Congratulations to third-year students Shelby J. Bensinger, Grace B. Callanan, Blake A. Reed and Ashton T. Williams who finished as regional semifinalists in the American Association for Justice National Student Trial Advocacy Competition recently. The AAJ sponsors this annual competition to help law students develop and practice their trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench.
Diane Marie Amann, holder of the Emily and Ernest Woodruff Chair in International Law at the University of Georgia School of Law, was recently elected to the Council on Foreign Relations. The council is an independent, nonpartisan organization and thinktank that is composed of the most prominent foreign policy leaders, including top government officials, renowned scholars, business executives, acclaimed journalists, prominent lawyers and distinguished nonprofit professionals.
Third-year student Mollie M. Fiero argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in a Fair Housing Act case on behalf of a disabled military veteran. The questions presented were whether the veteran had standing to sue and whether he had stated a claim under the Act. Third-year student Jason N. Sigalos helped write the briefs.
The University of Georgia has been named the top tier one research institution in the nation in Victory Media's Military Friendly Schools 2021 rankings. The designation recognizes the university for its outstanding commitment to and programs for student veterans and their families. UGA was last named the top institution in 2017 and has ranked in the top three each year since.
Thanks to a recent $200,000 gift from the Callaway Foundation, the University of Georgia School of Law will expand the provision of legal services through its experiential learning programs, clinics and externships to rural and legally underserved communities in the Peach State. In addition, the school envisions scheduling "local legal service days" in Georgia counties, beginning with Troup County this summer.