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Diversity Outreach to Students

Being a lawyer can be one of the most rewarding professions. Lawyers are an important part of history and every community. Lawyers were instrumental in the founding of our nation and played a major role in drafting the governing documents that still shape our government, our laws, and our way of life. Lawyers have played major roles within every civil movement that has occurred within our country, such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movements. Lawyers often make the best problem solvers and the best leaders because of the critical thinking and analytical skills honed and polished in law school and within practice.

But what does it take to be a lawyer? Becoming a lawyer takes time, determination, and resources. Find out whether being a lawyer is the right path for you by hearing from lawyers who are thriving within the profession  and enjoying it and by reading about prominent lawyers and the profession.

To see information about the Suit Up for the Future High School Legal Institute and Intern Program, please click on the "For High School Students" link below.

For High School Students


2020 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 15 - 26, 2020 and July 6 - 10, 2020
Dates:
The three-week program is scheduled for June 15 - 26, 2020; July 6 –10, 2020.

Location: 
Louisiana State Bar Association, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA

Application and Deadline: 
To apply for the 2020 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here. Deadline for the online application is Monday, May 11, 2020. Please note that all applicants will be notified by Monday, May 18, 2020 regarding the status of their application. 

Eligibility:
Students should have an interest in pursuing a legal career and should be entering the 11th or 12th Grade in the Fall of 2020 or entering their first year of college in the Fall of 2020.

2020 Program Schedule
To be announced. 

Facebook Page:
The "Suit Up for the Future" Facebook page can be accessed here.

Program Details: 
To see the 2020 Suit Up informational flyer, please click here. The three week program will be held at the Louisiana Bar Center, 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, and is scheduled on June 15 - June 26, 2020; and July 6 – 10, 2020. Students who complete the program will be eligible for a stipend of up to $250.00. Students must provide their own transportation to the program. Students have the option of paying a residential housing fee if housing is needed (adult chaperone required). The estimated housing cost for three-weeks is $1,080 and approximately $60 per day. Please contact Chris Rice at crice@loyno.edu for more information. 

The Louisiana State Bar Association in partnership with Just the Beginning hosts an annual internship program. This program is available to incoming high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who are interested in the legal profession. Students participate in a three-week legal institute, during which they attend an abridged law school session, field trips to law schools and courts, and an internship consisting of shadowing at area law offices and courts. Students provide their own transportation and housing. Over the course of the three-week program, students will be introduced to lawyers, legal documents, and the legal system all designed to assist them in pondering one important question, “Do I really want to be a lawyer?” 

For additional questions, please contact us at diversity@lsba.org.  

Classroom Activities:
Inside the “Suit Up classroom,” students will experience the Socratic teaching method and gain exposure to specified law school courses, including, criminal law, and legal research and writing. Students will also receive a mock trial problem, which will serve as the basis for the legal writing assignment and oral argument that the students will present to a panel of judges at the end of the program. 

In a second component of the “Suit Up classroom,” students will be provided with advice and substantive information from guest speakers, and receive instruction in creating competitive resumes, preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), professionalism, ethics, and workplace etiquette and attire. The time inside the classroom will provide students with ample time to work as a group on assignments and seek feedback from various legal mentors throughout the course. 

Attorney Shadowing:
A second facet of the course will allow Suit Up participants to step outside the classroom and see first-hand what it means to be a “lawyer.” The attorney shadowing is designed to provide students with the following experiences:  
  • a tour of the law firm/agency, in a tour of the law firm/agency, including all departments, so that students gain an understanding of all of the support staff that comprise a law firm/agency;

  • the opportunity to join the attorney on outings (such as depositions, hearings, and trials);

  • lunch with the attorney; and

  • mentoring and support on the oral argument and supporting legal memorandum being developed by the student.

Students will also prepare a list of questions to ask attorneys whom they shadow so that the student gains an appreciation of the day-to-day schedule of an attorney, as well as the role that lawyers play in society and in the administration of justice. *Students must have transportation to and from the shadowing assignment. 
Field Trips: 
Finally, the Suit Up students will attend several field trips. The students will tour two area law schools, the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Court museum, and federal court buildings. During the tours, students will hear from several guest speakers and may have the opportunity to view proceedings at several state and federal courts. 

2019 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 11 - 29, 2019
Program: 
To view the 2019 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program.

Suit Up Publicity:  
Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2019 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here.

