Dean's Message September 2025
This fall marks the start of my 20th year at Mercer and my 5th year as dean. Changes big and small have occurred during that time. For all the changes, one thing remains the same. We continue to honor our commitment to preparing Mercer Law students to practice with purpose as Mercer Lawyers.
This fall’s entering class is the highest credentialed class in Mercer Law history. The first-year law students come to Mercer Law from across the country to seek the practice-readiness education that is a hallmark of Mercer Law. They all share a commitment to service, which is evidenced by the three service-learning projects that marked their first day of orientation. Students had the choice to write letters to participants of programs at the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, pick up trash as part of Macon-Bibb Beautiful, or winterize the garden at the Brookdale Resource Center. The themes of service and community carried through orientation to culminate in professionalism orientation. Members of the bench and bar joined the students to ensure that the students’ legal education started with a focus on service, community, and professionalism.
As part of our focus on practice readiness, this fall we have expanded the number of available positions in our externship program to ensure that students receive practical training. In addition to expanding the number of students who are able to participate in our Civics Field Placement, we have launched the Prosecutorial Externship. The Prosecutorial Externship is a hybrid clinic experience where third-year law students and second-year law students will work in state or federal prosecutors’ offices under the joint supervision of a prosecutor and a professor.
We are also mindful that practice-readiness includes technology skills. The new Working Group on Technology, Innovation, and the Legal Profession will be gathering information about current uses of technology in the practice of law and expectations about graduate practice readiness with technology.
In addition to welcoming new and returning students, we also welcome new faculty, librarians, and members of staff. Together, we ensure that while things may change, the Mercer Law experience remains student-centered and focused on practice-readiness.
