Since its inception, the University of Georgia Veterans Legal Clinic has had dual goals. One is aiding former members of the military in accessing all of the benefits they are entitled to through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, while the other is giving current law students a hands-on and purpose-driven learning experience so they can become skilled legal leaders. On Veterans Day, the School of Law is pleased to share that since opening six years ago the clinic has amassed an estimated financial impact for veterans of almost $11.5 million and more than 140 law students have logged more than 33,000 hours of service.
With more than 75 first-generation college graduates currently earning their Juris Doctor at the School of Law, we are pleased to share that 100% of them are receiving aid. This cohort is currently supported by approximately 25 scholarship funds, including the First-Start Scholars Program established by 1982 alumna Kathelen V. Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation. This initiative has grown from first-generation students in the 2019 J.D. entering class receiving a scholarship to every first-gen J.D. student getting aid for the fourth year in a row.
Assistant Professor Assaf Harpaz presented “Global Tax Wars and the Shift to Source-Based Taxation” as part of the Junior/Senior SEC Workshop hosted by the University of Alabama School of Law during November.
Assistant Professor Desirée LeClercq offers insight on potential international trade changes under the new Trump administration. The Biden administration used a trade agreement negotiated under the first Trump administration, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), to empower workers in the trade sector in Mexico through targeted enforcement. When asked if President-elect Trump will abandon the “worker-centered” trade agenda of the USMCA, she said it is unlikely.
Assistant Professor Adam D. Orford was featured in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding potential changes in environmental law. The article titled “Trump unwound environmental rules before. He’s vowed to again in a second term” was written by Drew Kann and Meris Lutz and was published 11/7/2024. The article has been picked up by other news outlets.
Metadata Services & Special Collections Librarian Rachel Evans published "Information Overload: Communication Styles and Emotional Intelligence – How AI Can Assist Your Asynchronous Messages" in 29 AALL Spectrum 22 (2024) (with A. Abdullah, H. Bakken, V. Horton and J. Tubinis).
Information Technology Librarian Jason Tubinis published "Information Overload: Communication Styles and Emotional Intelligence – How AI Can Assist Your Asynchronous Messages" in 29 AALL Spectrum 22 (2024) (with A. Abdullah, H. Bakken, R. Evans and V. Horton).
Professor Pamela Foohey co-published “Debt on the Ground: The Scholarly Discourse of Bankruptcy and Financial Precarity” in 20 Annual Review of Law and Social Science 219 (2024) (peer reviewed) (with R.M. Lawless and D. Thorne).
Clinical Associate Professor & Wilson Family Justice Clinic Director Christine M. Scartz has been elected to the Equal Justice Works Alumni Advisory Council. Equal Justice Works is "the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law." The advisory council is “comprised of 21 Equal Justice Works alumni who provide counsel in support of the organization’s alumni engagement initiatives.” Scartz was a fellow with Equal Justice Works in 1995.
Regents' Professor of International Law & Woodruff Chair in International Law Diane Marie Amann co-presented “How to Write Feminist Histories of International Law,” the first part of a seven-session global online seminar series titled “Thinking Gender, History & International Law” hosted by the University of Warwick School of Law in Coventry, England, during October.
Assistant Professor Desirée LeClercq testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding the “United States Mexico Agreement (USMCA) Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 2025 Report” in Washington, D.C. during October.
Hosch Professor & Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lori A. Ringhand was featured on the German-language news service Taggesschau regarding elections procedures in Georgia. The article titled “Wahlhelfer mit ‘Panik-Knöpfen’" was reported by Von Ralf Borchard and published 10/31/2024.
Associate Dean, University Professor & Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law Usha Rodrigues was featured on Law360 regarding recently being named the next dean of the School of Law. The article titled “Georgia Law School Elevates Professor As New Dean” was written by Emily Johnson and published 11/1/2024.
Associate Professor Jonathan Peters was featured in Slate regarding phone call recording laws. The article titled "Your iPhone Can Now Record Phone Calls. But There's a Big Catch." was written by Scott Nover and published 10/31/24.
Hosch Professor & Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Lori A. Ringhand was featured on WMAZ, Macon's CBS affiliate, regarding campaign canvassers. The segment titled "Yes, it is legal for campaigns to pay people to make calls about a candidate" was reported by Kamilah Williams and published 10/30/24.
Congratulations to third-year law students Paige M. Batten and Natalya D. Moody for capturing the trophy in the 2024 Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition. Their win adds to UGA's outstanding performances in this annual University of Georgia/University of Florida courtroom battle and brings our school’s overall tournament record to 28-12-2! The team was coached by Director of Advocacy Kellie Casey and 2022 alumnus Cole Harper.
Usha R. Rodrigues, associate dean for faculty development, M.E. Kilpatrick Chair of Corporate Finance and Securities Law and University Professor, has been named the next dean of the University of Georgia School of Law. She will begin her new role on Jan. 1, 2025, when Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge steps down as dean after 10 years of service.
Since January 1 of this year, the Jane W. Wilson Family Justice Clinic has assisted 472 victims of domestic violence and stalking who were seeking representation and advice. Under the leadership of Clinical Associate Professor and Wilson Family Justice Clinic Director Christine M. Scartz, law students enrolled in the clinic have logged more than 2,400 hours and represented victims in 72 protective order cases and 14 other domestic relations cases such as divorce, legitimation and name change during 2024.
Stembler Family Distinguished Professor in Business Law Christopher M. Bruner published “Developments and Debates on Corporate Sustainability in the US” in European Company Case Law in October.
Congratulations to LL.M. student Samuel Kuo who was selected as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. CIArb is a global professional organization with more than 15,000 members worldwide that represents the interests of alternative dispute resolution practitioners.