Dean Courtney Anderson shares her vision for the future of the College of Law.
I have a deep respect for Georgia State University College of Law’s mission and an unwavering belief in our community’s potential. It is rare to have the privilege of leading an institution where choosing accessibility over exclusivity — and being first where it matters are core values. As we evolve into our next era, it is important to keep these as our north star.
Dean Courtney Anderson is focused on academic and professional success for our students, community engagement and amplifying our faculty’s impactful research.
With the continued support from community members, stakeholders, and alumni, Georgia State Law will be the Gateway Law School. This will establish us as the first choice for aspiring lawyers seeking to make a meaningful impact during and after their academic journey. The first choice for expert staff and faculty seeking to showcase their thought leadership while enriching student success. Community partners will turn to Georgia State University College of Law to engage with thought leaders on critical initiatives, and employers will prioritize our graduates as they hire the next generation of attorneys committed to justice and client advocacy. As we build the foundation to realize the Gateway Law School vision, we focus on academic and professional success for our students, community engagement, and amplifying our faculty’s impactful research.
Our accessibility mission integrated with our Gateway vision, allows us to continue to attract top talent and train students to be empathetic, professional, and intelligent attorneys. Georgia State Law is recognized as one of the best value law schools in the nation.
Twenty percent of our student body are first-generation undergraduates, and the majority are first-generation law students, this is a strong point of pride.
As graduate loan programs shift and borrowing becomes more restrictive, our commitment to affordability is both a differentiator and a necessity. With annual in-state tuition under $18,000 and starting salaries that outpace student debt, our students immediately appreciate the value of their legal education, and they have the freedom to pursue their passion immediately after graduation. Our commitment to achievement enables this.
While all of Georgia State University College of Law’s achievements are impressive, they are certainly not unexpected. High achieving innovators have been a part of our student body staff and faculty ranks since the 1980s. The scholarship produced by our faculty is published in prestigious journals, and influences policy as often as it is lauded by academicians. Expertly integrating their passion for research with the law school’s curriculum and co-curricular activities allows our students to deepen their studies in their areas of interest. The next generation of public servants, entrepreneurs, and private practitioners are being educated at Georgia State.
As we evolve into the Gateway Law School, creating and growing signature programs unique to Georgia State Law will optimize our metropolitan location, our alumni connections and the economic development in the State of Georgia.
In fact, students’ passion for public interest fueled our Center for Access to Justice and it will produce additional community partnerships and experiential learning opportunities. Our librarians reimagining legal technology led to our first mover status in legal analytics and the ingenuity of our students will inform our increased incorporation of these topics in our educational programming.
The College of Law embraces dynamic change and uncertainty because we can carve our own imprint into a space that we occupy first. This has been our truth for decades and will continue to define our future.
When I think of the College of Law’s many achievements, I am most proud of the fact that the upgrade to our physical location did not weaken our mission of providing an accessible legal education. This year has reinforced the critical importance of listening to and acting on the needs of our students. Although there are several paths from which to choose, we all agree that the journey of Georgia State University College of Law will build upon its trailblazing past to permanently and positively impact the future.