Hannah Frantz is pursuing the change she wants to see in the world

Like millions of other students, Hannah Frantz, ’25, entered her first year of college with spirit, enthusiasm, and a plan to meet her academic goals. As a freshman at Florida State University in 2018, she was majoring in physics and interested in solving problems and explaining phenomena she couldn’t see with the naked eye.

Halfway through her undergraduate studies, the pandemic hit, classes became remote, Frantz lost passion for her chosen profession, and the trajectory of her educational journey took a completely different path. Though her love for physics and mathematics remained, she questioned whether or not she could enjoy a career in the field.

Topics in national security and international affairs have interested Frantz since her childhood when she would watch local, national, and international news staying current on global issues and events. At Florida State, she began taking courses related to national security and terrorism and her curiosity was piqued. She delved into subjects from war to humanitarian crises. She saw the world as an everchanging complex stage of narratives and stories and found interest again in analyzing facts and current developments to explain events that shape our society.

“Where I once saw myself studying the laws of physics,” she said, “I now see myself studying the laws which govern our society and the world. Where I once sought to study the behavior of neutrons within the theories of physics, I now hope to study human issues through the laws of man. With a legal education, I can pursue the change I want to see in the world.”

Frantz graduated from Florida State in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a concentration in public administration and minors in physics and mathematics. She also earned a special certificate in United States Intelligence Studies.

This past summer, as a rising 3L, Frantz held an internship within the Robins Air Force Base Legal Assistance office. Circulating through a variety of legal divisions, including the labor, environmental, civil, and military justice departments, she served alongside established professionals who are committed to protecting national security and those who serve. From analyzing employee complaints and discharges, reviewing proposed base improvement projects with environmental implications, participating in the construction of wills for civilian and military personnel, and researching criminal charges in civilian and military contexts, she feels she had a well-rounded experience working in the military sector.

The experience has guided her interest toward a career as a criminal prosecutor.

During her internship, Frantz says she was honored to work with Mercer Law alumnus Major Wesley Watts, ’22, as he led the Military Justice department of Robins AFB. In August, Watts was reassigned as a Special Trial Counsel for the Department of the Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.

Frantz said, “Major Watts is a confident and compassionate leader as well as a zealous advocate for the U.S. Air Force. He encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity to learn this summer and provided advice for me as I finish my legal education.”

This semester, Frantz is working as a law clerk for the district attorney for Macon Judicial Circuit. Already she has prepared and presented cases for a grand jury and looks forward to participating in the judicial process promoting justice and taking on any tasks and challenges that come with having been sworn in under the Student Practice Act.

In addition to her academic responsibilities, Frantz is a student ambassador for the Law School and pioneered the SBA social media chair position. She has taken an active role in the SBA Community Outreach Committee by volunteering with organizations, including Ronald McDonald Charity House, Habitat for Humanity, and Middle Georgia Food Bank. As the assistant fall philanthropy chair for the Association for Women Law Students, she aided in the planning and management of fundraising events including the annual Lauren Giddings 5K. Plus, being a class representative of the National Security Law Society “has given me the chance to learn from individuals in the national security field and share my own experiences.”

One unique experience Frantz enjoyed was participating in Baylor’s Academy of the Advocate in St. Andrews, Scotland. The Academy is a result of a unique partnership between Baylor University and the University of St. Andrews, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world. Students embark on a two-week trial and appellate advocacy experience led by some of the finest civil trial lawyers, criminal prosecutors, sitting judges, and renowned advocacy professors in America.

According to Frantz, the best thing about Mercer Law School is the dedicated faculty members who constantly strive to inspire students. “Combining academic and professional experiences, the professors I have learned under have taught me valuable skills I will carry into my legal career.”