Centers, Clinics and Programs

Center for Environmental Law and Land Use

Inaugurated on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Loyola’s Center for Environmental Law and Land Use, seeks to become a leader in legal environmental education and service in the Gulf Region. 

As part of this mission, the Center supports Loyola’s Certificate in Environmental Law Program.  Under this program, law students concentrate their studies in the areas of natural resources, pollution control, and land use, and receive a certificate upon graduation along with their degree.

The Center also organizes and hosts a variety of conferences, workshops, and lectures designed to educate the public and to spark collaborative efforts in research and service among academics and students.  Much of its activity now centers on environmental and land-use issues associated with Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. 

Gillis Long Student Pro Bono Program

In accordance with the Jesuit tradition of social justice advocacy and the promotion of Gospel values, students enrolled at the Loyola University College of Law must satisfy the law and poverty requirement by enrolling in the Law and Poverty course, the Law Clinic Program, the Street Law Program, or the Gillis Long Student Pro Bono Program. Each of these programs stresses the professional obligation of each student, as a future lawyer, to work for the common good. The Gillis Long Student Pro Bono Program allows students to provide legal services to indigent clients in the greater metropolitan area. Students enrolled in the program gain practical legal experience and provide legal assistance to those who are unable to afford it. The pro bono program places students in various fields of law, both civil and criminal, where students are asked to complete a minimum of 50 hours of legal work under the supervision of licensed attorneys. No grade is received for the work, nor are credit hours given. However, students successfully completing the pro bono program do fulfill the law and poverty requirement needed for graduation.

Gillis W. Long Poverty Law Center

The Gillis W. Long Poverty Law Center was established in 1985 at Loyola College of Law by Act of the United States Congress in memory of the late Congressman from Louisiana whose career exemplified service to the needs of the disadvantaged. The center provides training, research, and other support to organizations and individuals who are involved in the delivery of legal services to the poor, including paid Summer Internships and the Loan Repayment Assistance Program. The administrative offices of the Center are located in LS 351C and the telephone number is (504) 861-5491.

Loyola Law Clinic

The Loyola Law Clinic provides senior law students an opportunity to gain practical experience in criminal, civil, immigration, mediation and administrative law in a live clinical environment. Participating students receive a total of six hours credit for two semesters of work in the program. Working under the supervision of attorneys, students investigate, prepare, negotiate, and try civil and criminal cases. A limited number of openings are available in local district attorney. Preference is given to students who have demonstrated an interest in exploring ways to expand the delivery of legal services to those in society who do not have the resources to secure competent legal representation.