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  5. Arthur Crais Jr

Inspiring a Passion for Maritime Law in Future Generations of Loyola Lawyers

Professor Arthur Crais Jr.'s passion for maritime law is immediately apparent to anyone who meets him and especially to his students. He has a long and distinguished career as a maritime attorney, both in private practice and with Shell Oil Company. He retired as Senior Counsel for Shell after 33 years of handling maritime related matters for the company.

While in semi-retirement, Arthur became an adjunct professor at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2010. He teaches a variety of maritime-related seminars, including Marine Insurance; Marine Pollution; Admiralty Practice and Procedure; and Rights, Remedies and Damages in a Maritime Disaster. He has also taught a summer course on the International Law of the Sea in Greece and Panama. Arthur also serves as the chair of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal Advisory Board, which consists of local and national attorneys and law professors in the United States as well as Greece, China and Scotland. He works closely with the Journal students and has been instrumental in expanding the focus of the Journal to include environmental, aviation, water rights and space law.

Through his work at the College of Law, Arthur is helping to prepare future members of the Maritime Bar. In addition to sharing his knowledge and expertise, Arthur established the Arthur A. Crais Jr. Endowed Scholarship to recognize and support excellence in maritime law. His goal is to build the principal to a level that will be a great benefit to the recipients. Arthur chose to make his recent 2018 gift to Loyola, designated for his scholarship, through the IRA charitable rollover. He was attracted to the rollover because of the tax savings that the rollover provides and the ability to use the rollover gift to satisfy his required minimum distribution.

Donors who are 70½ years of age at the time of the gift can give up to $100,000 from their IRA directly to a qualified charity, like Loyola University, without incurring income taxes on their gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so donors who do not itemize their deductions can also benefit. Donors are able to witness their gifts at work during their lifetime.

Arthur is a New Orleans native; his family has been a part of the fabric of the city since 1792 when they arrived from Sainte Dominique. He graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. degree (with honors) in history. He was also a student at the Universität Hamburg where he studied German history and language. In 1974, he received his law degree from the Tulane University School of Law. His passion for maritime law dates back to his time in law school where he was one of the primary founders of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. Since that time, his passion for maritime law has never wavered.

Arthur enjoys teaching maritime law and other related classes at Loyola. He was inspired to establish a scholarship to help the students and to foster outstanding work in maritime law. He believes that maritime law is especially significant in Louisiana as the state's economy is heavily based on maritime commerce, the oil and gas industry and commercial fishing. Arthur stated the following regarding the importance of maritime law to the state of Louisiana:

"I want to recognize excellence in maritime and environmental law, which are especially important in a state with numerous ports and marine commerce, offshore oil development and production, and which also experiences the associated damages to the environment and the coast as a result of these activities. The BP oil spill illustrates the types of consequences and extensive environmental damage that can be caused not only to the water and fishing, but also to the coast. Moreover, climate change poses a serious threat to all coastal states and, in particular, to those located along the Gulf of Mexico. This is underscored by the predicted increase in tropical storms and their intensity. Loyola University and the College of Law are strategically located to be dedicated to educate and train students to address the scientific, economic and legal issues which arise from these fields and the region."

Loyola Law students are reaping the benefits of Arthur's expansive knowledge and experience in maritime law. He is inspiring his students' passion and excitement for this field of law and is truly shaping the next generation of Loyola maritime lawyers.

Like Arthur, you can give back to Loyola to support students and the programs you love. Contact Kevin Maney at 504-861-5442 or kmaney@loyno.edu to discover the best gift option for you.

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