Meet the new president of the Student Bar Association, Michaela Manley

Michaela Manley, ’25, said that ever since she was a little girl it has been her dream to help others, and that she is very fortunate to have independent and successful women in her life who inspired her to take a path of leadership. She was drawn to the legal profession because it allows her to combine her personal desire to help others with the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life.

In her second year of law school, Manley co-chaired the Community Outreach Committee with Jack Wareham. That position, she said, was a life-changing experience that taught her about the surrounding Macon community and how important it is to give back to those in need. She hopes that she can help other students have similar experiences working with Student Bar Association (SBA).

“Being elected SBA president is the highlight of my entire law school experience. It is a true honor to represent my classmates. This role means so much to me because I feel the support of my peers to make important decisions surrounding the student experience. I have the responsibility and privilege to advocate for the student body, strengthen our law school community, challenge myself and hopefully leave a positive impact on Mercer Law.”

Manley’s goal for this year is to make meaningful changes and improve the student experience. The multifaceted role of SBA president, she said, presents opportunities in several respects– leadership, camaraderie, empowerment and unity in the student body. “Having a strong team of leaders serving on SBA makes me confident that we will be able to achieve all of our goals this year.” Officers serving with Manley include Olivia Brillinger, vice president; Valerie Pallos, chief compliance officer; Paul Stegenga, treasurer; Clara Pence, secretary; Rosajunely Cartagena Ruiz, ABA chair; Allison Cartwright, honor court chief justice; Bo Wheeler, honor court prosecutor; Tanner Townsend, 2L honor court justice; Ava Jane Teasley, 3L concerns chair; Sydney Schorr and Jasmine Reeves, 3L reps; and Alexis Merritt, Nawar Khan and Dylan McDowell, 2L reps.

This summer, Manley, a Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, native who graduated from the University of South Carolina with a major in political science, served as a summer associate at Elarbee Thompson, a labor and employment firm in Atlanta. Practicing labor and employment law is her current career goal. Manley said she chose to attend Mercer Law because of its reputation for service and collaboration in the classroom. The friendships she’s formed and the mentorship she’s provided and received have been the core of her experience at Mercer – an experience where she could learn, reflect and grow. “It’s these relationships that have defined my time in law school and will continue to shape my path moving forward. The sense of community I feel at Mercer every day is a constant reminder that I made the right choice. I know I am leaving here with lifelong friendships and mentors.”