Alena Allen named dean of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center |
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LSU has named Alena Allen dean of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Allen, a Louisiana native, is currently deputy director for the Association of American Law Schools and professor of law at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Her exceptional combination of academic, professional, and leadership experience distinguished her among the competitive pool of candidates.
“We set out to find an exceptionally talented leader committed to legal education, scholarship, and practice,” said William F. Tate IV, LSU President. “Ms. Allen’s experience has the depth and breadth we need to take the Paul M. Hebert Law Center to the next level of excellence.”
Allen will begin at LSU Law on July 17, pending approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Allen’s scholarship focuses on health policy and tort law and it has been published in the North Carolina Law Review, Fordham Law Review, Ohio State Law Journal, BYU Law Review, and Cardozo Law Review. She was named an American Society of Medicine, Law and Ethics Health Scholar at the Center for Health Law Studies, St. Louis University School of Law.
“At the core of the mission of the Law Center is a commitment to providing meaningful access to a rigorous legal education so that graduates are empowered to succeed at the highest levels,” Allen said. “I am thrilled to serve as dean, and I look forward to working with the staff, students, faculty, and stakeholders to continue to advance the mission and to enhance the law school’s reputation nationally.”
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Charlton Meginley (’02) lands back home in Louisiana after 20 years with US Air Force JAG Corps |
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Over the past two decades, Charlton Meginley’s assignments in the United States Air Force JAG Corps have moved him across the country and around the world on 10 different occasions, with stops in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, California, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Maryland, Germany, and Iraq.
In January, the Alexandria native and 2002 LSU Law graduate retired as a Colonel and Appellate Military Judge on the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals so his family could finally return to Louisiana and begin putting down roots here.
“We came home for a reason,” said Meginley, who is now residing in Madisonville and serving as general counsel for the Louisiana Secretary of State. “I’ve really enjoyed all of the places we’ve been able to live in throughout my career, but they just don’t have our culture or way of life—and I want to do whatever I can to help Louisiana.”
Since returning home, Meginley has visited LSU Law to be a panelist at the “Veterans in the Legal Field” event on March 2, and he played a key role in helping bring the U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals to the Paul M. Hebert Law Center later this month. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, the court will hold oral arguments in the David Robinson Courtroom, providing LSU Law students with a unique opportunity to observe the proceedings and file amicus curiae briefs under the direction of supervising attorneys.
“Essentially, the court will be picked up from Washington, DC and moved to Baton Rouge for the day,” Meginley said. “Law students will have the opportunity to see the prestige and ceremony that comes with the legal process firsthand.”
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LSU Law student Hannah Cottrell named President Management Fellow finalist, lands clerkship with US Tax Court Judge Christian N. Weiler |
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Third-year LSU Law student Hannah Cottrell has been named a finalist for the 2023 President Management Fellows Program, a prestigious and highly competitive two-year fellowship administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
“I was very excited and a little surprised when I was notified about it, because it’s such a competitive program,” said Cottrell, a West Monroe native who earned her undergraduate degree at LSU.
Cottrell is more than deserving of the honor. She has earned Dean’s Scholar honors for her academic achievement and served the Student Bar Association as Community and Media Vice Chair as a 2L, and she is currently a Board of Advocates member serving as Director of External Dispute Resolution Competitions. She has also been actively involved with LSU Student Government since her second year of undergraduate studies, and has served as one of seven Associate Justices of the 12-member University Court throughout her time at LSU Law.
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LSU Law students contribute 370 of volunteer hours during Spring Day of Service |
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Approximately 120 LSU Law students contributed 370 hours of volunteer work at sites throughout Baton Rouge on Saturday, Feb. 4, as part of the Public Interest Law Society and Student Bar Association’s annual Spring Day of Service.
“The students from LSU Law were a breath of fresh air. They were very friendly, polite, and a blast to work with,” said Matthew Pineda, community engagement coordinator for Parole Project, which was one of eight organizations that benefitted from the students’ work.
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Barrister Bowl raises more than $26K for Make-A-Wish Foundation, Louisiana boy battling congenital heart disease |
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LSU Law students raised more than $26,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the Barrister Bowl football game on Friday, March 10. The money raised will benefit Jesse Corcoran, a six-year-old from Slaughter, Louisiana, who is battling a congenital heart disease. Roughly 60 LSU Law students participated in the game, either on one of the football teams or as a cheerleader, and hundreds of people attended.
“The spirit of giving and the spirit of service, that’s really being celebrated here, that’s what I thought as we were walking up,” Tim Corcoran, Jesse’s dad, told The Advocate in its coverage of the charity football game. “Service to one another and the spirit of giving, you can’t beat it.”
The Corcoran family attended the Barrister Bowl and were able to personally thank LSU Law students. Along with hanging out and taking photos with LSU Law students, Jesse performed the coin toss to start the football game.
