SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER

P. O. BOX 9294

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70813

Telephone: (225) 771-2552

Fax: (225) 771-2474

 

ABA Approved Since 1953

 

On October 22, 1946, the State of Louisiana Board of Education approved the report and recommendation of a committee of the State Board of Education for the establishment of a law school at Southern University, Baton Rouge. In September 1947, the Southern University School of Law was officially opened.

 

Accredited by the American Bar Association, the Supreme Court of Louisiana, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Law Center maintains a high standard of professional education. It is fully approved by the Veterans Administration for the training of eligible veterans. The Southern University Law Center adheres to the principle of equal opportunity without regard to race, sex, color, creed, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status.

 

Library and Physical Facilities: The Law Center is housed in the A.A. Lenior Hall, named after the first dean of the originally established School of Law.

 

A $4 million expansion and improvement of the Law Center was completed in September 1993. The new facility gives the Law Center a total area of approximately 80,000 square feet.

 

The Law Center has established the Institute for Civil Rights with plans for establishing other Centers for Legal Studies. The Law Center has an outstanding Clinical Education program. A fully equipped law office within the Law Center enables students to develop lawyering skills by representing indigent clients in court and before administrative agencies.

 

The Law Library is housed in the Law Center building and contains over 450,000 volumes of legal materials. These materials have been carefully selected to offer a basic working collection for both students and faculty. Systematic additions to the collection are being made in accordance with a definite program of growth. The Law Library consists of two large reading rooms, two large computer aided research rooms, computer lab, microform area, five group study rooms and a special Civil Rights reading room.

 

Special arrangements have been made with the Louisiana State University Library, which has one of the largest collections of Anglo‑American and civil law materials in the South, to make its resources available for research purposes through the Southern University Law Library.

 

The Law Center subscribes to WESTLAW and LEXIS‑NEXIS computerized legal research databases. Training sessions are conducted each semester by library staff to assist students in the proper utilization of the databases.

 

Basic Program of Study/Degree Requirements: The program of study is designed to give students a comprehensive knowledge of both the civil law and common law. While emphasis is given to the substantive and procedural law of Louisiana with its French and Spanish origins, Anglo‑American law is strongly integrated into the curriculum. Fundamental differences in method and approach and the results reached in the two systems are analyzed.

 

The civil law system of Louisiana offers the law student a unique educational opportunity. The program of instruction examines the historical background of the civil law system and its development in the Anglo‑American setting.

 

Students are trained in the art of advocacy, legal research, and the sources and social purposes of legal principles. Techniques to discipline the students' minds in legal reasoning are an integral part of the educational objectives of the Law Center. Students are instructed in the ethics of the legal profession and the professional responsibility of the lawyer to society.

 

The three‑year curriculum is based upon the standard professional courses usually given in member schools of the ABA. It requires the satisfactory completion of at least 96 semester hours including required courses. The curriculum further requires a full six semesters of residence. Any study undertaken in a summer session shall not count toward residence requirements. Electives have been integrated as part of the curriculum, and students are required to take courses specified for the respective years.

 

Activities: The Student Bar Association, an affiliate of the American Law Student Association, is a self‑governing organization that receives the full cooperation of the Law Center faculty and to which a member of the faculty is appointed as adviser. Any student in good standing enrolled in the Law Center is eligible for membership in the association. The purpose of the association is to promote the general welfare of the Law Center, encourage among its members high scholarship, and cultivate rapport and cooperation among the students, faculty, and members of the legal profession.

 

The Law Center publishes a law review. A board of editors composed of students with high academic standing edits the publication. At the present time, two issues a year are published.

 

Third year law students are eligible to enroll in the Clinical Education Program, which allows students to handle cases under the direct supervision of a full‑time faculty member of the Law Center.

 

Admission: The Law Center does not prescribe any prelegal courses but strongly recommends a foundation in such courses as English, Speech, Political Science, History, Economics, Psychology, Logic, Mathematics, Analytical Courses, and Science. It will be necessary for such students to show satisfactory improvement in order to remain in the Law Center.

