Mercer Law graduate, Here's an Update from Mercer Law.

Mercer Law COVID-19 Update to Alumni

In keeping with Mercer University’s response to COVID-19, all classes during the week of March 16 were canceled. The Law School will move all classes to a distance learning format starting Monday, March 23, and all courses will continue in this format until April 3. The University will reevaluate its instructions to faculty, staff, and students on April 3.

The health and safety of Mercer Law students, faculty, staff, and alumni is a top priority for Mercer Law School. Thus, we have canceled or postponed upcoming student activities and alumni events through April 4. If you registered for an event, you should have received an email with more details.

We are in an unprecedented time in the life of Mercer Law School, and we are doing everything in our power to continue instruction and to take care of our community amidst this health crisis. Thank you for your role as alumni – offering encouragement to current students and faculty and supporting Mercer Law as we navigate these abnormal circumstances together.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. You can email us at alumni@law.mercer.edu .

Mercer Law Moves Up in U.S. News Rankings!

This week, U.S. News and World Report released rankings and Mercer Law jumped up 12 places! Mercer Law was one of the eight biggest “movers” on the entire spectrum of law schools, moving from 138 last year to 126 this year.

It seems apparent that our increased median LSAT scores of entering students, our increased selectivity in admissions, and our higher employment statistics for our graduates likely made the most difference in our positive results – so special thanks to our Admissions Committee, Admissions Office staff, and Career Services staff members for their particular efforts in these areas.

As to the specialty rankings, we came in at #18 for Legal Writing , retaining our top-20 ranking. This also solidifies our position as the number one Georgia law school for legal writing in the past decade . Thanks to all of our faculty who teach courses in Legal Writing and carry the banner for us nationally!

Full U.S. News Rankings

2020 Alumni Dinner – Thank You!

Thank you to all of our alumni who attended the 2020 Annual Alumni Dinner! We had nearly 400 alumni and friends join us in Atlanta for a great evening celebrating fellow alumni and their accomplishments.

This year, we honored three distinguished alumni with awards:

The Hon. Michael P. Boggs , ’90 – Alumni Meritorious Service Award

The Hon. Carl C. Brow n , ’73 – Outstanding Alumnus Award

The Hon. Rizza P. O’Conno r , ’10 – Young Alumni Council Volunteer of the Year Award

To nominate alumni for the 2021 Alumni Awards, please contact alumni@law.mercer.edu.

View the Alumni Dinner Photo Gallery

Mercer Advocacy Council Roundup

National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition

Students Bomkapr Kanu (2L) and Breanna Vega (2L) placed first in the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) Regional Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition in February. Kanu won the regional award for Best Oral Argument. At the National Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kanu and Vega made it to the quarterfinals in the oral arguments. Even better, our team won Best Respondent Brief over schools all across the country, including several Ivy League law schools. The teams were coached by student coach L’Zandra Jones (3L) , alum Judge Brenda Youmas, ’88, and faculty coach Prof. Suzianne Painter-Thorne .

ABA Regional National Moot Court Competition

Ariel Newman (3L) and Chelsea Henderson (3L) participated in the ABA’s regional National Moot Court Competition in Oklahoma City. The pair were one of four teams to advance to the national round, which will take place in Chicago in early April. Further, Ariel won fourth Best Oralist. The team was coached by student-coach Stephen Poydasheff (2L), alumna-coach Hannah Couch, '18 , and faculty member Prof. Linda Jellum .

National Trial Competition

In February, Mercer competed in the National Trial Competition hosted by Stetson Law School. The teams included Breanna McKnight (3L), Hannah Lengyel (3L), Breyana Fleming (2L), Savanna Moody (3L), Kayla Rocker (3L), and Lauren James (2L) . Alumna Lauren Wilmer, '18, coached the teams. McKnight won Best Cross Examination Advocate of the competition.

American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition

In February, Mercer Law students competed in the American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition regionals. Alumnus Sean Hickey, '19, served as coach. Students competing included Hannah Kicklighter Drown (3L), Jake Williams (3L), Taylor Lacey (2L), Maddie Hersom (2L), Christina Ling (2L), and Katie Peltier (2L). Brennan McElhone (3L) served as the student coach. All three teams made it to the semifinal round and two made it to the final round after our teams had to compete against each other. Lacey and Hersom finished in second place, while Drown and Williams finished in third place.

