Public Interest

Two of Emory Law’s most recent graduates who designed projects to help citizens with little or no access to legal services have earned fellowships from Equal Justice Works.

One of the law school’s signature events, the Emory Public Interest Committee’s (EPIC) Inspiration Awards,

On Tuesday, February 5, 2019, Emory University School of Law hosted the 23rd annual Emory Public Interest Committee's (EPIC) Inspiration Awards, which honored two community members and an Emory Law graduate for exceptional public service.

On February 5, Emory Law hosted the 23rd annual Emory Public Interest Committee's (EPIC) Inspiration Awards.

Emory Law and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints partnered to launch Community Legal Clinic - an organization handling immigration issues at no cost.

A new, free immigration law clinic has launched in the Atlanta area, thanks to a partnership between Emory Law, local immigration attorneys and the Mormon Church. Emory Law students perform intake and then route advice-seekers to volunteer lawyers for on-the-spot consultations about their immigration questions. More-complex cases go to local firms or nonprofits. "We have substantial needs here, and the Atlanta Immigration Court is not so favorable to immigrants," said Assistant Dean for Public Service Rita Sheffey.

Technology companies depend on professionals from foreign countries to remain innovative and competitive, but experts say the difficulty such professionals face in navigating the immigration system and securing green cards is contributing to a so-called reverse brain drain, with talented engineers leaving the US and returning to work in their home countries, including India and China.

After thirty-seven years, Frank S. Alexander, Sam Nunn Professor of Law and founding director of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, will conclude his teaching career at Emory Law at the end of this academic year.

The Emory Public Interest Committee has announced the recipients of the 22nd EPIC Inspiration Awards. EPIC annually honors a student and three community members for their outstanding contributions to public service.

The State Bar of Georgia's innovative Lawyers for Equal Justice incubator program offers millennial attorneys an opportunity to launch their own firms and earn a living while serving a different market--moderate-income people--where there is a huge unmet demand for legal services. It graduated its first class of law firm proprietors recently. Emory Law alumni are among both the graduates and the program's organizers.

Emory Public Interest Committee (EPIC) honored a student and three community members for their outstanding contributions to public service.

See a photo slideshow from the Emory Public Interest Committee's Inspiration Awards, featuring honorees from EPIC's 20th annual awards ceremony held at Emory Law Feb. 2. The awards and honorees are: Edward J. "Jack" Hardin, founding partner, Rogers & Hardin LLP (Lifetime Commitment to Public Service Award); Sally Quillian Yates, deputy attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice (Outstanding Leadership in the Public Interest Award); The Hon. Peggy H. Walker, chief judge, Juvenile Court of Douglas County (Unsung Devotion to Those Most in Need Award); and, Hana Shatila16L (3L Outstanding Commitment to Public Service Award).

Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates will be honored for her public interest work as part of Emory University School of Law's annual EPIC Inspiration Awards. Also receiving awards are Edward J. "Jack" Hardin, The Honorable Peggy H. Walker, and Hana Shatila 16L.

The latest issue of Emory Lawyer magazine is now available online.

Aloke Chakravarty 97L spoke at this year's Welcome Week convocation about how Emory Law inspired him to make a difference.

The Atlanta Bar Association commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act with an historic conversation and panel discussion featuring five prominent attorneys who share an interest in voting rights cases, including Georgia's attorney general, Sam Olens 83L.

Turner Environmental Law Clinic is advocating on behalf of multiple organizations to support sustainable agriculture initiatives.

Justice Kennedy eloquently expressed the significance of marriage to the LGBT community, and with today's decision "the doors to marriage opened for gays and lesbians across the country," says Emory Law professor Tim Holbrook for CNN. "This is a historic moment that brings much joy and tears to LGBT people all across America."

Emory Law's Turner Environmental Law Clinic is challenging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's regulation (the "Continued Storage Rule") that addresses nuclear waste storage.

Rita A. Sheffey, assistant dean for public service at the Emory University School of Law, was installed as president-elect of the 47,000-member State Bar of Georgia on June 20 during the organization's Annual Meeting.

Rita Sheffey, Emory Law's assistant dean for public service, received the Ben F. Johnson Jr. Public Service Award from Georgia State University College of Law last night. The award is given each year to a Georgia attorney whose accomplishments reflect selfless public service.

Laura Rodriguez 15L has been appointed as one of 25 Immigrant Justice Corps Fellows for the 2015 class.

Emory Law received a $1.5 million donation to help establish a John Lewis Chair in Civil Rights and Social Justice.

