douglass Moot Court.
• Legal history and theory, examining critical race theory and feminist jurisprudence.

Faculty expertise in areas like housing law, elder law, and sports law enriches electives. Students engage in research through the law review and centers for civil rights and economic justice. The program promotes leadership, with alumni excelling in judiciary roles, corporate counsel, and public service. By integrating theory with practice, the Law Center cultivates attorneys committed to justice, diversity, and community empowerment, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the evolving legal profession.