J. Antonio DelCampo (J.D. ‘94) , 61st President of the State Bar of Georgia
J. Antonio DelCampo (J.D. ‘94)
What activities were you involved in during your time at Georgia State Law?
I was very involved in the Student Trial Lawyers Association (STLA) advocacy program. During one argument competition, I realized, “This is what I want to do. I want to be in the courtroom.” And that’s what I did. That's one of the best things professionally that I have done. I was trying cases as a student, and I felt very comfortable doing that when I graduated and started practicing.
Was there a particular person who made a big impact on you as a student?
I was very close to Tom Jones, who was the STLA faculty advisor at the time. My experience with him was one of the best things I could have done to set myself up for a successful career. By taking what I learned from him, I felt very comfortable in the courtroom during my first year out of law school.
Do you have any words of advice for students still in law school?
I would tell law students and young attorneys entering the profession to get involved. Not only is it great for your professional development, but it's also just a good thing to do. The Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar in particular does a lot of service projects, and it’s important to do good in the community. I encourage young lawyers to get involved and get involved early in their professional careers because it pays dividends down the road.
J. Antonio DelCampo was the 61st president of the State Bar of Georgia, a former State Court Judge in DeKalb County and he is an attorney at DelCampo Grayson Lopez, LLC.
Brittanie Browning (B.A. ‘10/J.D. ‘14), 77th President of the Young Lawyer's Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
Brittanie Browning (B.A. ‘10/J.D. ‘14)
How do competitions like the Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition, hosted by the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar, help develop future practitioners?
Moot Court and STLA do a fantastic job of preparing students to become practitioners, because you get to learn about the basics of trial. Seeing the issue, going through the case law, and then writing a brief and an oral argument are things practitioners do on a daily basis. Taking advantage of those opportunities when they arise is very important.
Was there a person or experience at the College of Law that helped shape your career?
Professor Lisa Bliss had a big impact on me. When I see her, I always tell her so, because in the Health Law Partnership Clinic, it was invaluable to have overall guidance from her. She taught me how to run a case from client interview through developing arguments and laying the groundwork for advocacy.
What words of advice do you have for students who want to follow in your footsteps?
Show up and be involved early with any organization or group, whether or not you're seeking leadership or whether or not it may have crossed your mind. Once you're involved, you’ll understand better how that organization works and its overall impact.
Can students become involved with the Young Lawyers Division?
Yes, I didn't realize this when I was in school, but law students can become members. We've had folks come out from Mercer and UGA law, and we’re hopeful that Georgia State has some people plugged in soon.
Brittanie Browning is the current president of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, and a litigation associate at Akerman LLP.