Monica Hof Wallace is the Dean Marcel Garsaud, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She teaches, lectures, and writes in the areas of Louisiana family law, successions, donations, trusts, and community property. She is often hired as an expert to assist with issues in her areas of expertise.
Monica completed her undergraduate education in Finance at L.S.U. and attended law school at Loyola, where she graduated first in her class and served as Chairman of the Moot Court Board. Upon graduation, Monica served as a law clerk for the Honorable Jacques L. Wiener, Jr. of the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Before joining the faculty at Loyola, Monica practiced at the New Orleans firm of Correro Fishman Haygood Phelps Walmsley & Casteix (now Fishman Haygood et al).
Monica is an active member of the Louisiana Law Institute, the St. Thomas More Inn of Court, the Louisiana Bar Foundation, Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers, and Cancer Crusaders. She has served twice on the Board of Governors for the Louisiana State Bar Association, and she has been recognized as a City Business Leader in Law and a three-time Professor of the Year. She is married to Todd Wallace and they have two wonderful children, Jack and Grace.
I have provided expert opinions, been deposed, or testified in trial in cases involving the following subject matters: trusts, will contests and interpretation, inter vivos donations, devolution of property by intestacy, forced heirship, matrimonial agreements, marriage, filiation, custody.
Loyola University College of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 1998
Louisiana State University, B.S., cum laude, 1993
Louisiana, 1998
United States Supreme Court, 2015
Represent an executrix in the probate and contest of a testament and trust.
Represented a spouse in a contest over a matrimonial agreement.
Represented spouses in a separation of property agreement.
Represent heirs and legatees in a simple putting in possession.
• CityBusiness Leader in Law, 2017
• 2017 Louisiana Youth Seminar, No Man Is an Island Award
• 2017 Gillis Long Poverty Law Center Public Service Award
• 2014 Professor of the Year, 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05
• Outstanding Research in Law Faculty, 2006-07
• Outstanding Teaching in Law Faculty, 2003-2004 and 2004-05
• Fellow, Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers, 2014 to present
• Louisiana Law Institute, Reporter, Civil Procedure articles relating to the law of Tutorship, 2009 to present
• Marriage-Persons Committee, 2009 to present
• Child Custody Committee, 2009 to present
• Family Law Committee, 2008 to present
• Birth Certificate Committee, 2011 to present
• Board of Governors for the Louisiana State Bar Association, 2011-13, 2015-17
• Chair, Bar Exam Process Reform Committee
• 2017 Co-chair Legal Economics Committee
• 2012-13 Executive Committee, Family and Juvenile Law Section of the AALS, 2007 to 2012
• New Scholar Committee Member, Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS)
• St. Thomas More Inn of Court Executive Committee and Treasurer, 2012 to present
• Society of Louisiana Civil Law Scholars Bartolus Society, 2006 to present
• Louisiana State Bar Association Member, 1998 to present
• Academic Fellow, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2004 to present
• Kids’ Chance Scholarship Committee, 2007 to present
• Board of Directors, Louisiana Youth Seminar, 2017 to present
• Member, Christian Brothers School Mother’s Club, 2015 to present
• Board of Directors, Archbishop Chapelle High School, 2014 to 2016
• Board Member, Cancer Crusaders, March 2004 to present
• Member of SOLACE, 2003 to present
• Member of HELP (Homeless Experience Legal Protection), October 2004 to present
• Chair, New Residents Committee of the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association, August 2009 to 2012
• Board of Directors, Archbishop Chapelle High School, 2014 to 2016
Summer School Revisited – Family Law Updates, presentation for the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans, December 2017.
Professionalism in the Legal Profession, presentation to the Tulane Business School class on Law and Order, October 2017.
Family Law Updates, presentation to the Louisiana Justice Community Conference, October 2017.
Professionalism Among Generations, panel presentation for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar, August 2017.
Kramer v. Kramer – Family Law Updates, presentation at the Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School, June 2017.
Where Are We Now?: The Post-Obergefell Era, presentation on the legislative proposals being considered by the Louisiana Law Institute at a joint program hosted by the Lambda Law Alliance and Phi Delta Phi, November 2016.
Evaluating Tomorrow’s Lawyers: Leading the Way to Learning Outcomes, presentation at the Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyer’s Conference, Denver, September 2016.
Nuts and Bolts of Family Law, presentation at the Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School, June 2016.
