Specialization Programs
The College of Law offers our J.D. students the opportunity to develop specialized expertise in a particular area of law. Students who have met the specialization and GPA requirements by the time of graduation will have the distinction of their commitment noted on their transcripts upon graduation. Students may declare the Specialization to be attached to their J.D. program using the form found HERE. Students should declare their specializations as early as possible in their Law School career.
J.D. students in their second and third year may elect to earn a Specialization in Environmental Law. Students who have met the specialization requirements by the time of graduation will have this distinction noted on their transcripts.
This specialization program is designed to recognize students who commit themselves to this fascinating and challenging area of study. But it is also intended to leave room to take other important core courses. We strongly believe that one must first be a good lawyer before one can become an effective environmental lawyer.
For more information, please contact the Director of the Environmental Program, Marianne Cufone.
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Specialization Audit Form
J.D. students may elect to concentrate in the area of Health Law and earn a specialization upon graduation. To receive the Specialization in Health Law, a candidate, who has taken the required course of Business Organizations I, must also successfully complete twelve additional hours of course work, as described in the Specialization Requirements.
For more information, please contact Professor Nicole Tuchinda.
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Loyola Law’s Specialization in Immigration and Citizenship Law and Practice develops professional practice skills by emphasizing experiential learning in the core academic courses and by requiring two semesters of immigration clinic. J.D. students who earn the specialization have completed coursework that provides a foundation for practice in the areas of immigration law, asylum and refugee law, and citizenship and naturalization law.
This program furthers the law school’s core mission of working for social justice and enables students who are committed to public interest work to have their commitment and work distinguished on their official transcript upon graduation. The program strives to meet the need for immigration expertise in the local, state, and national communities.
Specialization students who work for an immigrant defense non-profit during the summer are eligible for College of Law summer stipends. Students interested in applying for the grants should contact Career Services by early spring of the year in which the student seeks financial support for summer public interest work. Students are encouraged to apply to immigrant defense nonprofits in their home state or city, but should check with Career Services to make sure that the placement is consistent with College of Law funding requirements.
For more information, please contact:
M. Isabel Medina
Ferris Family Distinguished Professor of Law
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
medina@loyno.edu
504-861-5655
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The Specialization in International Legal Studies is designed to help prepare law students for professional careers in the emerging global economy. A J.D. student choosing to complete the requirements for this specialization will acquire an understanding of the conceptual framework of the international legal order, and will have this indicated on their transcript.
Students are eligible to receive the specialization upon the successful completion of all requirements for graduation in either the civil law curriculum or the common law curriculum and LAW L878 International Law plus 9 credit hours from an approved list of electives. Students must maintain an average of "B" or better in all classes taken to satisfy the course requirements for the certificate. Students must obtain at least a graduating G.P.A. of 2.5.
For more information, please contact Professor Markus Puder.
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The College of Law offers a Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Specialization Program to meet the increased demand in the job market for trained lawyers who advise entrepreneurs. J.D. students completing the specialization can also graduate equipped with the skills needed to become entrepreneurs themselves.
The coursework required for the specialization provides training on both business creation and technology issues. This curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong legal foundation in the key doctrines relevant to modern entrepreneurship, along with experiential practical training.
For more information, please contact Professor Trey Drury.
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The Social Justice Specialization Program aims to recognize and enhance Loyola’s core mission of advancing social justice and pursuing academic excellence through Jesuit ideals. Through hands-on experience and focused academic study, J.D. students will be better positioned to effectively advocate for social justice in non-profit and government settings, as well as provide a strong signal of a student’s commitment to social justice to fellowship programs and future employers. The experiential component requires that students complete the equivalent of one academic year of supervised legal work addressing the needs of the poor and marginalized. The doctrinal component focuses on the legal and policy frameworks that structure rights and access for the poor and marginalized.
Social Justice Specialization faculty members are committed to assisting students interested in public service. This Program will also contribute to our rich community of public service here at Loyola Law through partnerships with faculty, staff, and students.
For more information, please contact Professor Andrea Armstrong.
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J.D. students in their second and third year may elect to earn a Specialization in Tax Law. Students who have met the specialization requirements by the time of graduation will have this distinction noted on their transcripts.
This specialization program is designed for students who commit themselves to intense study of the law of taxation, are willing to spend hours assisting low-income taxpayers in preparing individual income tax returns, and will be engaged in solving problems that a practicing tax attorney would see in private or governmental practice.
For more information, please contact Professor Keith Naccari.
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