Taylor Retires After 25 Years
“Georgia State Law students are amazing. They come from so many different backgrounds and have such a wide range of experiences and expertise,” said Ellen Taylor, associate professor of law (second from right).
Ellen Taylor, associate professor of law, retires in June after spending nearly 25 years teaching at Georgia State Law. Her path to law was unconventional, though well suited for her personality.
She graduated from Manhattan School of Music in 1974 with a degree in trumpet performance. She worked as a musician before returning to her hometown of Atlanta to attend law school at Emory University in 1983.
“A friend came back after her first year at Yale Law bubbling over about what a terrific experience it was,” Taylor said. “When I found out it was possible to go to law school with a degree in anything, I took the LSAT and started applying.
“I loved law school,” she said. “It opened up the world to me, and I felt as if I learned as much in the first semester as I had learned in my whole educational life.”
After graduating from Emory Law, she worked as an associate attorney at Trotter, Smith & Jacobs, focusing on corporate and securities law matters. She joined the Georgia State Law faculty in 1992 and considers her job as a professor “the best in the world."
“I get to learn about things that interest me and talk about those things with others who are interested in them,” Taylor said. “I have students who are bright, who are in my classes because they want to be there and who work hard. My colleagues are brilliant, thoughtful and innovative, and they constantly challenge me to up my own game.”
An aspect of teaching Taylor has enjoyed most is storytelling.
“The way we teach law, by teaching individual cases, is very much the same way that the human race has passed down knowledge forever—by telling stories,” she said. “I love to dig into the back story of the people and places and situations involved in the cases to try to give the students a better feeling for the real people that were involved. When I can make the story more vivid for the students, I figure they’ll have an easier time remembering the law associated with the facts.”
Taylor says what she’ll miss the most after retiring is her students.
“Georgia State Law students are amazing. They come from so many different backgrounds and have such a wide range of experiences and expertise,” she said. “As head of the Admissions Committee, I had the opportunity to read many applications, and I’ve always been so impressed with their commitment to making the world a better place.”
The feeling of admiration is mutual among her contract law students. Jenna Rubin (J.D. ’16) fondly remembers one of her first encounters with Taylor.
“I was a scared 1L and wasn't sure how to organize all the information from Contracts I in my brain and my outlines. Professor Taylor smiled, shrugged her shoulders and explained that she didn't know how to help me because when she was in law school, she never needed an outline. She could look at a case name and remember everything about it. I think my mouth gaped open and mumbled, ‘Thanks anyway,’” Rubin said.
Rubin quickly learned that Taylor was joking and credits her professor’s gentle nature for helping her become a more confident law student.
“When I walked out of Professor Taylor’s class each week, I always felt like things were OK and I could do this,” Rubin said. “Now when we meet, she asks how I’m doing and tells me about her and her family. Few professors share as much of themselves as Professor Taylor. Knowing that she's human and has stuff going on in her life, too, makes people want to take her classes. Nothing seems quite so scary when she's talking to you.”
Taylor also influenced several students to pursue corporate law, including Megan Canning (J.D. ’16).
“If I had not taken my basic corporate law courses from Professor Taylor, I don’t think I would have been as drawn to this area. She underscores how corporate lawyers prevent problems and litigation,” Canning said. “As one of my favorite professors, her patience and kindness inside and outside of the classroom truly impacted my life.”
Mary Emily Hearons (J.D. ’16) also plans to practice corporate law. She took four classes with Taylor. In fact, she organized her schedule based on Taylor’s course offerings.
“I am so grateful to have had Professor Taylor for my many transactional classes,” she said. “Her teaching style strikes the perfect balance between teaching the law and teaching the practical consequences of the law.”
Georgia State Law faculty also are grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Taylor.
“Ellen Taylor has always been a model of good old-fashioned common sense,” said Mary Radford, professor of law. “She approaches issues calmly and in a clear-eyed manner. We will miss her quiet strength, ready smile and unfailingly upbeat attitude.”
As she reflects on her career, Taylor is proud to have been part of Georgia State Law’s growth and achievements.
“It has been a great experience to be a part of the group whose dedication and diligence have consistently and continually raised Georgia State Law’s quality and visibility over the last 25 years,” she said. “I look forward to watching Georgia State Law continue to thrive and grow. The faculty members we have hired in the last few years are absolute stars, and I’m confident that, as the more senior faculty retire, we will leave the college in excellent hands.”
As for retirement plans, Taylor plans to stay in Atlanta until her two kids graduate high school. Then, she hopes to travel and work on her golf game.