---
title: HR 356. Georgia State University College of Law; paragon of excellence in clinical legal education in and beyond the State of Georgia; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr356
cite_as: HR 356, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr356
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr356.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr356/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70683
date: 2025-02-21
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr357.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr356.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 356
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-21
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Samuel Park
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Trey Kelley
  - Charles Martin
  - Jan Jones
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR356/2025
upstream_id: 1979997
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - legal education
  - Georgia State University
  - clinical law programs
  - access to justice
---

# HR 356. Georgia State University College of Law; paragon of excellence in clinical legal education in and beyond the State of Georgia; commend

## Text

House Resolution 356
By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Hugley of the 141st, Kelley of the 16th, Martin of the
49th, and Jones of the 47th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Georgia State University College of Law for being a paragon of excellence
in clinical legal education in and beyond the State of Georgia and commending its respective
clinics for their towering accomplishments; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, the Georgia State University College of Law has committed itself to the highest
caliber of legal education since opening its doors to students in 1982; and
WHEREAS, the Georgia State University College of Law maintains a student-centered
curriculum by fusing theory and practice; and
WHEREAS, clinical legal training is a component of legal education that gives students early
practical experience under the instruction of professors and the guidance of supervising
attorneys; and
WHEREAS, a stated goal of the student practice rule adopted and promulgated by the
Georgia Supreme Court is to help meet the legal needs of low-to-moderate-income Georgians
who are unable to afford vital legal services; and
WHEREAS, the College of Law offers its students this experiential learning opportunity
through four in-house clinics and three off-site clinics that concentrate on legal needs relating
to health, income tax assistance, disability benefits, and business development; and
WHEREAS, more than $1,000,000 in benefits have been obtained by the Health Law
Partnership Clinic for children and families in need of both medical and legal services,
garnering nationwide attention as the highest-ranked health clinic in the country; and
WHEREAS, the Phillip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic has recovered in excess of
$55,000 in refunds for more than 200 low-income Georgians during the post-audit stage of
their Internal Revenue Service disputes; and
WHEREAS, the Immigration Clinic is the first of its kind in Georgia and one of the few in
the Southeastern United States that offers representation for low-income individuals
appearing before immigration courts and in detention proceedings; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development and Entrepreneurship Clinic is the only in-house,
law-school-based transactional law clinic in metropolitan Atlanta with a service emphasis
on small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and grassroots coalitions; and
WHEREAS, through the Mediation Clinic, students gain invaluable skills relating to
alternative dispute resolution; and
WHEREAS, student practitioners in the Capital Defender Clinic provide immeasurable
assistance to the Office of the Georgia Capital Defender in representing defendants who face
the death penalty; and
WHEREAS, low-income children and adults with disabilities benefit immeasurably from the
crucial legal advocacy students furnish as part of the Olmstead Disability Clinic; and
WHEREAS, each of these clinics offered by the Georgia State University College of Law
is an unmatched testament to the State of Georgia's commitment to a brighter and more just
future for all its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the College of Law's clinical legal education offerings are ranked among the
highest in the nation, consistently surpassing the standards of excellence and service; and
WHEREAS, it is both fitting and proper to acknowledge the transformative impact each of
these clinics has on the lives of Georgians, to celebrate the sustained focus and dedication
of all of the students and faculty members, and to express gratitude for the work that reflects
favorably upon this state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body celebrate, commend, and congratulate the clinical legal education
program at the Georgia State University College of Law for its towering accomplishments,
for its steadfast dedication to the ideals of access to justice, and for its unwavering
commitment to experiential learning for its students.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Interim
Dean Courtney L. Anderson and to the directors of each of the respective clinics listed
herein.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution honors the Georgia State University College of Law and its clinical legal education programs for providing hands-on legal training and services to low-income Georgians.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing the Georgia State University College of Law for its clinical legal education programs. It does not change any law. The resolution describes the college's history since 1982 and highlights seven clinics: the Health Law Partnership Clinic, the Phillip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic, the Immigration Clinic, the Community Development and Entrepreneurship Clinic, the Mediation Clinic, the Capital Defender Clinic, and the Olmstead Disability Clinic.
The resolution states these clinics have provided direct services such as recovering money for low-income taxpayers and representing immigrants and capital defense clients. It formally commends the program and directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the interim dean and clinic directors.

### What it does

- Formally commends the Georgia State University College of Law's clinical legal education program for its work and achievements.
- Recognizes seven specific clinics by name and describes the legal services each provides to Georgians.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the interim dean and clinic directors.
- Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a symbolic statement of praise.

### Who it affects

The Georgia State University College of Law, its interim dean, faculty, and students are named directly. The resolution also references low-income Georgians, immigrants, capital defense clients, and people with disabilities who receive services through the college's clinics.

### Why it matters

Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it does not change funding, rules, or rights for anyone. Its practical effect is limited to formal recognition and distribution of copies to the college's leadership and clinic directors.

### Key provisions

- The resolution's whereas clauses describe the college's history since 1982 and its four in-house and three off-site legal clinics.
- It cites specific results, including more than $1,000,000 in benefits obtained by the Health Law Partnership Clinic and over $55,000 in tax refunds recovered by the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.
- The resolved clause has the House of Representatives formally celebrate and commend the clinical program.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to Interim Dean Courtney L. Anderson and the clinic directors.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-21)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-21)
- Sponsors: Samuel Park, Carolyn Hugley, Trey Kelley, Charles Martin, Jan Jones
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70683

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr356.md?full=1