Leaders at LSU say that the plan to reunite the law school and the main campus is on track to be finished by January 1, according to The Advocate.
The plan was approved at the March meeting by the LSU Board of Supervisors. Then, this month, the Law Center submitted its plans for realignment to the American Bar Association. The ABA has to approve the new status of the law school as part of the flagship of LSU.
“I’m truly pleased and excited with how this has proceeded so far,” Law Center Chancellor Jack Weiss said.
The LSU Law Center was originally part of LSU until it became a separate entity in 1977. Weiss said that the plans in place would allow the Law Center to make decisions applicable to the school, such as new courses or programs.
“We at the law school feel that we very much need to be able to continue to operate flexibly and nimbly in the highly competitive law-school market,” he said.
Once the realignment is finished, Weiss would report to the provost of LSU.
“We think there are undeniable significant benefits to both the law school and the main campus from our reintegrating with the main campus and having a closer working relationship,” Weiss said.
Weiss said that a pre-law program is on the docket to be created, but the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Committee on Colleges will need to approve it. The American Bar Association would also have to approve it.
“I’ve tried my best to communicate to our faculty, students staff and alumni that, if this is handled correctly, it will be a great benefit to the law school,” Weiss said. “Thus far, I think I’ve been proved right in telling our community that I do think that it is possible to have the benefits of this closer relationship without giving up the flexibility that we really need.”