Georgia State University College of Law inducted 30 new student honorees and two honorary alumni into the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2024. These esteemed societies celebrate excellence in the scholarship and advocacy of law students nationwide.
“Your commitment to excellence in the field of law has led you to this remarkable milestone, and we celebrate your well-deserved success. As members of these prestigious orders, you will contribute positively to the legal community and to society as a whole,” said College of Law Interim Dean Courtney Anderson as she welcomed the inductees and their guests at the joint ceremony.
The Order of the Coif is a national honor society with roots in medieval England which recognizes law students who excelled in scholarly achievement during their time in law school and graduated in the top ten percent of their class. Chapters of the Order are established at institutions who demonstrate a culture of scholarship, humanistic engagement and students pursuing the interests of justice at the highest levels.
“You are the tenth class we are inducting into the Order of the Coif at Georgia State,” said Professor Nirej Sekhon, chapter secretary for the Order of the Coif. “Fewer than half of American law schools have a chapter of the Order of the Coif. We are very proud of you, you are the very best in this country.”
Steve Najjar (J.D. ‘92) was selected as this year’s honorary inductee into the Order of the Coif. Najjar is an executive vice president and head of Health Solutions and general counsel for Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America and sits on the College of Law’s Board of Visitors. Najjar also endows the Steven B. Najjar Family Foundation Scholarship that a first-year law student receives every year.
Najjar emphasized serving others as one of his career’s highest goals. “I spent three years of my life [at the College of Law] transforming my mind, informing my will, and forming my character.” He quotes former football coach Lou Holtz to share words of wisdom that have had the greatest impact on his career, saying “If you want to be happy for a lifetime: serve others.”
College of Law 2024 Inductees for the Order of Barristers with Honorary Inductee Roger Martin (J.D. '85).
L. Lynn Hogue Professor of Law Corneill Stephens introduced the Order of Barristers as an honorary society inducting students who have mastered the art of trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing. The Order of Barristers originated in 1965 at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law to honor graduating seniors who had demonstrated outstanding ability in moot court and mock trial participation.
Stephens recalled that a student approached him six years ago to encourage the college to establish a chapter, having already prepared a lengthy application that lacked only the signatures of the dean and a faculty sponsor. Stephens heard back from the national organization to say that they had their eye on Georgia State Law for a number of years, and that it was the most competent application they had received.
This year’s honorary inductee into the Order of Barristers was Roger Martin (J.D. ‘85), a partner in the Atlanta office of Hall, Booth, Smith, P.C. and a former law clerk for Judge Jack B. Smith of the State Court of DeKalb County. Martin was a member of the charter class of the College of Law and can remember a time when the accreditation of the school was not yet guaranteed.
“Look around at what you see. These things can be achieved. You can achieve them. Be very proud of yourselves and what you have accomplished.”
The full lists of 2024 inductees are as follows:
Order of the Coif Class of 2024
Cameron Buice, William Collins, Duncan de la Feld, Margaret DuBose, Elizabeth Haynes, Kathleen Kassa, Mary Kennedy, Devan Knapp, John Laughter, Caroline Long, Kellyann Malone, Samuel Marticke, Anna McPeak, Mackenzie Miller, Rachel Rankin, Samuel Robertson, Davis Schultz, Joseph Shafritz, Abigail Sisson, Kyle Tau, Alexandra Veltri, Erica Welsh, Emily Willis, Alan Woodall
Order of Barristers Class of 2024
Aaron Brown, Joel Grist, Ashley Hamilton, Elizabeth Haynes, John Laughter, Emily Molinié, John Montgomery, Rachel Rankin, Stephanie Sansom