“As soon as he was told that he was going to do that, he immediately started practicing,” his dad told The Advocate. “He was so excited for that.”
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LSU Law Costello National Criminal Trial Competition teams bring home National Semifinalist and National Quarterfinalist titles |
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A pair of LSU Law Costello National Criminal Trial Competition teams brought home National Semifinalist and National Quarterfinalist titles from the 15th Annual John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition, which was held in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 9-12.
The LSU Law “Gold” team consisting of Ananda Sherwood-Saul and Caidyn Thompson (pictured third and fourth, from left) took the National Semifinalist title, placing as one of the top four teams overall, while LSU Law “Purple” team members Scott Wheat Jr. and Angelle Boudreaux (pictured first and second, from left) placed as National Quarterfinalists.
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Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal holds oral arguments at LSU Law |
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The Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal held oral arguments in the David Robinson Courtroom at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Wednesday, March 1, as part of the courts’ education outreach program. Judges Guy Holdridge (’78), Page McClendon, and Hunter Greene (pictured left to right) presided over the docket.
All first-year LSU Law students observed the arguments as part of their legal writing course instruction. Later in the afternoon, first-year students gained further insight on effective appellate advocacy at a panel discussion with appellate judges and attorneys.
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Alpandinar, Capps win Spring 2023 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition |
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Second-year LSU Law students Erin Alpandinar and Robin Capps won the Spring 2023 Ira S. Flory Mock Trial Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in the Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s David Robinson Courtroom.
Alpandinar and Capps competed against fellow 2Ls Karli Carpenter and Alexis Carmichael in the final round of the tournament. Students on each of the finalist teams will receive an automatic invitation to membership in the Board of Advocates.
The distinguished panel of judges presiding over the final round of competition included U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott D. Johnson, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, and Joshua Newville (’12), a trial attorney with Manasseh, Gill, Knipe, & Bélanger.
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Student Organization Spotlight: Black Law Students Association |
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Through hosting inclusive cultural, social, and professional networking events for its members and the entire LSU Law community, the Black Law Students Association works to support current and future Black law students at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
“BLSA’s main mission is to create a community for Black law students to have a safe space in and to support members on their journey to a J.D. in every way, shape, and form,” said 2L and BLSA President Mekkah Husamadeen.
To celebrate Black History Month in February, BLSA hosted several events aimed at bringing “a little bit of each member’s culture” to the LSU Law community, Husamadeen said. The lineup included a yoga wellness event, a Mardi Gras celebration that included traditional foods and a performance by the Red Flame Hunters Tribe of the Mardi Gras Indians, a movie night, and a community service project to provide hygiene products for the Capital Area Alliance for the Homeless.
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As she wraps up her studies at LSU Law and looks forward to launching her legal career this summer, 3L Phiyen Phan will proudly graduate in May as a second-generation immigrant and the first in her family to earn a professional degree.
“My circumstances really show that anyone with any background can accomplish the same things I have and earn a J.D. degree,” Phan said. “It shows that if you work hard, you can do whatever you want.”
Phan enrolled at LSU Law through the 3+3 Program, an accelerated degree program that allowed her to earn her bachelor’s and law degrees in just six years. The program’s financial advantages and fast-paced learning environment made it an “unmatched” alternative to the traditional path through college and law school, she said.
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For our latest Dean's Council Spotlight, we caught up with 2006 alumnus Franz Borghardt, who has generously volunteered his time to help lead our alumni outreach efforts during LSU Giving Day on Wednesday, March 29.
"I would like for all LSU Law alumni to realize the 'why' of support," said Borghardt. "How each dollar benefits the institution and improves just not the experience for students but shapes our legal profession. Giving Day is about financial support, but it is also about ensuring the continuing of a legacy."
He launched The Borghardt Law Firm in 2017, after previously working as a felony assistant in the East Baton Rouge Office of Public Defender and the East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, and as an attorney for the Steven J. Moore law firm. He regularly provides legal commentary on local radio and TV shows, and he's co-host of the "Legally Unfiltered" podcast. Most recently, Borghardt has become a regular commentator on Court TV.
"I am on generally once a week and it is a lot of fun. Most of the cases are criminal in nature, with a few high-profile civil trials sprinkled in. The Depp-Heard trial was an example of a wild civil case that I did commentary on," he said. "I am always open to future opportunities do more legal analysis and commentary, but for now, I am just enjoying the fun that comes with getting to be on national TV on a weekly basis."
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LSU Law alumni serve on 'Veterans in the Legal Field' panel |
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Several LSU Law alumni were among a panel of attorneys who provided advice on how to best make the transition from serving in the armed forces to attending law school at the LSU Law Veteran Advocacy Club's "Veterans in the Legal Field" event on March 2.
