Students interested in law got a sample law session and some exposure to law curriculum at the 19thAnnual Pre-Law day at Southern University Law Center.
The law day featured a mock law class, an organizational expo, sessions on money management, ‘trailway trivia’ and a law school tour.
Following a session on the history of the Law Center participants were thrown into a simulated first day of law school class.
“Something beneficial to you when coming to law school is to have an idea of what’s happening around you. Read your local and national newspapers,” said Alfreda Sellers Diamond, Professor SULC.
The class was challenged by one hypothetical situation concerning the constitutional powers granted to the president and congress in declaring war.
Participants were charged with deciding whether the hypothetical was constitutionally sound.
“We are discussing the dueling constitutional contexts, in Article I Section 8 Clause II and Article II Section 2 of the United States Constitution,” Diamond said.
Following class, participants engaged in “Trailway Trivia,” the Law Center’s version of Family Feud. The topic was most important things to consider when going to law school.
The top answer was financial value with employment post graduation and academic offerings coming close.
According to U.S. News and World Report, SULC was ranked number one in financial value at graduation out of 190 law schools.
The law center offers multiple programs; full time day, part-time evening and part time day.
Roederick White, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs discussed character and fitness for future lawyers.
You can have a great personality but we can be concerned with their character. Getting a traffic ticket does not prevent you from getting into law school but, lying about it does,” White said.
In the session “Destination Law School” panelists described their SULC experience and what should be deciding factors for choosing law school.
The panel consisted of current students and SULC graduates including state Rep. Edward ‘Ted’ James.
“Relationships through the bonds of the SULC… prepared to perform well in the legislature because of SULC. This is the place that will give you the preparation for law,” James said.
When asked about the opportunities available at SULC in reference to other law schools, Kourtni Mason, Editor-in-Chief of SULC Law Review responded.
“Opportunities are available here that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere,” Mason said.
John Pierre, Vice Chancellor of Institutional Accountability and Evening Program discussed how the Law Center makes choices concerning doing more with less.
“At SULC we break ceilings and we shatter barriers.The SULC was founded on serving non-traditional students, first year law students come from a variety of backgrounds.
Sometimes you have to struggle financially, we have to choose where we prioritize spending and sometimes the shortcomings are in the mind,” Pierre said.
Jamien Arvie, a second-year law student, hosted a session on money management discussing budgeting, paying expenses, and mitigating excessive expenses.
“There are expenses you will need to pay, and there are ways to mitigate some of your expenses,” Arvie said.
Before students ate lunch and were given the option to tour the campus, participants were faced with one final challenge; conquering and holding their own in a law debate.
Representatives who participated included students from Southern University at Baton Rouge, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Xavier University and Grambling State University.
A panel voted for the winner of each of the three rounds going head to head concerning whether students and teachers should be friends on Facebook, whether colleges should have a dress code and whether convicted felons would be allowed to vote following their sentences.
Colby Sutton a Southern University student participated in two rounds and cited a dress code as stifling ideas and culture of college students. Also Sutton argued that the right to vote is a human right and the process of stripping that right is “dehumanizing.”
Organizations present at the SULC Organizational Expo included: Admissions, Financial Aid, Career Counseling, Student Bar Association, National Black Law Society, GALE, and Clinical Education.
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SULC prepares potential law students
February 7, 2012
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