Georgia State Law Celebrates Annual Alumni Swearing-In

Each fall, all Georgia State College of Law graduates who passed the bar exam have the opportunity to return to their alma mater to be sworn into the Fulton County Superior Court, the Court of Appeals and/or the Supreme Court of Georgia.

The college welcomed 113 recent alumni for this year’s Swearing-In Ceremony, held on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in the College of Law’s Ceremonial Courtroom.

Before swearing in the graduates to the Fulton County Superior Court, Judge Shukura L. Ingram (J.D. ’98) shared how special this day is to her as an alumna of Georgia State Law, having the opportunity to swear in her fellow alumni. “It is good to be in the company of family,” she said. She advised them to follow their ABCs as they begin practicing law as a simple way to remember their highest professional priorities. “Always be truthful about your experience ... be involved in voluntary, bar-related work ... and be courteous,” she said.

Judge Trea Pipkin (J.D. ’05) administered the oath for the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia to 100 alumni, taking the time to remind them of the many people who had a hand in supporting them along their journey to the profession, including teachers, mentors, family and friends. “I want you to think about all the people that helped you get here, whoever that is,” he advised. “Don't go to bed tonight before you reach out to them and say thank you.”

In her congratulatory remarks, Justice Shawn E. LaGrua (J.D. ’87), the first Georgia State Law graduate to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia, echoed her colleagues, telling the recent graduates, “The most important things in life are health, family and friends. Cherish your family and don’t neglect them.”

York Singleton receives a certificate of appreciation from the Supreme Court of Georgia for his years of assistance with all of the Court's special sessions at the college.

In a departure from the day’s regular business, Justice LaGrua made a special presentation of recognition from the Supreme Court of Georgia to York Singleton, who recently retired as Director of Facilities at the College of Law. Altogether he provided 38 years of service to Georgia State. “He started at the bottom and ended at the top,” she said of his tenure at the university. “Though, I think York was always at the top, because more than anyone else that was part of this school, he was the one who knew every student, interacted with every student, and cared about every student.”

Duncan de la Feld (J.D. '24) participated in the 2024 College of Law Swearing-In Ceremony on Friday, November, 22.

After passing the Georgia Bar Exam, graduates can be sworn in by appointment with any superior court judge in the state, but many of them choose to return to the same ceremonial courtroom where they began their first day of law school.

"My entire experience at the College of Law has been about community," said Duncan de la Feld (J.D. '24), now a staff attorney at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.  "I chose GSU because of its reputation for collaboration - rather than competition - between students, and I excelled here thanks to the support of my colleagues. I can think of no more fitting end to this chapter than to stand with my classmates and swear in together. I am amazed by their success, grateful for their support, and proud to join them as a newly-minted Georgia lawyer."

View a complete list of graduates who participated in the ceremony below: