A team of Georgia State Law students, alumni, 23 local organizations and several law firms joined forces to create a legal training session to support today’s social justice movements on Aug. 2 at the college.
“We organized this training because young people in Atlanta have taken to the streets to demand change through protest and civil disobedience. It is their bold and courageous organizing efforts that required socially conscious members of the legal community to organize as well,” said Mawuli Davis (J.D. ’02), co-founder of the Davis Bozeman Law Firm, where he leads the criminal defense and trial sections.
The legal training session focused on pro bono representation, legal observer training and jail support. Approximately 150 attendees were sectioned off into small groups and given handouts about the four main topics.
Tiffany Williams Roberts (J.D. ’08), an adjunct professor and deputy director of the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism (NIFTEP) said all four components of the training session were equally important.
“I moderated the pro bono representation panel, along with three other attorneys,” Williams said. “We spoke about why pro bono lawyering is important and the nuts and bolts of representation.”
Davis explained the highlighted areas were chosen based on years of experience working with activists engaged in civil disobedience and non-violent protests.
“It is our hope that everyone saw themselves as having a role in this movement for social change. The more participants involved in supporting and learning from our young people the stronger we are as a community,” he said.
The Gate City Bar Association, Dekalb Lawyers Association, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Lawyers Guild and the Southern Center for Human Rights participated in the training.
“SCHR’s work is part of a long tradition of legal advocates standing with the community to challenge injustice, and we are honored to partner with community-based organizations to provide training for attorneys and citizens who wish to protect and defend those who speak truth to power,” said Terrica Ganzy, SCHR development director. “The huge turnout for the training energizes us in our efforts to reimagine equal justice.”
After the success of the Aug. 2 session, there is talk of having another one.
“There has been some discussion on doing one at John Marshall Law School. Georgia State Law hosting the first training was extremely important,” Davis said. “I believe that the College of Law’s administration, professors, staff students and alumni have been unwavering in their support.”