Law Commons^™

Mindfulness For Lawyers Cannot Begin Too Early, Heather Simmons

Articles, Chapters and Online Publications

Mindfulness can help law students handle the stress of Socratic method and cold calling. But the standard mindfulness panic practice, which is to stop and take three deep breaths, doesn’t work because the professor is waiting for an answer. In my ABA Student Lawyer article, I describe the following alternative: Step 1. Plant your feet firmly on the floor; Step 2. Sit up straight; Step 3. Take one deep breath; Step 4. Now restate the question. These steps could easily be modified to work in court when the judge asks a challenging question.

Class Of 2023 Commencement, Steve C. Jones

Graduation Addresses

Commencement took place on May 20, 2023 to recognize Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Master in the Study of Law graduates in the University of Georgia School of Law ceremony. The School of Law will held its commencement for the Class of 2023 in the Classic Center Grand Hall. The Honorable Steve C. Jones, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, former Georgia Superior Court judge, 1987 alumni, delivered the keynote address.

A longer set of biographical information related to the speaker was shared alongside other Commencement 2023 details via email, and is duplicated below:

"The Honorable …

40th Edith House Lecture With Lisa Monaco, Lisa Monaco

Edith House Lectures

The Georgia Association for Women Lawyers UGA Chapter hosted the 40th Edith House Lecture on April 11, 2023 featuring Lisa O. Monaco, the 39^th Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

This event was for members of the law school community only and was moderated by student leaders Madison Tucker and Kate Grier.

The Edith House Lecture is sponsored by the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers UGA Chapter (formerly the Women Law Students Association), in honor of one of the first female graduates of the School of Law. House, a native of Winder, Georgia, was co-valedictorian of the law …

American Democracy In Peril, J. Michael Luttig

Sibley Lecture Series

"American Democracy in Peril" was presented by Judge J. Michael Luttig as the 121st Sibley Lecture. Luttig served as a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from 1991 to 2006. He also has worked with Boeing and Coca-Cola in the private sector.

This event was for members of the law school community only. It took place in the Hatton Lovejoy Courtroom at the University of Georgia School of Law March 22, 2023 at 3:30 pm. A reception followed in the Davenport Rotunda.

A Body Without A Soul: Why Print Still Matters In Legal Research, Mari Cheney, Heather Simmons

Articles, Chapters and Online Publications

This article argues that print still has a place in legal research pedagogy and that some materials should still be collected in print in addition to online should the budget allow for it due to five primary reasons: (1) stability of legal information; (2) context; (3) information literacy; (4) algorithm bias; and (5) the discovery of information. Since many law library budgets are shrinking, there are creative ways for online legal publishers to make online material more print-like should libraries be unable to purchase both print and online material.

Lisp – An Historical Reminiscence, Heather Simmons

Articles, Chapters and Online Publications

Reflections on the history of the Legal Information Services to the Public group of the American Association of Law Libraries.

Evert Family Creates Fund Supporting Veterans Legal Clinic Operations, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement of Dean Rutledge that 1983 School of Law alumnus Michael Evert, his wife Angi and their daughters – Emily Evert Scanlon (B.B.A.’09), Georgia Evert O’Donoghue (B.B.A.’11) and Maggie Evert Jones (A.B.’13) – have made a major commitment to support the Veterans Legal Clinic. The establishment of the Michael and Angi Evert Family Endowment for the Veterans Legal Clinic offers perpetual support to help fund the clinic's operations.

Perryman Family Creates Scholarship To Blend Science With The Law, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement by Dean Rutledge that 1986 alumnus David G. Perryman and his wife Kirsti R. Perryman have created a unique scholarship fund that will benefit those with a degree or background in biology, genetics, chemistry, neuroscience or similar area.

School Of Law Establishes Five Scholarships With Help Of Uga Foundation Partnership, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement of Dean Rutledge of five scholarship funds that are being established through gifts from individual donors and a partnership with the University of Georgia Foundation.

Phillips-Sawyer Named Inaugural Wilson Professor In Business Law, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement by Dean Rutledge about the establishment of the Jane W. Wilson Professorship in Business Law by an anonymous donor. This professorship will be held by a scholar who is a leader in business law and who is engaged in a combination of teaching, research and public service. The inaugural holder of this position will be Laura Phillips-Sawyer, an expert in U.S. antitrust law and policy.

Goddard Foundation Bolsters Support For Veterans, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement by Dean Rutledge that the John N. Goddard Foundation has made a gift to support the University of Georgia School of Law's veterans. This money will help these former military members with bar preparation expenses, professional attire, summer work grants, books and other special costs incurred while earning their law degrees.

Matching Funds From Uga Foundation Help Create $500,000 In New Endowed Scholarships, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement of Dean Rutledge creating the Eric L. Roden Civil Justice Scholarship will benefit students who have an interest in oral advocacy and the pursuit and defense of civil justice, and the Polsinelli Simmons Family Scholarship, created by Polsinelli Chairman and Chief Executive Officer F. Chase Simmons (J.D.’97), will be designated for students enrolled at the law school who are committed to furthering the advancement of women in law.

School Of Law Achieves New Milestone, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement from Dean Rutledge that In the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings released earlier today, the School of Law now ranks 20th among the nation’s 196 fully ABA-accredited law schools (our highest ranking ever).