 

Students beginning the study of law are admitted only in the fall semester. The Law Center operates a full‑time day and part‑time day/evening program. To be considered for admission, an applicant must have received a bachelor's degree from an approved college or university and must have received an acceptable score on the LSAT. Applicants are advised to take the LSAT prior to the deadline test date of the expected year of enrollment. Under no circumstance will a score received on the test administered more than three years prior to the anticipated date of acceptance be considered. A $25 application fee will be required for all applicants applying for admission. All applications for admission are reviewed by a special committee. Among the factors considered by the committee, in addition to those stated above, are cumulative undergraduate grade point average, work experience or military service, and past pursuits. Social and economic background, ability to analyze and write well as demonstrated by the written portion of the LSAT and personal statement, and extracurricular activities are also considered. An applicant must have good moral character.

 

Completed application forms, in addition to two letters of recommendation and one copy of an official transcript, should be filed with the Admissions Office during the fall semester prior to the year in which admission is sought. The application deadline is February 28.

 

Expenses and Financial Aid: Tuition for residents of Louisiana is $3,305.95 per semester. The tuition for nonresident students is $5,605.95 per semester. Part‑time day fees range from approximately $1,614.00 to $2,003.00. Part‑time evening fees range from approximately $2,720.00 to $2,747.00.

 

Applicants seeking loans under the State Financial Assistance Act should apply to the Financial Aid Office, Southern University Law Center. Short‑term loans to meet emergency needs are available from the Law Center loan fund. All students are expected to pay the required fees on the day of registration.

 

Housing: Limited dormitory accommodations are available for law students. All students desiring to live in campus housing are required to submit an application to the Housing Office, in addition to a security deposit of $50. Applications should be made to the Director of Housing, Southern University, as early as possible.

 

Placement: A placement office assists students and alumni in obtaining meaningful employment opportunities. Information on part‑time employment before graduation is available through this office. Assistance is also given in job‑seeking skills and interviewing techniques.

 

Correspondence: Inquiries should be addressed to Office of Admissions, Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70813. Phone (225) 771‑5340 or 1‑800‑537‑1135.

 

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Chancellor:

Freddie Pitcher, Jr. (225) 771‑2552

Vice Chancellor for Inst. Accountability & Evening Div.:

John K. Pierre (225) 771‑2552

Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs:

Russell Jones (225) 771‑3776

Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs:

Roederick White (225) 771‑2552

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Support & Counseling:

Berryl Gordon‑Thompson (225) 771‑4913

Executive Assistant to the Chancellor:

Ruth Bailey Wesley (225) 771‑2552

Assist. Vice Chancellor for Records & Enrollment Management:

Elaine Simmons (225) 771‑5340

Financial Aid Director:

Jerome Harris (225) 771‑2141

Director of Law Library:

Ruth Hill (225) 771‑2139

Coordinator of Admissions:

Velma Wilkerson (225) 771‑5340

Director of Recruitment:

Andrea Love (225) 771‑5340

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FULL TIME FACULTY

 

FREDDIE PITCHER, JR., (Chancellor), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 28, 1945; admitted to bar, 1973, Louisiana. Education: Southern University (B.A., 1966; J.D., 1973). COURSES: ADR, Negotiation’s, Torts, Pretrial Litigation, Trial Advocacy. Email: fpitcher.sulc.edu

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RUBY ANDREW, (Assistant Professor of Law), Education: Brown University (A.B., 1988); Boston University School of Law (J.D., 1992). COURSES: Intellectual Property, Legislative Drafting. Email: randrew@sulc.edu

 

STEVE V. BARBRE, (Associate Professor of Law), born New Orleans, Louisiana, March 19, 1947; admitted to bar, 1976, Louisiana. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.A., 1972); University of Chicago (J.D., 1975). COURSES: Corporations, Commercial Paper, Securities Regulation, Legal History, Special Problems in Business Law.

