The 96-hour curriculum typically takes three years to complete. Students must successfully complete 74 hours of required courses and may choose from among more than 50 electives for the remaining 22 hours of course work. The Law Center enjoys a favorable student/faculty ratio of 12:1.

Part-Time Day Program

For those earnest about embarking on legal studies and find that they must combine school and full-time personal obligations, the Southern University Law Center offers a part-time day program. Admission is granted to a select number of qualified applicants, not to exceed 20 percent of the total enrollment of the first-year class.

Part-time students must enroll for at least eight credit hours per semester to receive residency credit. The program of study requires a minimum of eight regular semesters in residence.

Evening Division (Part-Time)

Through its newly established evening division, the Law Center has chosen to provide a more flexible program for working professionals and others who can take advantage of the same full-time, tenured faculty and opportunities for academic support and services.  Classes are held from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The evening program can be completed in four years, including enrollment in three summer terms. Students matriculating in the evening division may transfer to the full-time day program after the successful completion of 48 credit hours. Applications for the evening division must be received by May 1, in accordance with the application procedures for the Law Center.

Juris Doctor (J.D.) / Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

Joint Degree Program

A joint degree program is offered by the Southern University Law Center, in cooperation with the Southern University Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. A J.D./M.P.A. prepares graduates for the challenges of the 21st century, particularly with respect to those of an increasingly competitive global environment. The program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and background necessary to function in law and the public policy arena. Graduates of the program can expect to be sought out as advisers to public policy makers and government agencies that develop and administer local, state, and federal policies.

The J.D./M.P.A. joint degree program requires 123 hours of academic credit and can be completed in four years. A minimum of 87 hours of law coursework and 36 hours of public administration coursework are required for graduation. To accommodate scheduling conflicts, some students may have to take summer school courses to complete the joint program in four years. The successful candidate of this joint program will be awarded a Juris Doctor degree from the Law Center and an M.P.A. degree from Southern University-Baton Rouge.

Separate applications to both the Law Center and the Graduate School of Southern University-Baton Rouge must be made. (See other requirements on page 66 of this catalog.)

More information on this program can be found in the Southern University-Baton Rouge Catalog, or you may contact the SU Graduate School dean, (225) 771-5390, or the dean of the Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, (225) 771-3092.

Certificate in Public Law

Students who concentrate their studies in public law may earn a certificate in this demanding field. To do so, a student must complete the 96 hours required for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, including Constitutional Law I and II, and satisfy all requirements for graduation.  Additionally, a student must complete 15 hours from the public law curriculum (see page 60), maintaining a minimum 3.0 grade point average in these courses.

Summer Abroad Program

A summer abroad program is offered by the Southern University Law Center. The program is held at London City University . Approximately 30 students each year will have the opportunity to earn six credit hours while savoring the thousand-year-old roots of America ’s legal heritage. During their six weeks in London , students will visit some or all of the following: Chancery Lane , The Law Society, inns of court, Royal Courts of Justice, Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), House of Commons, and House of Lords.

The program is limited to students in American law schools who have successfully completed one year of study. Students of law schools other than Southern University Law Center must submit a letter of good standing from their dean or registrar, together with proof of successful completion of one year of law studies.

More information on this program can be found at the Summer Abroad’s web site, http://www.sulc.edu/summerabroad.htm