Of the roughly 150,000 Americans who earn a GED each year, just 1% go on to pursue a professional degree. When third-year LSU Law student Ryan McNeil graduates next spring, he will proudly join the ranks of that exceptional 1%.
“Statistically, as a non-traditional and first-generation law student, I am an anomaly,” McNeil acknowledged. “Nevertheless, the pursuit of law has allowed me to feel empowered for the first time in my life.”
After earning his GED, McNeil completed 30 credit hours at Baton Rouge Community College before earning his bachelor’s degree in history from LSU. He spent two years working as a full-time LSU graduate program coordinator before deciding to try his hand at law school, a goal that seemed unattainable to the Baton Rouge native for most of his life.
“I wanted a career that allowed me to have a significant impact on the people I work with, and the legal field is intricate, in-depth, and contains a huge human element that many people don’t recognize,” McNeil said. “LSU Law has given me the chance to pursue that passion.”
Since enrolling at the Law Center, McNeil has focused his studies and professional experiences on the public interest legal sector. He is an active member of the Public Interest Law Society and currently serves as the PILS 2023-2024 Fellowships and Career Chair. He also provides one-on-one counseling, gives tours, and assists with recruitment events on and off campus as an LSU Law student ambassador.
But McNeil credits his first field placement, an externship with a Southeast Louisiana Legal Services eviction attorney, as one of his most formative legal experiences at LSU Law. He described the experience as an “eye-opening” introduction to applying law to real-world situations, and said he valued the opportunity to serve as a resource for individuals with little to no knowledge of the legal system.
“My entire perspective changed after working in my first field placement,” he explained. “It was a sobering and demystifying experience. Working among legal superheroes who truly care about helping their clients gave me the confidence I needed to defeat the imposter syndrome and rest assured that there is a place for me in the legal community.”
After working for the Louisiana Office of the Attorney General for his second field placement, McNeil now aspires to work in the public sector as an assistant attorney general or practice antitrust law. Ultimately, McNeil’s highest career aspiration is to support the governmental structures that gave him the opportunity to pursue higher education.
Considering the long odds he has already overcome, McNeil said he views the support he receives from the E. Kay Kirkpatrick Endowed Superior Graduate Scholarship in Public Law as both a symbol of his educational journey and a beacon of encouragement towards his future legal career. After all, LSU Law alumna Dr. Edith Kay Kirkpatrick (’77) hailed from a family of public servants and established her namesake scholarship after devoting her legal career to public service.
“A massive word of appreciation is needed to recognize the donor of this scholarship,” McNeil said. “Ten years ago, I wrote off the idea of ever receiving a scholarship of any kind. Today, I am beyond humbled and grateful to receive this award.”
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