Walker Lee, ’24, named Associate Director of Trial Advocacy
Effective January 15, 2026, Walker Lee, ’24 returned to Mercer Law School as associate director of trial advocacy. In this role, he will support Mercer’s award-winning advocacy program. His responsibilities include supervising our nationally-ranked competition teams and teaching advocacy-related courses.
“I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the associate director of trial advocacy,” Lee said. “Trial advocacy shaped my legal education, and while I valued my time in practice, I’m excited to give back by working directly with students as they develop their voices in the courtroom. I look forward to mentoring them and helping turn hard work into confidence, professionalism, and effective advocacy.”
Since graduating from Mercer Law, Lee has remained closely connected to the school as an alumni coach for the Advocacy program and a mentor to student competitors. He successfully coached teams at the 2025 Sharkbeach Showdown (semifinalist), the 2025 American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Regional Competition (champions), and the 2025 William Daniel National Mock Trial Competition (champions). In his new role, Lee will work alongside Assistant Dean of Advocacy Katie Powers, ’09 and Lauren James, ’21, who was recently promoted to director of advocacy.
As a Mercer Law student, Lee was heavily involved in advocacy competitions and student leadership. He competed in six mock trial competitions and, along with co-counsel Willie Sizemore and Wood Smith, won the 2023 William Daniel National Mock Trial Competition. He served on the executive board of the Mercer Advocacy Council mock trial team and as board chair of the arbitration team. His broader leadership roles included ABA Chair and Academic Chair of the Student Bar Association, Justice of Phi Alpha Delta, and membership in the Rural Law Student Association and Real Estate Law Society.
A first-generation college student from Douglas, Georgia, Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Valdosta State University and master’s degrees in sociology and criminal justice. He earned an LL.M. in trial advocacy from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law and participated in the program’s international trial advocacy capstone in Rome, Italy. Lee is currently completing an LL.M. in dispute resolution at the University of Missouri–Columbia, with graduation expected this spring.
After Mercer Law, Lee practiced as an associate attorney at Chambless, Higdon, Richardson, Katz and Griggs LLP, where he focused on civil litigation defense and governmental liability matters. During this time, he attended the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Trial and Mediation Academy and received the “Best of the Best” award, recognizing an outstanding participant in the program.
Lee has also pursued teaching opportunities, working in curriculum development and as an online instructor at Montana State University Billings and South Georgia State College.
“Walker has been an integral part of our program for several years, first as a student and later as a volunteer alumni coach,” James said. “We are excited to officially welcome him to our staff. His experience and dedication to advocacy will be a tremendous asset to our students.”
