Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center is a public law school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offering a three-year, full-time JD. Its strengths include civil and comparative law, energy, and estate planning.
This guide walks you through how to get into LSU Law.
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1. LSU Law Admissions Numbers and Statistics
LSU Law Class of 2029:
- LSAT: 75th: 161 | Median: 159 | 25th: 156
- GPA: 75th: 3.93 | Median: 3.75 | 25th: 3.50
LSU Law Class of 2028:
- LSAT: 75th: 160 | Median: 157 | 25th: 155
- GPA: 75th: 3.93 | Median: 3.74 | 25th: 3.48
The 2026 entering profile is provisional and subject to change in October 2026. It shows a two-point LSAT median increase, with both LSAT quartiles up one point. GPA changed less: the median rose from 3.74 to 3.75, the lower quartile increased slightly, and the upper quartile held steady. The entering class increased from 230 to 232 students.
Aim to be at or above at least one median, a 159 LSAT or 3.75 GPA, to be competitive. Above both puts you in a stronger position. Below both medians, this is a prayer, not a reach.
For context on how medians affect your strategy, see How to Build a Smart Law School List.
2. LSU Law Application Essays
Personal Statement (required)
LSU limits the personal statement to three pages and wants to understand your perspective, values, and voice.
For more on how to write a personal statement, see my Personal Statement Examples and Personal Statement Guide.
For more on discussing your perspective within this personal statement, see my Diversity Statement Examples and Diversity Statement Guide.
Why LSU Statement (required)
Explain how your goals overlap with LSU's mission and why this school is specifically a good place to pursue them.
For more on how to write a Why X essay, see my Why X Essay Guide.
For more on making all of these essays work together, see my Cohesive Narrative Guide.
Character & Fitness
Admission depends on accurate disclosure. Failure to disclose information fully may result in revocation of admission or disciplinary action by the Law Center or bar authorities.
I'll be publishing a guide to addenda and character and fitness.
3. LSU Law Resume Requirements
A resume is required. Focus on outcomes and impact, not just a list of responsibilities.
For more on preparing your resume, see my Resume Examples and Resume Guide.
4. LSU Law Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required, with three accepted. Professors, employers, or others with substantial knowledge of your academic ability can write them. Strictly personal recommendations are discouraged.
For more on recommendations, see my LOR Guide (Applicants) and LOR Guide (Writers).
5. LSU Law Interview Process
Interviews occur only at the admissions committee's specific request. Informational meetings with admissions staff are separate from an evaluative interview.
6. LSU Law Deadlines and Decision Options
Testing Policy
LSU requires the LSAT and accepts scores up to five years old.
Application Dates and Fees
- Priority Recommendation: Apply by March 1, 2027, for earlier consideration.
- Application Deadline: June 1, 2027, for fall 2027 admission.
- Application Fee: $50, waived for new JD applications received before June 1.
- Seat Deposit: A nonrefundable payment, credited toward tuition, is due as specified in the acceptance package and confirms the merit award.
LSU does not offer Early Decision. March 1 is a nonbinding priority recommendation, not an ED deadline. Review is rolling and begins in late fall. An earlier application reaches the committee while more seats and scholarship opportunities remain available. The JD is full-time; there is no evening or part-time division.
7. LSU Law Scholarships and Financial Aid
Merit Scholarships
Entering applicants receive automatic consideration. For students entering in fall 2025 or later, awards renew for the second and third years with good academic standing, assessed after spring grades. Academic disqualification revokes the award; readmission does not automatically restore it. Earlier cohorts operated under different renewal rules.
Dean Paul M. Hebert Scholarship
Two scholarships support second- and third-year students with strong academic records.
Hardship Tuition Waiver
Current students with substantial financial need may qualify for a tuition waiver. Federal aid consideration requires FAFSA, using school code 002010; LSU recommends applying as soon as possible.
Cost of Attendance
For 2026-27, tuition and fees total $25,966.40 for residents and $41,406.40 for nonresidents. Including the listed living, book, personal, and transportation allowances, total budgets are $53,000.40 and $68,440.40.
For more on scholarship strategy, see How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships.
8. LSU Law Dual Degree Programs
LSU offers graduate combinations requiring separate admission to the participating programs.
JD/MBA
- With the E. J. Ourso College of Business's Flores MBA Program. The MBA requires an interview and coordinated coursework; its admissions process is separate from JD review.
JD/Master of Mass Communication
- Four years with the Manship School, including a thesis and shared credits. One of the first two years is devoted entirely to law.
JD/MS in Finance
- Three to four years with the E. J. Ourso College of Business. Students must submit a Request for Dual Degree form after separate admission and enroll concurrently for at least one semester to receive shared credit.
JD/MSW
- Four academic years plus summer work with the School of Social Work. This campus-based combination includes a thesis and separate law and social-work years at the beginning.
JD/MPA
- New admissions are temporarily paused. The continuing online MPA is not a replacement joint-degree route.
The optional Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law is distinct from these master's combinations. Fall 2026 entrants follow a 90-credit JD curriculum.
