Nine University of Georgia faculty and staff are being honored for exemplary service to the state during 2019-2020. The School of Law's Associate Dean for Clinical Programs and Experiential Learning Eleanor "Ellie" Lanier is one of five recipients of the Walter Barnard Hill Award for Distinguished Achievement in Public Service and Outreach. This honor is named for Chancellor Walter Barnard Hill, who led UGA from 1899 to 1905 and was a pioneer who helped define the university's modern public service and outreach mission.
A School of Law remote pop-up legal clinic recently assisted more than 60 local businesses with understanding the new Paycheck Protection Program, which is an unprecedented forgivable loan initiative authorized by the federal government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Additionally more than 20 of those businesses received virtual one-on-one direct-service legal counseling.
Are you one of the many experiencing conflicts related to sheltering in place? These disputes can be between family members, partners and roommates or even between tenants and landlords. Would it help to have an independent party help guide you to a resolution? The University of Georgia School of Law's Mediation Practicum has qualified, registered mediators who can assist free of charge. This confidential service is available by calling (706) 542-5213.
Congratulations to third-year student Shivani H. Patel for being selected as a Georgia Association for Women Lawyers scholarship winner. GAWL uses scholarships to "recognize women law students who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and an aptitude for leadership and philanthropy; promote excellence in legal studies by providing assistance to deserving students; and advance the missions of both the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers and the GAWL Foundation."
Congratulations to third-year students Andrew J. "Andy" Klemm and Savannah B. Phinney who won the Best Draft Award and finished as first runner-up for their representation of a buyer in a complex M&A transaction at the first-ever virtual transactional law negotiation competition, which was originally scheduled to be held at the University of Denver recently. The pair was assisted by third-year student Ethan J. Rode.