 

CLEVELAND COON, (Assistant Professor), born Monroe, Louisiana, October 8, 1954; admitted to bar, 1981, Louisiana. Education: Southern University (B.S., 1976); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1981); Tulane University (L.L.M., 2004). COURSES: Civil Procedure, Trusts and Environmental Justice.

 

ERNEST S. EASTERLY, III, (Professor of Law), born Denham Springs, Louisiana, December 3, 1952; admitted to bar, 1978, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1973; Ph.D., 1980; J.D., 1977); Salzburg University (D.E.S., 1981). COURSES: International Law, Comparative Law, Mineral Rights, Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure, Louisiana Sales and Leases.

 

CHRISTIAN P. FASULLO, (Assistant Clinical Professor), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 14, 1970; admitted to bar, 1999, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., 1993; 1995); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1999); Southern Methodist University of Law (L.L.M., 2000). COURSES: Tax.

 

LINDA C. FOWLER, (Associate Professor), born McComb, Mississippi, February 26, 1950; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1973; J.D., 1984). COURSES: Legal Writing, Legal Research. Email: lfowler@sulc.edu

 

MAURICE FRANKS, (Professor of Law), born Chicago, Illinois, April 11, 1942; admitted to bar, 1968, Louisiana; 1968, Tennessee. Education: University of Memphis (B.S., 1966; J.D., 1968). COURSES: Family Law, Conflict of Laws, Antitrust Law, Constitutional Law, Agency and Partnership.

 

MICHELLE WARD GHETTI, (Professor of Law), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 8, 1953; admitted to bar, 1983, Texas; 1988, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., 1978; J.D., 1983); Southern Methodist University. COURSES: Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility (Ethics), Evidence, Trial Advocacy and Contracts. Email: Michghetti@yahoo.com

 

SHENEQUA LAGWAN GREY, (Assistant Professor of Law), born Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 19, 1973; admitted to bar, 2000, District of Columbia; 2001, Louisiana. Education: University of Louisiana (B.G.S., 1997); Southern University Law Center (J.D., cum laude, 2000); Temple University ‑ Beasley School of Law (LL.M., Anticipated 2009). COURSES: Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Trial Advocacy. Email: sgrey@sulc.edu

 

STANLEY A. HALPIN, JR., (Professor of Law), Education: University of Southwestern Louisiana (B.A.); Tulane University (J.D., 1965); George Washington University (Ph.D., 1978). COURSES: Constitutional Law, Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure, Human Rights, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Employment Discrimination. Email: shalpin@sulc.edu

 

RUTH J. HILL, (Director, Library Services and Associate Professor of Law), born Austin, Texas, October 27, 1947. Education: University of Texas at Austin (B.A., 1970); University of Memphis (M.S.L.S., 1979); University of Tennessee at Knoxville (J.D., 1984). COURSES: Legal Research, Advanced Legal Research. Email: rhill@sulc.edu

 

DOROTHY F. JACKSON, (Assistant Clinical Professor, Elder Law Clinic), born Shreveport, Louisiana, April 29, 1963; admitted to bar, 1991, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana Tech University (B.A., 1986); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1990). COURSES: Clinical Education.

 

REGINA RAMSEY JAMES, (Visiting Assistant Professor, Legal Analysis and Writing), born Hammond, Louisiana, February 28; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana. Education: Southwestern Adventist College (1989); Southeastern Louisiana University (B.A., 1993); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1996). COURSES: Legal Analysis & Writing and Oral Advocacy. Email: rrjames@sulc.edu

 

RUSSELL L. JONES, (Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Professor of Law), born Wisner, Louisiana, June 18, 1953; admitted to bar, 1982, Louisiana. Education: Northeast Louisiana University (B.A., 1974); Southern University (J.D., 1982; LL.M., 1992). COURSES: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence.