9. LSU Law Employment Outcomes (Class of 2025)
LSU Class of 2025 employment outcomes (reported to the ABA, measured 10 months after graduation):
- Full-time, long-term bar-passage-required employment (ABA): 83.8%
- BigLaw (firms with 101+ attorneys): 15.2%
- Federal clerkships: 4.5%
- Public service (including government): 16.2%
Louisiana is the dominant destination, followed by Texas and then Tennessee. Larger firms account for a minority of graduates, while federal clerkships form a smaller but meaningful pathway. LSU's strongest employment case is regional legal practice, especially in Louisiana, rather than a predominantly national large-firm pipeline.
10. LSU Law Areas of Study and Specializations
Civil and Comparative Law: The Center of Civil Law Studies supports comparative scholarship and the peer-reviewed Journal of Civil Law Studies. The optional comparative-law diploma complements the JD's exposure to Louisiana civil law and common-law systems.
Energy Law: The John P. Laborde Energy Law Center and Mineral Law Institute connect study with the energy industry. The Energy Law and Policy certificate, mineral-rights coursework, and faculty work on oil, gas, and environmental regulation give the field a substantial curricular presence.
Estate Planning and Taxation: The certificate requires 16 credits, including foundational tax and trusts-and-estates courses, writing, and experiential work. The Low-Income Tax Clinic adds client representation involving federal tax disputes.
Advocacy: The Board of Advocates develops oral and written persuasion through competitions. Appellate and Parole Advocacy, Prosecution, and Youth Defense connect those skills to clients and proceedings, from preparing parole cases to supervised courtroom representation.
11. LSU Law Clinics and Experiential Learning
Clinics
- Appellate and Parole Advocacy Clinic: Work with the Louisiana Parole Project on criminal appeals, parole, and pardons.
- Civil Mediation Clinic: Mediate civil disputes in Baton Rouge City Court and observe professional mediators.
- Low-Income Tax Clinic: Interview clients, negotiate with the IRS, and assist with Tax Court matters; the clinic does not prepare tax returns.
- Prosecution Clinic: Certified third-year students work with the East Baton Rouge District Attorney, interviewing witnesses and prosecuting misdemeanors.
- Russel J. Stutes Small Business and Community Development Clinic: Help Louisiana businesses and nonprofits with formation, contracts, intellectual property, and governance.
- Veterans Legal Clinic: Develop benefits claims and appeals, investigate records, and pursue military discharge upgrades.
- Wrongful Conviction Clinic: Work with Innocence & Justice Louisiana on case investigation, prison visits, and post-conviction advocacy.
- Youth Defense Clinic: Third-year students represent children in delinquency proceedings; second-year students assist with investigation and preparation.
Pro Bono and Experiential Learning
Six experiential credits are required. Clinics have limited enrollment and course-specific prerequisites. The tax clinic requires Income Taxation I before or alongside enrollment; Prosecution requires Legal Profession. Field placements connect students with judges, government, and nonprofits, with an accompanying seminar and ethics preparation. Recent externships have included the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana. Public Interest Law Society volunteer service is separate from the credited experiential requirement.
12. LSU Law Notable Faculty and Journals
Faculty
- Keith B. Hall: Professor and Nesser Family Chair in Energy Law, directing the Energy Law Center and Mineral Law Institute. Received the 2025 Clyde O. Martz Teaching Award.
- Nicholas Bryner: Professor and Director of Climate Change Law and Policy. Studies environmental, energy, and administrative law; formerly an Emmett/Frankel Fellow at UCLA.
- Elizabeth R. Carter: Professor and Saul Litvinoff Distinguished Endowed Professor. Directs Estate Planning and Taxation and is an Academic Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
- Olivier Moreteau: Professor and Russell B. Long Eminent Scholars Academic Chair. Directs the Center of Civil Law Studies and edits the Journal of Civil Law Studies.
Journals
- Louisiana Law Review: Student-edited general legal scholarship with particular attention to civil, comparative, and common law.
- LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources: Student-edited scholarship on energy, environmental law, natural resources, and coastal issues.
- LSU Law Journal for Social Justice and Policy: Student-edited scholarship and commentary on social justice and public policy, including perspectives from the South.
- Journal of Civil Law Studies: Peer-reviewed comparative and interdisciplinary work on civil-law and mixed systems. Students assist editorially after articles are accepted; it is not a student-run law review.
13. LSU Law Culture and Student Life
The Law Center sits on LSU's Baton Rouge campus, combining a state-capital setting with a large university's student life. The Black Law Students Association, Hispanic Law Student Association, and Cajun Law Society offer distinct communities. The Cajun group brings local history, food, music, and French-language connections into law-school life.
Hats 'n Canes links the graduating class with alumni through a longstanding ceremony and tailgate. Louisiana's legal traditions are visible beyond the classroom, while access to courts, government, and regional employers gives the location professional significance.
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Related Reading
→ How to Build a Smart Law School List
→ Should You Apply Early Decision to Law School?
→ How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships
→ 6 Proven Steps to Get Off a Law School Waitlist
→ How to Get Into Law School Below Both Medians
→ What Holistic Law School Admissions Really Means
→ Blog Directory
Note: While I try to keep this guide up to date, always verify deadlines, requirements, and policies at the LSU Law website before applying.
Think you spotted an outdated requirement or something that doesn't look right? Email moshe@sharperstatements.com with the school and a link to the current information.