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About Legal Staff

Law & Policy Program: About Legal Staff

 

James WilkinsJames Wilkins, J.D.

Director, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program
(225) 578-5936
[email protected]

Education: B.S. Biology, Centenary College, 1972; M.S. Biology, Texas A&M University, 1975; J.D., LSU Law Center, 1987

Experience: Laboratory instructor, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1976-1978; independent biological consultant, College Station, Texas, 1975-1978; research associate, Center for Wetland Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1979-1981; research associate, Institute for Environmental Studies, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1981-1983; coastal resources analyst, Coastal Management Division, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1983-1984; research assistant, Sea Grant Legal Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1985-1987; staff attorney Sea Grant Legal Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1987-1994; coordinator of legal student research, Sea Grant Legal Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1994-1997; professor/director of Sea Grant Legal Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1998-present

Special Interests: Environmental law, fisheries and wildlife law, and ocean and coastal resources law


 

Photo: Melissa DaigleMelissa Trosclair Daigle, J.D.

Research Attorney
(225) 578-9968
[email protected]

Education: B.A. English, Nicholls State University, 2003; M.A. English, Louisiana State University, 2005; J.D., B.C.L., LSU Law Center, 2008

Experience: Graduate teaching assistant, Department of English, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2003-2005; law clerk, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2006-2008; legal coordinator, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2008-present; member, Louisiana Crab Task Force; member, Louisiana Wild Caught Crawfish Task Force; affiliate member, Center for Natural Resource Economics & Policy; member, Louisiana State Bar Association

Special Interests: Environmental law, coastal restoration, and coral aquaculture


 

Photo: Niki PaceNiki Pace, CFM, J.D., LL.M.

Research Attorney
(225) 578-6342
[email protected]

Education:  B.S. Geology, University of Southern Mississippi, 1999; J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, 2002; LL.M. Environmental and Natural Resources, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2008; Certified Floodplain Manager, 2015

Experience: Associate attorney, Aultman, Tyner & Ruffin, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 2003-2006; environmental compliance manager and in-house counsel, APEX Environmental Consultants, Inc., Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 2006-2007; law clerk, U.S. Dept. of Interior, Regional Solicitor’s Office, Portland, Oregon, 2008; senior research counsel, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program, Oxford, Mississippi, 2009-2016; non-tenure professor, University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, Mississippi, 2010-2016; sustainability coordinator, Louisiana Sea Grant Law & Policy Program, Louisiana State University, 2016-present; Certified Floodplain Manager, 2015-present; member, Association of State Floodplain Managers; policy team member, Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering (SAGE); member, Oregon State Bar; executive committee, Mississippi State Bar Section of Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law; various leadership roles, American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy & Resources Law

Special Interests: Environmental law, living shorelines, public trust doctrine, coastal development, floodplain management