Paul (JD '01) &
Ansley (JD '01) Threlkeld
1. What brought you both to the University of Georgia?
Ansley: My grandfather, father and uncle had all graduated from UGA Law and I knew I could get a first-class, affordable legal education. The combination of family legacy and value were unbeatable.
Paul: My family has strong, serious ties to UGA. Three of my four grandparents attended Georgia, both of my parents attended Georgia, as did my older sister. We love the University and Athens. I loved my four years of undergraduate school. I was accepted to other great law schools, but when my acceptance to UGA arrived, there wasn't an ounce of hesitation on my part. In addition, I had the opportunity to get to know many great lawyers who graduated from UGA Law and their example was quite inspiring.
2. What is your favorite UGA memory?
Ansley: Being done with 1L Fall Semester exams! And being a part of Section "T;" I still love Professor Sentell.
Paul: Putting a bookshelf in front of Gardiner Thompson's bedroom door so that he couldn't get out to his on-campus interview. Or covering Gardiner's door in a sheet of practice Bar Exam pages with "motivational" slogans written all over them. Gardiner was quite intense in those days and I'm sure he looks back on these memories with great appreciation.
3. Paul, what led you to focus your undergraduate studies on journalism/public relations?
Paul: I always loved to read and write. I love news and staying informed. I thoroughly enjoyed the First Amendment classes and the crisis management classes. They have been very helpful to me in my career.
4. What inspired your decision to attend law school?
Ansley: My family legacy of service and effective representation. I saw at an early age, through travel and my upbringing, how a law degree can give voice to the voiceless.
Paul: I had the opportunity to get to know some good lawyers through high school and undergraduate school. My uncle was a lawyer in my hometown, Vidalia. Growing up, a local businessman, who I respect very much, told me that he relied on my uncle for representation because "his integrity is not for sale." That conversation has stuck with me with me to this day.
5. Were you involved in any on-campus organizations?
Ansley: Student Bar Association; The Georgia League; Blue Key; Mock Trial; Order of the Barristers.
Paul: Kappa Alpha; Interfraternity Council; Student Judiciary; Blue Key; Gridiron; University Council; The Georgia League.
6. What do you each do today?
Ansley: Since leaving traditional law practice, I have advocated and lobbied for the business community here in Savannah. Right now I am taking some time to be with our three children who are in 4th, 7th, and 9th grades. One of the things I appreciate about my law degree is that its utility will allow me to jump back in the arena, probably consulting, after I spend some much needed time with our children.
Paul: Put out fires, and start a few.
7. What does y
our typical day look like?
Paul: No day is typical. In addition to my litigation practice, I am the outside general counsel to the Georgia Ports Authority. My practice is a little unusual. Luckily, I have great lawyers around me here at Oliver Maner who I rely on every day. It's the variety of cases and the non-typical issues and, yes, sometimes crises, that make law practice exciting. Thinking through problems, advising clients and most-importantly, advocating for clients is why lawyers do what they do.
8. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Paul: Getting good results for my clients. The satisfaction of hard work, diligence and attention to detail is ample reward when cases are over, whether won at trial or resolved appropriately.
9. How do you feel UGA School of Law prepared you for your career?
Ansley: The great friends and network of contacts have been immeasurable. I rely on those friends and associates from law school every day, both professionally and personally. Also, the professors at the law school have remained mentors and sounding boards and fountains of great advice.
Paul: The law school (the faculty) prepared me for a career and world of thinking through problems and having the confidence to make decisions. The analytical skills taught in law school are crucial to good lawyering. Every case or issue will not be the same but you have to be able to synthesize it and analyze it.
10. Why do you choose to give back to the law school?
Both: Our law school experience was very meaningful to us. The school, its faculty, our friends have been an important part of eac
h of us individually and as a couple (we met at 1L orientation). We also feel the law school does an excellent job teaching people how to practice law the right way for the right reasons and otherwise use a law degree in a fulfilling, productive way.
11. You have been giving to the law school loyally since 2002, supporting several areas within the law school -- including the annual Law School Fund, Judge B. Avant Edenfield Scholarship, R. Perry Sentell Jr. Scholarship, Judge Charles B. Mikell Jr. Scholarship, and the Anne Proffitt Dupre Scholarship. What impact do you hope your gifts will have on current law school students?
Both: We understand that state support alone cannot fund the law school's mission on the level needed to keep UGA a top-tier law school. We can only hope that our support plays some small role in assisting the law school in enhancing the experience for its students. Well-educated, prepared graduates can do a world of good. (By the way, we need more lawyers in the legislature!)
12. Is there a specific cause you are most passionate about?
Both: We think the advocacy programs and clinical programs are crucial. No matter what area of practice you enter, at some point you will need to advocate for someone or some issue. The clinical programs teach real-word lawyering skills: negotiation, professionalism, advocacy, pro bono. We are concerned about some aspects of law practice that entice advertising, high-volume, non-personal representation. We know the School of Law teaches people how to be real lawyers.
13. Why did you choose to join the Law School Alumni Council? What do you hope to achieve through this group?
Paul: I thought it was time to re-engage with the law school, to see how things have changed for the better, to meet students, to learn how legal education is changing the profession. I am inspired and energized every time I am in Athens for a meeting. I hope the Law School Alumni Council will engage with the broader law school alumni community and show the "rest of the gang" how our amazing school keeps getting better.