Record-Setting Class Enrolls At The School Of Law, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement from Dean Rutledge that the The Juris Doctor Class of 2026 boasts a record-high 169 median LSAT score and an impressive 3.83 median undergraduate GPA. These 165 students hail from 26 states and studied at 59 undergraduate institutions. More than 20 are first-generation college graduates, all of who receive financial support as well as programmatic offerings through the First-Start Scholars Program (initiated by a gift from 1982 alumna Kathelen V. Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation). We also welcomed six veterans, all of who are guaranteed financial assistance through the Butler Commitment (proudly supported by 1977 …

Memorial Fund Established In Honor Of David Ralston, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement from Dean Rutledge that the late Georgia Speaker of the House David E. Ralston is being memorialized with a scholarship bearing his name at the University of Georgia School of Law. The fund will provide support for scholarships, summer fellowships or Georgia leaders-in-residence at the School of Law, in honor of Ralston, who died in November 2022 at the age of 68.

Redefining What It Means To Be A Great National Law School, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

No abstract provided.

Uga Again Named Nation’S Best Value In Legal Education, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Announcement from Dean Rutledge that the University of Georgia School of Law was recently named the nation’s Best Value in legal education. Notably, this is the fourth time in the last six years that the school has occupied the top spot in the National Jurist ranking, including an historic three-peat at the number one position from 2018 to 2020.

The University Of Georgia School Of Law And Early Legal Education, Paul Deforest Hicks

Other Law School Publications

The history of the University of Georgia School of Law examines how developments in American legal education and local attitudes and traditions influenced its formative years. Founded in 1859 as the Lumpkin Law School, it was among the newest of 21 university law schools (those that awarded law degrees) on the eve of the Civil War.

To head the revived law school, the UGA board of trustees chose William L. Mitchell. As chairman of the board’s Prudential Committee, he was a principal architect of the 1859 reorganization of the university that included creation of the law school.

Almost all southern …

Dean's Report, 2023, Peter B. Rutledge

Dean’s Reports

"The University of Georgia School of Law is continuing to redefine what it means to be a great national public law school by offering a world-class, hands-on, purpose-driven educational experience while never surrendering our commitment to accessibility.

Throughout 2023, the law school saw many successes, including:

• Being named the nation’s Best Value in legal education for the fourth time in six years by National Jurist
• Achieving a historic ranking of #20 among the nation’s 196 fully ABA-accredited law schools by U.S. News & World Report
• Posting the #4 employment rate in the nation, with nearly 95% of the Class of …

Class Of 2022 Commencement, Lisa Godbey Wood

Graduation Addresses

The School of Law will hold its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2022 in Stegeman Coliseum.

Lisa Godbey Wood, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Georgia and 1990 alumna, will deliver the keynote address.

Civil Right Queen: Constance Baker Motley And The Struggle For Equality, Tomiko Brown- Nagin

Sibley Lecture Series

The 120th John A. Sibley Lecture was delivered by Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Daniel P.S. Paul Professor of Constitutional Law at Harvard Law School. Brown-Nagin is a member of the history department at the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In 2019, she was appointed chair of the Presidential Committee on Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Law Institute, and the American Philosophical Society, a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and a distinguished lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.

Brown-Nagin …

Anonymous Giving Helps Fulfill Vision Of Being The Best Return On Investment In Legal Education, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message sharing several large, anonymous donations to the University of Georgia School of Law.

Friends Establish Scholarship In Memory Of Randy Quintrell, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message sharing that more than 100 donors have created a scholarship named for the memory of Randall D. "Randy" Quintrell, a 1985 University of Georgia School of Law graduate.

Former Georgia Law Review Editors Make Gift Honoring Journal's Significance, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message sharing that father and son alumni Keith W. and Frederick W. "Fritz" Vaughan have made a gift supporting the work of the University of Georgia School of Law, and that the Georgia Law Review will now operate out of an office bearing their names.

2001 Graduate Supports First-Generation Students, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message announcing the creation of an endowed scholarship supporting first-generation college graduates given by 2001 University of Georgia School of Law alumnus Gardiner Thompson and his wife Kiplyn.

Former Students And Colleagues Establish Scholarship Honoring Longtime Professor Tom Eaton, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message announcing that dozens of alumni, alumnae, friends and colleagues have come together to honor Thomas A. “Tom” Eaton, Hosch Professor of Law Emeritus, with a scholarship bearing his name.

Douglas Family Pledges Additional Funds To Continue Student Support, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message announcing that John Douglas, a University of Georgia School of Law alumnus, and his wife Becky have made an additional pledge to the John and Becky Douglas Family Student Support Fund. The fund was created in 2019 to support law students with spouses and/or families.

Major Gift From Renowned Trial Attorney Jim Butler Enhances Support For Veterans, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message announcing new financial support for the University of Georgia School of Law's Veterans Legal Clinic by renowned Georgia trial lawyer and 1977 alumnus James E. "Jim" Butler Jr. The new financial support will allow the Veterans Legal Clinic to support a virtual remote outreach program, psychological and medical evaluations, and self-advocacy webinars for Georgia veterans statewide.

Uga School Of Law Advocate 2022 Issue Now Available, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message announcing the publication of the 2022 issue of the University of Georgia School of Law's Advocate magazine. This issue is subtitled "Building the law school family."

School Of Law Enrolls Most Academically Credentialed J.D. Class In History, University Of Georgia School Of Law

Dean's Messages

Dean's message celebrating the most academically credentialed J.D. class (Class of 2025) in the University of Georgia School of Law's history.