On January 25, the Southern University Law Center (SULC) proudly celebrated its Fall 2024 Commencement Ceremony, where graduates were awarded their Juris Doctor degrees. The ceremony took place at the F.G. Clark Activity Center on the campus of Southern University Baton Rouge.
The event began with a warm welcome from Interim Chancellor Alvin Washington, who addressed the distinguished graduates, their families, friends, and esteemed guests.
The Honorable Judge Erika L. Green delivered the keynote address, offering a heartfelt congratulations to the graduates and officially welcoming them into the SULC alumni family. A proud 2010 alumna of the Law Center, Judge Green reflected on the transformative power of an SULC education and the doors it opens for aspiring legal professionals.
“Lawyer leaders, I stand before you as a product and a testament to the mission of SULC,” said Green. “There is no table you cannot sit at that this law school didn’t prepare you for.”
Judge Green, who was elected to the Family Court for East Baton Rouge Parish, Division B, in November 2021, shared insights from her accomplished legal career. Before taking the bench, she operated her own law firm, The Law Office of Erika Green, LLC, where she specialized in estate, family, and civil matters. Her dedication to public service was evident in her roles as a Child in Need of Care Attorney for Southeast Legal Services, a Foster Care Provider for the Department of Children and Family Services, and an Administrative Hearing Officer for the Louisiana Workforce Commission. In addition to her legal practice, she also served as an adjunct professor at SULC, further cementing her commitment to shaping future legal minds.
Throughout her address, Judge Green emphasized the profound responsibility that comes with being a legal professional.
“Before this degree is attached to your name and your title changes, remember that you are first and foremost a person,” she stated. “The work you do will be for people, and as you embark on this profession, your role is to advocate, to write, and to amplify the voices of those who need to be heard.”
She concluded her speech with a powerful reminder of the graduates’ duty to contribute meaningfully to society.
“Southern University Law Center did its job,” she affirmed. “Now it’s time to do yours.”
The program concluded with closing remarks, celebrating the graduates’ hard work and ushering them into the next chapter of their legal careers.
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