Job Opportunities

Did you know that alumni from Mercer University School of Law can receive career services assistance for life? This includes help with your own job search or in finding interns or attorneys to work in your firm or office.

You can apply for jobs using BearBoard, our job posting system. Alumni may also contact the Career Center for assistance with resumes, interviewing, and job search strategies.

To apply, login to your BearBoard account here . Need BearBoard access? Contact Jessica Herndon at careerservices@law.mercer.edu . Alumni jobs are added daily. Check BearBoard often for additional opportunities.

Alumni Postings

MACON & SURROUNDING AREA

Staff Attorney with Hon. Jeffery O. Monroe, Bibb County Superior Court
Associate with Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, L.L.P
Assistant Public Defender I with Macon Judicial Circuit, Public Defender’s Office
Associate Attorney with Rockefeller Law Center – Warner Robins, GA

METRO ATLANTA

Associate Attorney with Law Staff Group
Associate with Vazquez & Servi, PC
Attorney Recruiting Coordinator with Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
Staff Attorney with American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS

Associate Attorney with Silver & Archibald, LLP – Athens, GA
Associate with Ranalli Zaniel Fowler & Moran, LLC – Henderson, NV
Real Estate Associate with The Minor Firm PC – Dalton, GA
Associate with Perkins Studdard LLC - Carrollton, GA
Associate with Hunt & Taylor Law Group LLC – Gainesville, GA
Assistant District Attorney with Cordele Judicial Circuit, District Attorney’s Office – Cordele, GA
Assistant State Attorney with State Attorney’s Office, Seventh Judicial Circuit of Florida – Daytona Beach, FL
Associate Attorney with Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams, P.C. – Chattanooga, TN
Associate Attorney with Freedom Law LLC – Madison, GA

If you would like to post a position with us (law student, on-campus interview, or postgraduate and alumni opportunities) please fill out the Career Services Law Recruiting Form here .

Upcoming Events

In an abundance of caution,

we have suspended alumni activities until the COVID-19 threat has passed. We hope that you will join us for events

when things have returned to normal.

SAVE THE DATE

Mercer Law Reception at the State Bar Annual Meeting

Friday, June 12, 2020

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Miramar Beach, Florida

Visit our website for more up to date event information.

For inquiries, suggestions or sponsor opportunities, please contact Cheryll King ( king_c@law.mercer.edu ).

Class Notes

Ray S. Smith, III, ’87 , was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp as chairperson of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association for a term of office ending Oct. 24, 2020.

Robert A. Mason, ’88 , was named to the 2020 edition of the North Carolina Super Lawyers . Mason is one of the first attorneys to be board-certified in elder law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He is also a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, past chair of the Elder Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, and a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

The Hon. Christopher W. Yokom, ’89 , was appointed by the Fulton County Superior Court to be a presiding juvenile court judge in Fulton County. Judge Yokom was previously a juvenile court associate judge for over two years.

Paola Parra Harris, ’96, received the Ultimate Attorney Award in Family Law by the Jacksonville Business Journal . Parra Harris was also recognized as a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts Gateway Council and received the Business Leadership Award by the Jacksonville Mayor's Hispanic American Advisory Board. She opened her family law litigation boutique firm in Jacksonville, Florida, in Jan. 2016.

Mason S. Weiss, ’97, retired from the U.S. Army after spending 20 years in the JAG Corps.

Jonathan J. Tuggle, ’98, founding shareholder of Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery, was named fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and recognized by Super Lawyers for 2020 in the area of family law. This is the ninth year in a row for Tuggle, a founding shareholder of Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenberry in Atlanta.

James A.W. Balli, ’99, joined as a partner in the litigation practice group at Taylor English Duma LLP.

Jonathan B. Zeitlin, ’00, was promoted to assistant legal attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzogovina.

Gregory K. Smith, ’01, was elected as a new partner at Smith Gambrell & Russell. Smith practices in both the firm’s Atlanta headquarters and its Washington, D.C. office. Smith has government contracts and construction practice, handling procurement and construction contracts as well as dispute resolution and litigation.

Bradley M. Harmon, ’02 , was selected as a 2020 Georgia Super Lawyer in the area of business litigation. This is Harmon's third recognition as a super lawyer. He is managing partner at HunterMaclean in Savannah.

