The School of Law regretfully shares the news of the passing of Class of 2023 law student Caleb W. Thompson on November 4, 2022. As a classmate, colleague, student and friend, he was a valued member of the law school's community. Please keep his family in your hearts and prayers, and remember one of our school’s greatest strengths is our sense of community. His memorial service will be held November 14, 2022, in Pennsylvania. In January, Caleb’s family would like to hold a celebration of his life in Athens. The School of Law is working closely with them and will share the details when they become available.
The School of Law is pleased to share that once again 100% of the first-generation college graduates and military veterans enrolled in its Juris Doctor program are receiving scholarship aid. First-generation students are supported by more than 15 scholarship funds including the First-Start Scholars Program established by 1982 alumna Kathelen V. Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation. Student veterans benefit from the Butler Commitment, which was created in 2019 by renowned trial attorney and 1977 law school alumnus James E. "Jim" Butler Jr. and guarantees aid to all enrolled military veterans.
The University of Georgia School of Law defeated the University of Florida College of Law in the 2022 Florida/Georgia-Hulsey/Gambrell Moot Court Competition. Representing the School of Law in the moot court competition were third-year law students Rachel L. Byers and Jack K. Mahon. This year's win adds to UGA's outstanding performances, recording its fifth straight victory and bringing its overall tournament record to 27-11-2! Their coach was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Hosch Professor Kent Barnett.
For the ninth straight year, University of Georgia graduates lead the state in the Georgia bar exam passage rate. School of Law graduates, who sat for the July 2022 exam, posted the highest rate for first-time takers among all of the state's law schools, and almost 8% ahead of the overall first-time passage rate for Georgia law schools.
On October 14, the 2022 University of Georgia Blue Key Service Award was presented to Yvette K. Daniels, deputy director of workforce management at the Georgia Department of Public Health and president of the UGA Alumni Association; Judge William M. Ray II, U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and D. Paul Chambers Jr., retired AT&T North Georgia regional director of external affairs. Daniels and Ray are both School of Law graduates.