Diminished Capacity, panel presentation at Loyola’s Annual Estate Planning Conference, December 2015.
The Marriage Shift, presentation to the Bartolus Society, October 2015. Marriage in the Modern Age, presentation at the Louisiana Judicial Conference, October 2015.
Let the Supremes Sing!, presentation at the Second Annual Law Conference for the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, March 2015.
Marriage Equality: The State of the Law, presentation at the Faculty Colloquia, October 2014.
Effective Brief Writing and Oral Argument, presentation for the Loyola Skills Program, October 2014.
Are Experiential Modules Really Better?, presentation at Third Annual Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers Conference, September 2014.
Marriage Equality post-Windsor and Perry: The Arguments, the Litigation, The Future, presentation at the Inaugural Law Conference for the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, March 2014.
The History of Same Sex Marriage, introduction to Professor Dale Carpenter’s presentation on “Why Conservatives Should Support Same Sex Marriage” at a joint program hosted by the Loyola Federalist Society and Lambda Law Alliance, February 2013.
A Career in Law Teaching: My Path and the Road to Law School, presentation to the 2011 inaugural class of SUIT UP! Internship Program of the Louisiana State Bar Association, July 2011.
Things Judges Look for in Selecting a Law Clerk, panel moderator at discussion hosted by the Loyola Public Interest Law Group, November, 2010.
The Use of Durable Powers of Attorneys in Light of Louisiana’s Interdiction Laws, presentation to the New Orleans Estate Planning Council, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2009.
Family Law Pedagogy, presentation at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Palm Beach, Florida, July 2008.
The Effects of Reproductive Technologies on the Law, panel moderator at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, August 2007.
Recent Developments in Family Law, panel presentation at the The “Grimm” Truth of Post-Katrina Domestic Issues, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2007.
Succession Law for the Domestic Practitioner, presentation at the annual Loyola Family Law Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 2006.
Prescriptive Periods Post Katrina and Rita, presentation in connection with Katrina Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 2006.
Legal Writing for the Judicial Law Clerk, presentation at the Third Circuit Judges’ Association meeting, Lake Charles, Louisiana, August 2006.
Child Support Savings Accounts, presentation at a New Scholars Workshop at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Palm Beach, Florida, July 2006.
A History of Conflict Resolution and the Jury System, presentation at Law Day to Louisiana’s middle and high school students hosted by The Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education, April 2005.
Inside Chambers Seminar, panel presentation at the Eastern District of Louisiana hosted by the Federal Bar Association, October 2004.
Using Blackboard for Student Self-Assessment, presentation at Harvard University to New England Legal Writing Consortium, Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 2003.
LOUISIANA SUCCESSIONS, DONATIONS AND TRUSTS: CASES AND MATERIALS (Claitor’s Publishing 2015) (with Kathryn Venturatos Lorio).
LOUISIANA CIVIL LAW TREATISE VOL. ___: Family Law (West) (forthcoming).
Marriage Equality: The “States” of the Law Post Windsor and Perry, 16 Loy. J. Pub. Int. L. 215 (2014) (with Christopher G. Otten).
A Federal Referendum: Extending Child Support for Higher Education, 58 Kan. L. Rev. 665 (2010).
Recodifying Emancipation: A Précis of the 2009 Revision of Louisiana Emancipation Law, 56 Loy. L. Rev. 135 (2010) (with Dane Ciolino).
Child Support Savings Accounts: An Innovative Approach to Child Support Enforcement, 85 N.C. L. Rev. 1155 (2007).
Using the Past to Predict the Future: Refocusing the Analysis of a Federal Dilution Claim, 73 U. Cinn. L. Rev. 945 (2005).
The Pitfalls of a Putative Marriage and the Call for a Putative Divorce, 64 La. L. Rev. 71 (2003).
Roadblock: The Fifth Circuit Further Insulates Public School Systems from § 1983 Liability, 43 Loy. L. Rev. 649 (1998).
A Primer on Kentucky’s Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit, LGBT Litigator, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Summer 2014) (with Christopher G. Otten).
Becoming a Professor of Law, The Young Lawyer by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division, November 2011.
Loyola University Takes Part in Bicentennial of the French Civil Code, Loyola Lawyer, Spring 2005.
Yes. Any communications with our attorneys, including discussions we may have with you before you decide to hire us, are protected by the attorney-client privilege. You should comfortable telling us all of the facts of your case so that we can best advise you and protect your interests from the outset.
