The Paul M. Hebert Law Center ranks 11th in percentage of 2011 graduates employed in full-time, long-term legal jobs within 9 months of graduation, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Director of Communication and External Relations Karen Soniat said the ranking reflects well on the entire school. “Not only does being ranked 11th show that students are highly valued, it also reflects positively on the faculty, staff and curriculum of the law center,” she explained. The Wall Street Journal’s report stated approximately 81 percent of graduates earned a job within 9 months of graduation. But Soniat said the numbers are not entirely accurate. “Their numbers only reflect the grads that are employed in jobs that require law degrees,” she said. According to Soniat, 93 percent of graduates were employed 9 months after graduation, up 1 percent from last year. Most of those graduates are employed in private practice, and that is where the money is, according to Justin Mannino, third-year law student and Board of Supervisors student member. “The highest salary was $160,000,” Mannino said. “That person was definitely in private practice. At the same time, a lot of people don’t necessarily go for high-paying jobs. Some just go into fields that they are interested in.” Mannino also said LSU is one of the best values for a law degree. “Honestly, if you look at the schools that are close to LSU on that list, they are all expensive institutions,” Mannino said. “LSU is a great value for education in the field of law. The career services program and clinics provide students with the opportunity to get real world experience.”
 
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