Jason E. Downey, ’03, was selected as vice chair of the State Board of Education. Downey represents the 8th Congressional District of Georgia.

Zachary H. Thomas, ’04, was elevated as a named partner and the firm's name has been changed to Bergen, Bergen & Thomas to represent this appointment. Thomas has been a partner in the Savannah firm since 2013 practicing medical malpractice and personal injury.

Jeffrey H. Perry, ’05, was elected partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Perry practices at the firm's Atlanta office focusing on venture capitals and corporate mergers and acquisitions.

Kristin Starnes Gray, ’06 , was recently promoted to partner at the labor and employment law firm of FordHarrison LLP in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Gray focuses her practice on helping employers navigate human resources-related issues and litigation.

Matthew R. Brooks, ’08, was named partner at Troutman Sanders, LLP in January.

Patrick M. Mincey, ’08, was listed among the 2020 North Carolina Rising Stars. Mincey is a partner in the Raleigh and Wilmington offices of Cranfill Sumner and Hartzog, LLP.

Amber Aiken Pelot, ’09, was elected partner at Alston & Bird. Pelot was recently elected as secretary for the Mercer Law School Young Alumni Council.

Erica L. Opitz, ’10 , was named a 2020 Rising Star in business and corporate law by Super Lawyers. This is her second year to be recognized. Opitz is a partner at Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta.

Adam F. Peoples, ’10, was elected partner at Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Peoples is a civil defense attorney at its Asheville, North Carolina office.

Barclay R. Taylor, ’10 , was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in the area of tax law. Taylor is an associate at Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta.

Seth K. Trimble, ’10, was made partner at Taylor English Duma LLP as of Jan. 1. Trimble focuses his practice in technology litigation and intellectual property disputes involving patents, trade secrets, trademarks and copyrights. He has nationwide experience litigating patent and trademark infringement cases, including cases in federal district courts in Georgia, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, New York and Virginia.

Christopher A. Steele, ’11, shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Atlanta, was selected to Georgia Trend’s 2019 Legal Elite in the taxes/estates/trusts category and selected as a 2020 Rising Star in the area of estate planning and probate by Super Lawyers.

Ryan E. Spell, ’11, was elected partner at Coleman Talley LLP, effective Jan. 1. Spell practices in the firm's Atlanta office focusing on commercial real estate and secured real estate lending.

LaToya S. Bell, ’12, was recognized with the ABA Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division’s Dorsey Award, for serving as an outstanding public defender.

Ronald E. Daniels, ’12, was appointed as municipal judge of Hawkinsville on Jan. 6. Daniels practices consumer protection law in Middle Georgia and is the secretary of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.

Edward J. Cochran, ’13, was elected partner at Coleman Talley LLP, effective Jan. 1. Cochran practices in the firm's Valdosta office focusing on commercial real estate, commercial transactions, affordable housing and banking.

Nicolas D. Bohorquez, ’15 , was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2020. Bohorquez practices real estate law at Williams Teusink, LLC in Decatur.

Stephen G. Swinson, ’15, joined Gray Pannell & Woodward LLP in Savannah focusing his practice on municipal bond law and public finance, business law, estate and asset protection planning, and ancillary real estate matters.

Morgan G. West, ’16 , and husband Eric are happy to announce the birth of their third daughter, Birdie Belle West, on Jan. 17.

Kaylie O’Neil Brewton, ’17 and Tyler B. Brewton, ’17, welcomed a baby girl on Jan.13 and Olivia Louise was 6 lbs 12 oz, and 20.5 inches long.

Jasmin Severino Hernandez, ’17 , was chosen as Latinx Community Impact Award recipient by Emory University's Latin American Law Student's Association. The award will be given at their annual banquet in April. Hernandez is an estate planning and wealth management attorney at Davis Matthews Quigley, PC in Atlanta.

View all class notes here

In Memory

Robert Robider Markwalter , ’ 66 , of Macon, Feb. 14.

William Farris McGee , ’ 67 , of Flagler, Florida, Dec. 14, 2019.

James Albert Sparks , ’ 74 , of Tyrone, Dec. 29, 2019.

Michael A. Pannier , ’ 83 , of Atlanta, Jan. 19.

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