The School of Law is pleased to welcome two new faculty members this fall – Assistant Professors Zohra Ahmed and Adam D. Orford. Ahmed will teach Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law and a seminar titled Crime and Punishment, while Orford will teach Environmental Law, Renewal Energy Law and Policy, and a Climate Law seminar.
As students prepare to return for the fall semester, the University of Georgia is strengthening its measures to protect the university community from the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 virus. These steps include new incentives to encourage vaccinations, continuation of COVID-19 testing, mandatory reporting of cases via DawgCheck, special cleaning and disinfection protocols that are now standard operating procedures, and major HVAC system improvements that will be ongoing. Of all these measures, getting vaccinated is paramount.
The School of Law distributed approximately $305,000 to roughly 95 students pursuing 2021 summer fellowships, which provide essential hands-on learning and involve legal work in government, judicial and public interest positions. This represents a 16% increase in summer fellowship dollars over last year’s record high of $263,000 and an approximately 450% increase over the last five years thanks to generous donations from graduates and friends.
The 2020-21 advocacy season was a success with two national titles secured in the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge and the National Online Moot Court Competition. The school also won the coveted Intrastate Moot Court and the Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court competitions in addition to finishing as finalists in the Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship and as national semifinalists in the prestigious National Moot Court Competition. These wins bring the law school's five-year tally to nine national titles, six regional crowns and three state trophies.
During the 2020-21 academic year, more than 450 School of Law students enrolled in clinical and field placement programs and provided approximately 94,000 uncompensated service hours. More than 26,500 of those hours occurred under the direct supervision of law school faculty members directing in-house clinical programs - all of which provide access to justice services for underrepresented communities and individuals.