Twenty-six proposals have been funded through the second round of the New Approaches to Promote Diversity and Inclusion grants program, which was announced in January 2019 by UGA President Jere W. Morehead. Among those to be funded is the School of Law's Robinson Scholars Program. All of the initiatives selected are dedicated to serving underrepresented, underserved and first-generation students at UGA.
The memory of a domestic violence victim will have a lasting impact on the University of Georgia School of Law as an anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to support the school's Family Justice Clinic and create a Distinguished Law Fellowship, both bearing the victim's name - Jane W. Wilson. Wilson, a resident of rural Northern Georgia in her early 30s, was shot and killed by her second husband of just three days during August 1976. By making this gift to the law school, the donor hopes to help "others similarly situated - in particular, victims and families who often find neither help nor hope."
Thanks to a $1 million gift, law students who have demonstrated success in the face of challenging circumstances will have assistance as they earn their law degrees from the University of Georgia School of Law. The Brian and Kim Cain Family Scholarship Fund, established by 1987 alumnus Brian P. Cain and his wife, Kim McLemore Cain, will offer two full scholarships for students who have overcome significant hardships while on their journey to law school.
The University of Georgia Foundation approved changes in leadership and board positions during its annual meeting. The board voted unanimously to elect John H. Crawford IV as chairman and elected 10 new trustees and accorded seven trustees emeritus status, including naming School of Law alumna Betsy Cox (J.D.'80) as a new trustee, alumnus Neal J. Quirk (J.D.'87) as executive vice chairman and Georgia Athletic Association Professor David E. Shipley as an ex-officio, voting trustee.
During the spring semester, the Family Justice Clinic provided nearly 2,100 hours of service to approximately 100 callers seeking assistance. The clinic, which is staffed by law students, provides low-income members of the Athens community with courtroom representation in family violence and stalking protective order cases. The students also provide advice and counsel to victims of abuse who are considering their legal options as they move towards safety and security for themselves and their children. "While the clinic's work is challenging in many ways, the students work closely together to give creative, high-quality responses to persons who would otherwise not have access to legal services," Family Justice Clinic Director Christine M. Scartz said.