This week, the School of Law proudly welcomes 195 students who will become future leaders for state and society. These Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Master in the Study of Law students will earn their first-rate legal education from an institution that is counted among the best returns on investment in legal education. There are 175 students in the J.D. Class of 2023, and they comprise the most academically talented class in the law school's history - boasting a median LSAT score of 165 and median undergraduate GPA of 3.78. These J.D. candidates are joined by an accomplished group of 11 LL.M. and nine M.S.L. students.
The First Amendment Clinic was a principal author of an amicus brief filed in Puerto Rico's federal district court during August arguing that a recently enacted "false information" law gives journalists pause when reporting on public emergencies and burdens the public's First Amendment interest in receiving information from the press. PEN American Center, Inc., collaborated on the brief and Clinic Legal Fellow Samantha Hamilton and Clinic Legal Intern Jeffrey Murphy contributed.
The University of Georgia received the 2020 Laspau University Award, which recognizes exceptional contributions made in working with Laspau grantees. An affiliate of Harvard University, Laspau is committed to the advancement of education in Latin America and the Caribbean, believing that education is the foundation of positive change. Associate Director for International Professional Education Laura Kagel received the award on behalf of the Dean Rusk International Law Center.
The Community Health Law Partnership presented "The Future of DACA," a webinar in Spanish about recent legal developments concerning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the benefits and risks of applying. The event featured immigration attorneys Jessica M. Daman (J.D.'10) and Hannah MacNorlin, and was moderated by Community HeLP Clinic Staff Attorney Kristen Shepherd. Rising second-year law students Paige Medley and Izaan M. Rizwan helped organize the webinar and prepare the materials under the supervision of Associate Dean & Clinic Director Jason A. Cade. The webinar was viewed over 1,000 times in less than 48 hours.
The deans at six law schools across the nation have forged a unique partnership to launch an innovative digital discussion series which uses a virtual platform to engage prospective students and encourage a robust conversation about legal education. The six-session project - "Open Access: Inside Legal Education with Law School Deans" - begins in August and will feature up to 75-minute informative panels of deans and admissions leaders from the University of Georgia School of Law, Columbia Law School, the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, the University of Colorado Law School, the University of Oregon Law School and Albany Law School.