 

VIRGINIA B. LISTACH, (Assistant‑Director, Clinical Education & Assistant Clinical Law Professor), born Shreveport, Louisiana, May 29, 1960; admitted to bar, 1988, Louisiana. Education: Shippensburg University (B.A., 1982); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1988). COURSES: Clinical Education (Administrative/Civil Law), Legal Writing, Trial Advocacy, Moot Court Seminar. Email: vlistach@sulc.edu

 

WASHINGTON MARSHALL, (Professor of Law), born Brunswick, Georgia, February 10, 1942; admitted to bar, 1972, Louisiana. Education: Southern University (B.A., 1967; J.D., 1971). COURSES: Louisiana Family Law, Louisiana Sales and Leases, Civil Law Property.

 

OLLIVETTE MENCER, (Associate Professor), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, April 24, 1953; admitted to bar, 1983, Louisiana. Education: Southern University (B.S., 1974): Louisiana State University (M.Ed., 1979); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1983). COURSES: Social Legislation, Contracts, Family Law, Obligations.

 

JACQUELINE A. NASH, (Assistant Clinical Law Professor), born Shreveport, Louisiana, February 13, 1959; admitted to bar, 1983, Louisiana. Education: Southern University A&M College (B.A., 1980); Southern University Law School (J.D., 1983). COURSES: Clinical Education (Juvenile Law Clinic), Juvenile Justice. Email: jnash@sulc.edu

 

NADIA E. NEDZEL, (Professor of Law), born Chicago, Illinois, October, 26, 1954; admitted to bar, 1998, Louisiana. Education: Northwestern University (B.A., 1977; L.L.M., 1997); Loyola at New Orleans (J.D., 1995). COURSES: Contracts, Civil Procedure, International Business Transactions, Obligations, Sales & Leases. Email: nnedzel@sulc.edu

 

DONALD W. NORTH, (Director, Clinical Education & Associate Professor of Law), born Mobile, Alabama, March 9, 1958; admitted to bar, 1984, Louisiana. Education: Grambling State University (A.S., 1980; B.S., 1980); Southern University Law School (J.D., 1983). COURSES: Clinical Education, Professional Responsibility, Criminal Law, Evidence, Social Legislation. Email: dnorth@sulc.edu

 

MICHAEL OESER, (Assistant Professor), born Houston, Texas, July 20, 1969; admitted to bar, 1998, Wisconsin; 2003, Texas. Education: University of Houston (B.A., Journalism, 1993); University of Wisconsin (J.D., 1998). COURSES: Legal Analysis & Writing. Email: oeserlaw@comcast.net

 

OKECHUKWU OKO, (Professor of Law), born Awka, Nigeria, November 12, 1958; admitted to bar, 1982, Supreme Court of Nigeria; 1994, Louisiana. Education: University of Nigeria (LL.B., 1981; LL.M., 1985); Yale Law School (LL.M., 1989; J.S.D., 1992). COURSES: Commercial Paper, Comparative Law, Corporations, Criminal Law. Email: okoko@sulc.edu

 

JUDITH PERHAY, (Associate Professor of Law), born Cleveland, Ohio, April 25, 1949; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana. Education: John Carroll University (B.A., 1970); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1985); Tulane University School of Law (LL.M., Energy & Environment, 2000). COURSES: Torts, Toxic Torts, International Environmental Law. Email: jperhay@sulc.edu

 

CYNTHIA PICOU, (Professor of Law), born West Feliciana, Louisiana, December 20, 1943; admitted to bar, 1970, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1965; J.D., 1970). COURSES: Successions and Donations, Torts, Bankruptcy, Civil Procedure, Obligations. Email: cpicou@sulc.edu

 

JOHN K. PIERRE, (Vice Chancellor, Institutional Accountability & Evening Program), born Loreauville, Louisiana, March 10, 1959; admitted to bar, 1986, Texas; 1990, Louisiana. Education: Southern University and A&M College (B.S., 1980); Texas Tech University (M.S., 1982); Southern Methodist University (J.D., 1985). COURSES: Commercial Paper, Tax Law, Contracts, Security Devices. Email: jpierre@sulc.edu

 