On Jan. 20 of this year, I joined the Emory University School of Law as the first assistant dean for public service and knew I had found my calling. In this role, I work every day to connect with law students and colleagues to nurture the desire to help people. I hope to show our students the many different ways a lawyer can do that, regardless of practice and at different times in one's career.

General John F. Kelly, Commander of the U. S. Southern Command, visited Emory University School of Law to offer insight on the role of law in military and security operations.

The Turner Environmental Law Clinic and GreenLaw hosted noted toxic tort attorney Jan Schlictmann and environmental attorney Rick Kuykendall on February 10, 2015.

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, visited Emory Law Thursday, February 5.

EPIC recognized the dedication to public service of three exemplary leaders at its 19th annual Inspiration Awards ceremony

Emory Law's legal clinics and externship programs engage students in all aspects of the legal process.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has appointed Melissa Carter to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.

Rita Sheffey has been named Emory Law's assistant dean for public service.

Torture is illegal during wartime, peacetime, counterterrorism operations and any other circumstances.

The Supreme Court of Georgia held a special session of oral arguments at Emory University School of Law on November 7.

The Fulton County (Atlanta) Daily Report featured a winning decision in the case of an Emory Law Juvenile Defender Clinic client.

The Volunteer Clinic for Veterans has received the Law Group Excellence in Award to Justice award from the Pro Bono Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

Turner Environmental Law Clinic students, Jennifer Lamb and Michael Arwood, presented the Atlanta Public School Board with a toolkit they prepared on behalf of Georgia Organics and Atlanta Farm to Schoo

When Sue McAvoy retires later this summer, the legacy of her 20-year career will be its immense impact on the public interest community in Atlanta and throughout the country. Eighteen years ago, she started the Emory Public Interest Committee Inspiration Awards, which celebrate lawyers who do extraordinary work. The event raises funds to underwrite summer public interest jobs for up to 50 law students annually.

In this "live client clinic," students take part in all aspects of civil litigation.

Emory Law Professor Barbara Bennett Woodhouse viewed challenges to the Affordable Care Act in terms of harm to children.

Urska Velikonja conducts an academic study that tracks the money investors have received from the Securities and Exchange Commission's efforts to punish frauds and other financial crimes.

An-Na'im argues that American Muslims should engage in the civil and political life of the country as citizens informed by their faith, rather than as a community separated by religion.

Dorothy Brown weighs in on how desegregation has progressed in America since the Civil Rights Movement

Forty four states have Sore Loser Laws - laws that prevent losers in primaries from running in general elections

Ledbetter will present the keynote address at the annual Legal Association for Women Students conference titled, "Will Leaning In Shatter the Glass Ceiling?"

An opinion piece by Barton Child Law and Policy Center Director Melissa Carter

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder will be the topic of a public forum at Emory University School of Law Tuesday, Nov. 12.

J. Martin Bunt, a student at Emory University School of Law, received the 19th Annual PSJD Pro Bono Publico Award

Students from the Emory Law Barton Child Law and Policy Center Appeal for Youth Clinic drafted the appeal and argued the case.

Turner Environmental Law Clinic filed FOIA requests with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Office of Management and Budget

Turner Clinic petitioned NRC re revision of Waste Confidence Decision.

Thirty-six Emory Law students worked for the public good in organizations across the United States.

Court handed down its decision in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, Birth Father and the Cherokee Nation.

On June 24, 2013, the Supreme Court handed down two 5-4 decisions in employment discrimination cases.

Emory Law students worked on the passage of a landmark overhaul of Georgia juvenile code.

The Supreme Court issued its opinion in Emory Law ELLSCAP case, Bullock v. BankChampaign.

Emory Law students' public service work was recognized in April.

Robert Schapiro on California's Proposition 8

Melissa Carter, director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center, discusses a proposal to overhaul Georgia¿s juvenile justice system that has passed the House and is expected to be before the Senate this week.

Emory Law amicus brief says same-sex marriage bans harshly affect children.

Dean Robert Schapiro assesses the Supreme Court's rulings on two same-sex marriage cases that could become legal landmarks.

Emory Law's Immigration Law Society will host a fundraiser for asylum seekers.

Emory Law professor Timothy Holbrook filed a Supreme Court Brief supporting same-sex marital rights.

Three Atlanta attorneys known for their passion and commitment to public interest law were honored by the Emory Public Interest Committee.

Emory Law's Turner Environmental Law Clinic filed comments on behalf of environmental groups concerned that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is rushing a study.

Turner Environmental Law Clinic students challenged a license issued by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed the Land Bank Act, legislation informed by the research of Emory Law Professor Frank Alexander.