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
The Suit Up for the Future Class of 2019 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included:

  • Honorable Dale N. Atkins, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable Ronald L. Belsome, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable Dana M. Douglas, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable D. Nicole Sheppard, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Karen Wells Roby, U.S. District Court, Chief Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana

Oral Argument Winners: 

Morning Session
Prosecution: Jessica A. Burrell
Defense: Ann M. Rome

Afternoon Session
Prosecution: Issis M. Haydel
Defense: Rachael J. Hahn Best Memorandum:
Prosecution: Taylor P. Wardsworth
Defense: Javier A. Calderon-Yanar 
2018 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 11 - 29, 2018
Program:
To view the 2018 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program.

Suit Up Publicity: 
  • To view the Suit Up article featured in the New Orleans Advocate, please click here. 
  • To view the Suit Up article featured in the Clarion Herald, please click here. 
  • To view the Suit Up segment featured on WDSU news, please click here.  
  • Congratulations to Suit Up alumni Adrija Bhattacharjee and Christian Lacoste for their wins at the 2018 State High School Mock Trial Competitions. Please click here to read the article.
  • Suit Up alumnus Justin DiCharia wins the 2018 Fall Flory Trial Competition. Please click here to read the article.  


Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2018 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here. 

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
The Suit Up for the Future Class of 2018 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included: 

  • Honorable Paula A. Brown, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable Tiffany G. Chase, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable D. Nicole Sheppard, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Janis Van Meerveld, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Karen Wells Roby, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana

Oral Argument Winners:

Morning Session
Prosecution: Aria A. Morgan
Defense: Adrija Bhattacharjee

Afternoon Session
Prosecution: Theresa M. Falgoust
Defense: Christian H. Lacoste

Best Memorandum:
Prosecution: Aria A. Morgan 
Defense: Gabrielle A. Bradford
2017 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 12-30, 2017
Program:
To see the 2017 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program.

Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2017 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here.

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
The Suit Up for the Future Class of 2017 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included: 

  • Honorable Paula A. Brown, Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable Joseph B. Landry, Section D, Municipal and Traffic Court of New Orleans
  • Honorable Karen Wells Roby, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
 
Oral Argument Winners:

Prosecution: Isabel S. Sauviac
Defense: Ishmael J. Blackstone

Best Memorandum:
Prosecution: Domenic G. Mesa
Defense: Meghan E. Quaglino
2016 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 13-July 1, 2016
Program:
To view the 2016 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program. 

Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2016 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here.

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
The Suit Up for the Future Class of 2016 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included:

  • Honorable Paula A. Brown, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Tiffany G. Chase, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Daniel E. Knowles, III, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Michael B. North, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Kern A. Reese, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Karen Wells Roby, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana

Oral Argument Winners:

Morning Session
Prosecution: Asia J. Hentkowski
Defense: Daryl A. Naquin Jr.

Afternoon Session
Prosecution: Caroline M. Bland
Defense: Zora D. Robinson

Best Memorandum:
Prosecution: Tamunobelema A. Derefaka
Defense: Daryl A. Naquin Jr.
2015 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 15-26 and July 6-10, 2015
Program:
To view the 2015 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program. 

Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2015 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here.

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
The Suit Up for the Future Class of 2015 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included:

  • Honorable June Berry Darensburg, Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court
  • Honorable Daniel E. Knowles III, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Ivan L. R. Lemelle, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Joseph C. Wilkinson, Jr., U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana

Oral Argument Winners:

Morning Session
Prosecution: Kayla C. Barthelemy
Defense: Gerald A. Aviles

Afternoon Session
Prosecution: Treslyn E. Davenport
Defense: Kyree M. Magee

Best Memorandum:
Prosecution: Kayla C. Barthelemy
Defense: Emily R. Lema
2014 Suit Up for the Future Program
June 9 - 27, 2014
Program:
To view the 2014 printed program, please click here. This will give you a detailed look at the Suit Up for the Future program.

Facebook:
To view photos and information about the 2014 Suit Up for the Future program, please click here.

Memorandum and Oral Arguments:
Suit Up for the Future Class of 2014 prepared a legal memorandum that supported the oral argument that was presented to a panel of judges on the final day of the program. For the oral argument, students were divided into two teams - FOR and AGAINST on an issue, but individually presented an oral argument to a panel of judges. The esteemed panel included:

  • Honorable Roland L. Belsome, Jr., Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit
  • Honorable Tiffany G. Chase, Orleans Parish Civil District Court
  • Honorable Stanwood R. Duval, Jr., U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Jane M. Triche-Milazzo, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Honorable Karen Wells Roby, U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana

Best Memorandum:
Morgan M. Grant
Louisiana State Bar Association
601 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
 (800) 421-LSBA(5722) / (504) 566-1600