Academic Support Programs and Academic Counseling

One of the most comprehensive Academic Support Programs in the country is administered by Southern University Law Center.  Through its Office of Academic Support Programs, the law school offers an intensive four week Summer Pre Law Program during the month of July.  Both the Academic Assistance Program and the Academic Enhancement Skills Program is offered both in the fall and spring semesters.  An Academic Counseling component and Disability Services is also available throughout the academic year.

Academic Support Programs are designed to assist students who have not been in an academic setting for a number of years and for those making the transition from undergraduate education to professional legal education.  The programs provide opportunities to analyze and synthesize precedent, interpret statutes, construct policy arguments and train students to write and speak with clarity and precision.  Once basic law school learning skills have been developed, students are expected to proceed with their studies without significant supplemental assistance.

Summer Pre law Program (July)

The Law Center starts building the foundation knowledge and understanding of the structure and content of the legal system, law school pedagogy, and learning theory through its four week Summer Pre Law Program.  Through instruction in three substantive courses (Torts, Contracts, Basic Civil Procedure), students are introduced to legal skills, emphasizing legal writing and legal analysis through a skills orientation component of the program.  Participation is selective.  Because most students welcome any assistance offered to help them succeed in law school, students do not object to being invited to attend the summer program.  Every indication is that students who complete the pre law program are considerably more confident, perhaps the most important ingredient in exam success beyond learning applicable law.

The Academic Assistance Program (Fall and Spring)

The weekly sessions are mandatory for all students enrolled in first-year courses.  The Academic Assistance Sessions help students understand doctrines and develop or refine their study and analytical skills.  The program consists of weekly sessions of two-hours each during both the fall and spring semesters where emphasis is placed on study techniques, analytical skills and exam writing.  Each session or seminar is designed to help students become independent learners.  The substantive law is used as a tool for teaching students how to read and analyze cases, how to brief cases, how to organize their notes and briefs, how to outline, how to prepare for exams, how to analyze exam questions, how to organize exam answers, and finally how to write exam answers.

During the fall the weekly sessions are presented for Torts I, Criminal Law, Basic Civil Procedure, Contracts and Legal Writing I.  During the spring semester weekly sessions are presented for Civil Law Property, Constitutional Law, Obligations, Torts II and Legal Writing.

Academic Enhancement Skills Program (Fall and Spring)

The Academic Enhancement Skills Programs emphasize clarity, organization and legal analysis.  The hands-on skill sessions uses progressive exercises to demystify the exam writing process and reinforces the practical skills learned in academic assistance workshop.

The self-directed format allows students to advance at their own pace as they gain confidence in their study and exam taking skills.  Participation is mandatory for students with academic probation status and voluntary for others.

Academic Counseling/Advising Component

During the school year, students are encouraged to use the academic counselors for informal discussions about the students’ undergraduate background, career goals and concerns that the student might have about their legal education.

Academic Support Programs provide tutorials, advise students of law school expectations, motivate students in the pursuit of their legal studies, assist students in their development of effective study strategies, time management skills and examination techniques, and proctor special accommodation exams.  Academic Support Programs are available for both the day and evening divisions.

Disability Services

It is the policy and practice of Southern University Law Center to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities.  Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in services, programs and activities of Southern University Law Center.

Southern University Law Center will make reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities.  These accommodations may include, but not limited to, course load modification, exam accommodations, readers, interpreters, and note takers.  Such accommodation will not be provided if it fundamentally alters the nature of the program or would be unduly burdensome either financially or administratively.  Students requesting accommodations are required to identify their need as early as possible to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Support Programs who will meet with the student to develop an appropriate accommodation plan.  Requests for accommodations must be made as early as possible in order to allow adequate time for evaluating documentation and working out specific accommodations and arrangements, including funding for auxiliary services.  Late or last minute requests for accommodations may not be able to be reasonably provided because of the time required to make such arrangements. 

Spring Application Deadline:                    March 12, 2010

Fall Application Deadline:                       October 15, 2010

Staff

Berryl Gordon-Thompson, Esq.

Assoc. Vice Chancellor

Email: bthompson@sulc.edu
Telephone: (225) 771-4913
Fax: (225) 771-5895

Eric Claville, Esq.

Academic Counselor

Email: eclaville@sulc.edu

Vacant – Evening Division

Academic Counselor

Pamela Thomas Anderson

Administrative Assistant IV

Email: panderson@sulc.edu

Teaching Assistants

 
Mailing address:
Southern University Law Center
Office of Academic Support Programs & Academic Counseling
Post Office Box 9294
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
 
Physical address:
Southern University Law Center
Office of Academic Support Programs & Academic Counseling
2 Roosevelt Steptoe Drive, Suite 220
Baton Rouge, LA 70813