The panel, photographed with Interim Dean Lee Ann Lockridge, included (from left to right): Charlton Meginley (’02), Louisiana Secretary of State, General Counsel / U.S. Air Force; Jim Letten, Butler Snow, Partner / U.S. Naval Reserves; Harry J. “Skip” Philips (’83), Taylor Porter, Of Counsel / U.S. Army Reserves; Jay O’Brien (’99), McGlinchey Stafford, Member / U.S. Army; Mike Walsh (’83), Taylor Porter, Partner / U.S. Army; David Rozas (’04), Rozas and Associates, Founding Member and Partner / U.S. Army; and Lucas Schenk (’20), McGlinchey Stafford, Associate / U.S. Army Reserves.
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‘Narrative of Life Sentences’ event at LSU Law to explore excessive sentencing in Louisiana |
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There are approximately 4,300 people incarcerated in Louisiana with life sentences. Approximately 5,700 more people are incarcerated with sentences of 20 years or more. The LSU Law Parole Assistance and Re-Entry Clinic, in collaboration with the Parole Project and the Visiting Room Project, will host a conversation with formerly incarcerated people, social scientists, policy makers, and lawyers at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Friday, March 17, to explore the issues of excessive sentencing in Louisiana.
“Narrative of Life Sentences: Moving from Excessive Sentences to Second Chances” will take place in the McKernan Auditorium from noon to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the LSU Law community as well as invited guests. Lunch will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to earn 3.25 CLE credit hours. RSVP to attend.
The event will begin with lunch and registration, followed by two sessions of programming that will explore the legal consequences of life sentencing, recent legislative changes addressing life sentencing, and proposed changes in policy to further legal reform.
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70th Annual LSU Mineral Law Institute to take place March 23-24
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The LSU Mineral Law Institute returns for its 70th year on Thursday and Friday, March 23-24, at the Renaissance Hotel in Baton Rouge.
The Mineral Law Institute is the second oldest annual energy law conference in the country and the oldest annual conference that remains dedicated to mineral law. At this year’s conference, legal professionals can earn upwards of 12.5 CLE credits in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, while AAPL landmen can earn upwards of 10.5 RL, RPL, or CPL credits and 2 Ethics credits. Presentation topics will include:
- Recent developments in mineral law
- Rights of riparian owners on rivers, lakes, and the Gulf: Who owns what where?
- Mineral and royalty acquisitions (including warranty issues)
- Operating in the Haynesville Shale with and without a JOA-Including under the Revised & Expanded Risk Charge Statute
- The Accommodation Doctrine: Current status and potential complications
- Offshore energy development
- An update on legacy litigation
- The potential for conflict between CCS Projects and mineral extraction
- Developments in carbon capture and storage
- Pipeline legal issues
- Implied duties under oil and gas leases
- Ethics
- Professionalism
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PILS, Innocence Project of New Orleans to host panel discussion on March 23 |
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The LSU Law Public Interest Law Society, in collaboration with the Innocence Project of New Orleans, will host a panel discussion with two IPNO attorneys and a wrongfully convicted exoneree on Thursday, March 23, from 12:40 to 1:40 p.m. in Room 106 of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. RSVP to attend.
“Freedom for the Wrongfully Imprisoned: A Panel with the IPNO & Raymond Flanks, a Recently Freed Exoneree” will highlight Raymond Flanks, an IPNO client who was exonerated on Nov. 17, 2022, after spending 38 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Other panelists include IPNO Executive Director Jee Park and LSU Law Wrongful Conviction Clinic Adjunct Professor Kirschelle McGowan.
The panel will discuss IPNO’s history and re-entry work in their Unjust Punishment Project, and engage students to explore public interest in the criminal legal system, specifically through wrongful conviction work.
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Professor Bill Corbett will present to the joint conference of the 4th and 11th Circuits of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Feb. 11. He will be providing a review of the year’s developments in legislation, regulations, and case law. |
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Professor Keith Hall was a featured guest on the “Louisiana Considered” radio show, on which he discussed the potential that federal and state laws have to transform the energy sector in Louisiana from one that is heavily reliant on fossil fuels to one that leans toward renewables and carbon capture. |
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Professor Elizabeth Carter, an American College of Trust and Estate Counsel fellow, attended the 2023 ACTEC Annual Meeting in New Orleans on March 1-5. At the conference, she presented to the Family Law Task Force on “Civil Law Concepts in American Family Law & Inheritance Law” on March 1; presented to the Professional Responsibility Committee on “Ethical Considerations in Representing the (Un)Happily Married” on March 3; and lead a seminar titled “Ethical and Practical Considerations in Representing the (Un)Happily Married” with Sharon Klein, President of Family Wealth for the Wilmington Trust, N.A., Eastern U.S. Region on March 4. |
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