PAUL ANTHONY RACE, (Assistant Professor of Law), born Iowa City, Iowa, June 23, 1959; admitted to bar, 1997, North Carolina. Education: Rice University (B.A., 1981); University of Texas (M.D., 1985); Duke University School of Law (J.D., 1997). COURSES: Torts, Health Law, Urban Legal Issues, Constitutional Law, Agency & Partnership. Email: prace@sulc.edu

 

THOMAS E. RICHARD, (Professor of Law), born Springhill, Louisiana, August 28, 1950; admitted to bar, 1976, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1972; J.D., 1975). COURSES: Torts, Sports Law, Insurance, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Basic Civil Procedure. Email: trichard@sulc.edu

 

WINSTON RIDDICK, (Professor of Law), born Crowley, Louisiana, February 11, 1941; admitted to bar, 1974, Louisiana. Education: University of Southwestern Louisiana (B.A., 1962); University of North Carolina (M.A., 1964); Columbia University (Ph.D., 1973); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1973). COURSES: Advanced Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Insurance Law, Mineral Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution.

 

ALFREDA A. SELLERS‑DIAMOND, (Professor of Law), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 3, 1954; admitted to bar, 1986, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.M., 1976; M.Ed., 1978; J.D., 1986); Columbia University (LL.M., 1993). COURSES: Constitutional Law, Products Liability, Federal Rules & Jurisdiction, Basic Civil Procedure. Email: adiamond@sulc.edu

 

ARTHUR E. STALLWORTH, (Professor of Law), born Mobile, Alabama, December 9, 1950; admitted to bar, 1976, Louisiana. Education: Vanderbilt University (B.A., 1975); Southern University (J.D., 1975). COURSES: Louisiana Civil Procedure, Basic Civil Procedure. Email: astall@sulc.edu

 

GAIL S. STEPHENSON, (Director, Legal Analysis & Writing and Assistant Professor of Law), born New Orleans, Louisiana, August 25, 1955; admitted to bar, 1984, Louisiana. Education: Northwestern State University of Louisiana (B.A., 1976); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1984). COURSES: Legal Writing. Email: gstephenson@sulc.edu

 

DONALD F. TIBBS, (Assistant Professor of Law), born Detroit, Michigan, December 8, 1966; admitted to bar, 1996, North Carolina. Education: Georgia State University (B.S., 1990); University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 1996); Arizona State University (Ph.D., 2004); University of Wisconsin Law School (LL.M., 2006). COURSES: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Rights, Critical Race Theory. Email: dtibbs@sulc.edu

 

SHAWN D. VANCE, (Instructor, Legal Writing and Analysis), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 29, 1971; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana. Education: Southern University and A&M College (B.S., 1993); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 1996); Georgetown University Law Center (L.L.M., 1999). COURSES: Legal Writing. Email: svance@sulc.sus.edu

 

ALVIN WASHINGTON, (Assistant Clinical Law Professor), born June 23, 1961; admitted to bar, 1987, Louisiana. Education: Grambling State University (B.A., 1983); Southern University Law Center (1978). COURSES: Mediation Clinic, Alternate Dispute Resolution. Email: awashington@sulc.edu

 

PRENTICE L. WHITE, (Associate Professor), born New Orleans, Louisiana, October 6, 1969; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana. Education: Xavier University (B.A., 1991); Southern University (J.D., 1995). COURSES: Legal Writing and Oral Advocacy, Statutory Analysis, Agency & Partnership.

 

ROEDERICK CAMERON WHITE, (Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs and Professor of Law), born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, August 13, 1961; admitted to bar, 1992, Michigan. Education: Southern University (B.S., 1985); Wayne State University (M.B.A., 1987; J.D., 1992). COURSES: Constitutional Law, Ethics, Contracts, Conflict of Laws.

 

EVELYN L. WILSON, (Professor of Law), born Parkersburg, West Virginia, July 7, 1949; admitted to bar, 1983, Louisiana. Education: Oberlin College (A.B., 1971); University of Utah (M.S., 1975); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1983). COURSES: Federal Rules and Jurisdiction and Civil Law Property, Succession, Basic Civil Procedure. Email: ewilson@sulc.edu