To make your relationship with us financially viable, we offer flexible fee structures to ensure affordability. We offer flat fee, capped fee, and contingency fee arrangements. We also offer a blended fee model combining traditional billable hours but with a capped total fee to ensure that the client is never surprised by unexpected fees for which he or she did not budget. For matters handled on a contingency fee basis, the client pays nothing unless money is recovered through a settlement or a judgment. If and when there is a recovery, we will take a percentage of that recovery as the contingent fee. The client also agrees to reimburse the firm for any litigation costs incurred during the case. Those costs may include deposition fees, filing fees, investigation costs, and expert costs. But, again, if there is no recovery, then the client is not responsible for any of those costs. And, if you decide that a traditional billable hour approach is the best method for you, you can take comfort in knowing that our rates are some of the most affordable and competitive in the Gulf South. Quite simply, we will do our best to work with you to ensure that you receive top-notch legal guidance and services without spending a fortune.
As part of our commitment to create a true partnership with each of our clients, we believe in being accessible and within reach of our clients 24/7. We make it my personal duty to return calls and correspondence promptly, while ensuring each and every client knows they are very important to us. Our clients will never be surprised about the status of their case. We maintain a manageable caseload at all times in an effort to provide a higher standard of personalized service with in-depth research and due diligence towards educated, informed decisions. We work closely with all clients to provide honest, friendly service and an overall positive legal experience with excellent results, no matter what the nature of your case may be.
Represent an executrix in the probate and contest of a testament and trust.
Represented a spouse in a contest over a matrimonial agreement.
Represented spouses in a separation of property agreement.
Represent heirs and legatees in a simple putting in possession.
• CityBusiness Leader in Law, 2017
• 2017 Louisiana Youth Seminar, No Man Is an Island Award
• 2017 Gillis Long Poverty Law Center Public Service Award
• 2014 Professor of the Year, 2002-03, 2003-04, and 2004-05
• Outstanding Research in Law Faculty, 2006-07
• Outstanding Teaching in Law Faculty, 2003-2004 and 2004-05
• Fellow, Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers, 2014 to present
• Louisiana Law Institute, Reporter, Civil Procedure articles relating to the law of Tutorship, 2009 to present
• Marriage-Persons Committee, 2009 to present
• Child Custody Committee, 2009 to present
• Family Law Committee, 2008 to present
• Birth Certificate Committee, 2011 to present
• Board of Governors for the Louisiana State Bar Association, 2011-13, 2015-17
• Chair, Bar Exam Process Reform Committee
• 2017 Co-chair Legal Economics Committee
• 2012-13 Executive Committee, Family and Juvenile Law Section of the AALS, 2007 to 2012
• New Scholar Committee Member, Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS)
• St. Thomas More Inn of Court Executive Committee and Treasurer, 2012 to present
• Society of Louisiana Civil Law Scholars Bartolus Society, 2006 to present
• Louisiana State Bar Association Member, 1998 to present
• Academic Fellow, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2004 to present
• Kids’ Chance Scholarship Committee, 2007 to present
• Board of Directors, Louisiana Youth Seminar, 2017 to present
• Member, Christian Brothers School Mother’s Club, 2015 to present
• Board of Directors, Archbishop Chapelle High School, 2014 to 2016
• Board Member, Cancer Crusaders, March 2004 to present
• Member of SOLACE, 2003 to present
• Member of HELP (Homeless Experience Legal Protection), October 2004 to present
• Chair, New Residents Committee of the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association, August 2009 to 2012
• Board of Directors, Archbishop Chapelle High School, 2014 to 2016
Summer School Revisited – Family Law Updates, presentation for the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans, December 2017.
Professionalism in the Legal Profession, presentation to the Tulane Business School class on Law and Order, October 2017.
Family Law Updates, presentation to the Louisiana Justice Community Conference, October 2017.
Professionalism Among Generations, panel presentation for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar, August 2017.
Kramer v. Kramer – Family Law Updates, presentation at the Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School, June 2017.
Where Are We Now?: The Post-Obergefell Era, presentation on the legislative proposals being considered by the Louisiana Law Institute at a joint program hosted by the Lambda Law Alliance and Phi Delta Phi, November 2016.
Evaluating Tomorrow’s Lawyers: Leading the Way to Learning Outcomes, presentation at the Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyer’s Conference, Denver, September 2016.
