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

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.