Loyola University New Orleans in Louisiana Law Schools
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Background
Founded: 1914.
Affiliation: Jesuit university; emphasizes ethics, justice, and service.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana.
Mission: To train lawyers with strong practical skills, ethical grounding, and commitment to public service.
Programs and Strengths
Juris Doctor (JD): Standard legal education with core courses in civil law, criminal law, constitutional law, contracts, property, and torts.
Experiential Learning: Students participate in clinics, externships, and advocacy programs to gain hands-on experience.
Clinical Work: Includes immigration law, criminal defense, family law, and social justice clinics. Students can represent real clients under supervision.
Advocacy Programs: Moot court, trial advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution programs develop practical skills for litigation.
Focus Areas: Public interest law, civil law (Louisiana-specific), trial advocacy, and ethics.
Loyola in the Louisiana Law School Landscape
Louisiana’s legal system is unique because it follows a civil-law tradition for private law (contracts, property, obligations) and common law for criminal and federal matters.
Tulane University Law School: Known for maritime, international, and business law.
LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center: Large public law school, strong in state government and public service.
Southern University Law Center: Access-oriented HBCU mission.
Loyola: Jesuit, service-oriented, strong in advocacy and clinical training; New Orleans location gives exposure to civil-law matters and federal courts.
Key Case Law Studied at Loyola
1. Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896)
Facts: Homer Plessy, of mixed race, sat in a whites-only railroad car in New Orleans to challenge segregation laws.
Holding: The Supreme Court upheld Louisiana’s segregation laws under “separate but equal.”
Teaching Point: Demonstrates how constitutional law interacts with state laws and social policy. Used in civil rights and constitutional law classes.
2. Cox v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 559 (1965)
Facts: Protesters in Louisiana were arrested for picketing near courthouses.
Holding: Supreme Court protected First Amendment rights, limiting state power to restrict peaceful demonstrations.
Teaching Point: Illustrates freedom of speech and assembly, balancing public order with individual rights.
3. Recent Louisiana Civil Cases
Louisiana courts regularly rule on matters like childhood-abuse civil claims and statutory interpretation.
Teaching Point: Students in clinics use these state-level cases to understand practical litigation strategy and statutory deadlines in Louisiana law.
Summary
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law is ideal for students who want:
Strong hands-on advocacy training
Exposure to civil-law private law and Louisiana-specific statutes
Clinical experience in public interest and social justice
A Jesuit ethical framework integrated with practical legal education
It fits a niche between the elite research-focused Tulane and large public LSU law schools, producing practice-ready attorneys familiar with Louisiana courts and federal law.
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