The Emory Law Professionalism Program prepares students for a legal career from the very beginning of their law school experience. Conducted under the auspices of the Georgia Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, the mandatory program orients first-year and transfer juris doctor (JD) students and master of laws (LLM) students to the higher values to which the profession holds itself.
Emory Law guides students in identifying and making sound judgments about issues they will encounter during law school and in practice, discerning when something falls outside the bounds of acceptable professional conduct, how these situations can be handled professionally, and the practical consequences of failing to do so. Practicing attorneys, judges, and Emory Law's esteemed faculty engage in the Professionalism Program as facilitators.
Participate in Emory's Professionalism Program »
1L Sessions
Every August and January at Emory, students meet in small groups with facilitators (a faculty member, a practitioner, and a judge) to discuss two sets of hypothetical situations. The focus in August is on law school, while the January session focuses on internships or practice.
Upper Level Class
A special session of the upper-level Legal Profession class revisits the values brought out in the first two group discussion sessions - Excellence, Integrity, Respect, and Service. Before class, students submit essays about how they have seen those values exemplified, positively or negatively, in their work or internship experiences in law school. Then they discuss real-world professionalism dilemmas during class.
Professor Derrick Howard, Director of Professionalism and Externship Programs
Professionalism Group Leaders including leading attorneys and judges from Georgia preparing to train students for semi-annual event.
2023 Emory Law Professionalism Program training session
2023 Emory Law Professionalism Program training session
Judge Glenda Hatchett 77L addressing Emory Law students at the annual swearing in ceremony in Tull Auditorium.
Judge Glenda Hatchett addressing Emory Law students at the annual swearing in ceremony in Tull Auditorium
Judge Glenda Hatchett addressing students outside Emory Law on the Bacardi Plaza
Professor Jim Thompson of the Emory Law Externship Program mingling with 1Ls at the Professionalism Training Day reception
Judge Glenda Hatchett and Dean Mary Anne Bobinski mingling with Emory Law 1Ls at the Professionalism Day reception
Judge Glenda Hatchett mingling with Emory Law 1Ls at the Professionalism Training Day reception
Judge Glenda Hatchett connecting with Emory Law Woodruff Fellow Greear Webb 25L
Judge Glenda Hatchett and Professionalism Director Derrick Howard mingling with Emory Law 1Ls at the Professionalism Day reception
Judge Glenda Hatchett and Professionalism Director Derrick Howard mingling with Emory Law 1Ls at the Professionalism Day reception
Judge Glenda Hatchett, Dean Mary Anne Bobinski, and Professionalism Director Derrick Howard mingling with Emory Law 1Ls at the Professionalism Day reception
Externship Program Office Staff
Derrick Howard
Professor of Practice and Director, Externship Program and Professionalism Program
Franklin Lebo
Program Coordinator, Externship Program and Professionalism Program