James E. Butler Scholarship

The Butler Scholarship is open to Georgia Law students pursuing a J.D. degree who have a demonstrated record of academic excellence, significant personal achievement, and a strong desire and commitment to practice public interest law and to serve the public good.  The scholarship provides for annual tuition.

The fund was established in 2005 by a generous gift from James E. Butler, a 1977 graduate of Georgia Law, who is a founding partner of the law firm Butler, Wooten & Fryhofer and who has earned a reputation as one of the best plantiffs’ lawyers in the country.  He has tried over 140 civil cases to verdict.

Mr. Butler earned an A.B. degree in journalism from the University of Georgia in 1972.  Having worked as a newspaper reporter since the age of 15 and through college, he then owned a construction company in Cumming, Georgia before starting law school in the fall of 1974.  While a law student, he was a Woodruff Scholar all three years.  Additionally, he served on the editorial board of the Georgia Law Review and was active in the school’s moot court program.  Mr. Butler won the Russell First Year as well as the Talmadge Second Year Moot Court Competitions.  He was a member of the school’s National Moot Court team and was named Best Oralist at the Southern Moot Court Competition.

Application Procedure
Individuals must submit an application for admission by February 1 and all materials necessary to complete the file, including the LSDAS Law School Report, must be received by the School of Law Admissions Office by February 15.  In addition, a letter of interest accompanied by a current resume must be received by February 15.  In the letter of interest, applicants should indicate how they meet or exceed the stated qualifications for the scholarship.  Up to two letters of support may be submitted by individuals who specifically address the applicant’s qualifications for consideration for the James E. Butler Scholarship.  The letter of interest and letters of support should be sent to the Director of Law Admissions at the following address:

    Director of Law Admissions
    University of Georgia School of Law
    225 Herty Drive
    Athens, GA 30602-6012