Projects

There have been several proposals to increase legal education capacity in the Shreveport/Bossier region for more than fifteen years. But factors such as declining law school enrollments and various environmental pressures in the state have caused these proposals to be abandoned.

NCHEMS undertook this study by examining all relevant data sources, conducting stakeholder interviews, and undertaking a series of quantitative analyses focused on the need for legal education in the target region in comparison with selected peer regions in other parts of Louisiana and the U.S. Based on this information NCHEMS developed three potential policy responses in addition to full cost estimates.

The results of data analyses and the information gathered through interviews and the website led to the conclusions that:

• The Shreveport/Bossier region of the state is underserved in opportunities for graduate and professional level education
• This region has a shortage of lawyers, particularly black lawyers
• The region does not have a shortage of paralegals or other individuals educated in related fields
• A case can be made for creating additional capacity to deliver legal education in Shreveport
• But an equally strong case can also be made for creating additional capacity to deliver education and training in fields other than Law including Finance and Environmental Studies

To date, the Board has not taken action on the report.

• Report to the Louisiana Board of Regents To Inform the Feasibility Study of Increasing Legal Education Capacity in the Shreveport/Bossier Region