Robert Bourne (J.D. ’88) and his son Elliot Bourne (J.D. ’16) share more than fond memories from the same alma mater. Their names are engraved on side-by-side lockers at Georgia State Law.
“It is a great source of pride for me that my son is going to be a lawyer and equally pleasing that he is a graduate of my law school,” Robert said. “I thought it would be cool if we both had our names on lockers in the law building in honor of the fact.”
Robert has his own practice, Robert E. Bourne Law, and represents clients in auto accident, wrongful death and workers compensation cases. His example ultimately attracted Elliot to the legal profession.
“From a young age, I had a good feeling of what practicing law is like based on what my dad did. It was something that I could see myself doing,” he said.
With an undergraduate degree in philosophy, Elliot’s initial plan was to get a job in that field. “I studied philosophy because I was passionate about the subject, but the job market for philosophers is not all that great,” he said. “I thought law school was a logical step, as both disciplines involve a lot of reading and reasoning skills.”
Elliot plans to pursue a job in prosecution after passing the bar. “My criminal procedure classes were some of the most interesting in law school, and my externship with the Fulton County solicitor general was a rich and rewarding experience,” he said.
As Elliot’s career as a lawyer is just beginning, his father has more than 28 years of experience — and valuable knowledge to share. Robert hopes that his son experiences the same rewards he has had as an attorney.
“There is great satisfaction when you know you have worked hard on a case and your client is grateful for what you have done for them,” he said. “What gives me the most joy about practicing law is the knowledge that I have made a difference in my client’s life.”
Though the type of law father and son practice may differ, their legal career path has the same beginning — it started at Georgia State Law. Their locker nameplates are a small yet significant representation of that.
“I am happy to have my name on a locker,” Elliot said. “I’ve always wanted to have my name on something.”
The locker nameplates are available for $1,000 each. For more information, visit law.gsu.edu/lockercampaign.