Nuts and Bolts of Family Law, presentation at the Louisiana State Bar Association Summer School, June 2016.
Diminished Capacity, panel presentation at Loyola’s Annual Estate Planning Conference, December 2015.
The Marriage Shift, presentation to the Bartolus Society, October 2015. Marriage in the Modern Age, presentation at the Louisiana Judicial Conference, October 2015.
Let the Supremes Sing!, presentation at the Second Annual Law Conference for the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, March 2015.
Marriage Equality: The State of the Law, presentation at the Faculty Colloquia, October 2014.
Effective Brief Writing and Oral Argument, presentation for the Loyola Skills Program, October 2014.
Are Experiential Modules Really Better?, presentation at Third Annual Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers Conference, September 2014.
Marriage Equality post-Windsor and Perry: The Arguments, the Litigation, The Future, presentation at the Inaugural Law Conference for the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association, March 2014.
The History of Same Sex Marriage, introduction to Professor Dale Carpenter’s presentation on “Why Conservatives Should Support Same Sex Marriage” at a joint program hosted by the Loyola Federalist Society and Lambda Law Alliance, February 2013.
A Career in Law Teaching: My Path and the Road to Law School, presentation to the 2011 inaugural class of SUIT UP! Internship Program of the Louisiana State Bar Association, July 2011.
Things Judges Look for in Selecting a Law Clerk, panel moderator at discussion hosted by the Loyola Public Interest Law Group, November, 2010.
The Use of Durable Powers of Attorneys in Light of Louisiana’s Interdiction Laws, presentation to the New Orleans Estate Planning Council, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 2009.
Family Law Pedagogy, presentation at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Palm Beach, Florida, July 2008.
The Effects of Reproductive Technologies on the Law, panel moderator at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Amelia Island, Florida, August 2007.
Recent Developments in Family Law, panel presentation at the The “Grimm” Truth of Post-Katrina Domestic Issues, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2007.
Succession Law for the Domestic Practitioner, presentation at the annual Loyola Family Law Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, December 2006.
Prescriptive Periods Post Katrina and Rita, presentation in connection with Katrina Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, October 2006.
Legal Writing for the Judicial Law Clerk, presentation at the Third Circuit Judges’ Association meeting, Lake Charles, Louisiana, August 2006.
Child Support Savings Accounts, presentation at a New Scholars Workshop at the Southeastern Association of Law Schools Conference, Palm Beach, Florida, July 2006.
A History of Conflict Resolution and the Jury System, presentation at Law Day to Louisiana’s middle and high school students hosted by The Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education, April 2005.
Inside Chambers Seminar, panel presentation at the Eastern District of Louisiana hosted by the Federal Bar Association, October 2004.
Using Blackboard for Student Self-Assessment, presentation at Harvard University to New England Legal Writing Consortium, Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 2003.
LOUISIANA SUCCESSIONS, DONATIONS AND TRUSTS: CASES AND MATERIALS (Claitor’s Publishing 2015) (with Kathryn Venturatos Lorio).
LOUISIANA CIVIL LAW TREATISE VOL. ___: Family Law (West) (forthcoming).
Marriage Equality: The “States” of the Law Post Windsor and Perry, 16 Loy. J. Pub. Int. L. 215 (2014) (with Christopher G. Otten).
A Federal Referendum: Extending Child Support for Higher Education, 58 Kan. L. Rev. 665 (2010).
Recodifying Emancipation: A Précis of the 2009 Revision of Louisiana Emancipation Law, 56 Loy. L. Rev. 135 (2010) (with Dane Ciolino).
Child Support Savings Accounts: An Innovative Approach to Child Support Enforcement, 85 N.C. L. Rev. 1155 (2007).
Using the Past to Predict the Future: Refocusing the Analysis of a Federal Dilution Claim, 73 U. Cinn. L. Rev. 945 (2005).
The Pitfalls of a Putative Marriage and the Call for a Putative Divorce, 64 La. L. Rev. 71 (2003).
Roadblock: The Fifth Circuit Further Insulates Public School Systems from § 1983 Liability, 43 Loy. L. Rev. 649 (1998).
A Primer on Kentucky’s Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit, LGBT Litigator, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Summer 2014) (with Christopher G. Otten).
Becoming a Professor of Law, The Young Lawyer by the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Division, November 2011.
Loyola University Takes Part in Bicentennial of the French Civil Code, Loyola Lawyer, Spring 2005.
