The changing face of Emory Law
Over the past 100 years, Emory Law has experienced myriad transformations. The school has gone from an incoming class of 28 in 1916 to an incoming class of 261 in 2016 (degree- seeking JD students). A once-homogenous student body now includes a population that more closely mirrors the world, with its variety of ethnicities, diversity of experiences and backgrounds, and range of political and social viewpoints.
Alongside these metamorphoses has been a change in the facilities that house the school, as well - and this is one area that will likely continue to evolve throughout the life of the law school, as the leadership attempts to meet the space needs of a growing cadre of legal scholars and learners.
At its founding as the L. Q. C. Lamar School of Law in 1916, the University provided a building for the law school. It was one of the original buildings on the Emory Quad - one that is now the Carlos Museum. The building, featuring a graceful central staircase and Georgia marble facade, was designed by the highly regarded Beaux-Arts architect Henry Hornbostel. Twenty-eight students enrolled in the fall of 1916. The top right image on this page is of the original law library reading room.
In March of 2003, Hunter Atrium was dedicated in honor of Woody O. Hunter's 12 years as the school's dean (1989-2001). This image is from the sculpture hanging on the wall within the space.
Dean Ben F. Johnson Jr. 36C 40L 05H (below, left) visited the Gambrell Hall site with E. Smythe Gambrell (center) and Henry L. Bowden 32C 34L 59H (right).
In 1972, the present day Gambrell Hall was constructed and named in honor of E. Smythe Gambrell's parents. Gambrell joined the adjunct faculty in 1924 and served on the faculty until the eve of World War II.
In 1993, Hugh MacMillan 34L pledged $2.3 million to build a law library that would meet the technological needs of the 21st-century law student. Noting that he remembered earning part of his tuition working in the law library, MacMillan was ever-present during the sentimental build, with an office overlooking the construction site.
The MacMillan Law Library building was opened in 1995. Its unique design allows for natural light to enter every level of the building, illuminating an art collection mounted throughout.
