25 LC 112 3094
House Resolution 356
By: Representatives Park of the 107
th
, Hugley of the 141
st
, Kelley of the 16
th
, Martin of the
49
th
, and Jones of the 47
th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Georgia State University College of Law for being a paragon of excellence
1
in clinical legal education in and beyond the State of Georgia and commending its respective2
clinics for their towering accomplishments; and for other purposes.3
WHEREAS, the Georgia State University College of Law has committed itself to the highest4
caliber of legal education since opening its doors to students in 1982; and5
WHEREAS, the Georgia State University College of Law maintains a student-centered6
curriculum by fusing theory and practice; and7
WHEREAS, clinical legal training is a component of legal education that gives students early8
practical experience under the instruction of professors and the guidance of supervising9
attorneys; and10
WHEREAS, a stated goal of the student practice rule adopted and promulgated by the11
Georgia Supreme Court is to help meet the legal needs of low-to-moderate-income Georgians12
who are unable to afford vital legal services; and13
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WHEREAS, the College of Law offers its students this experiential learning opportunity
14
through four in-house clinics and three off-site clinics that concentrate on legal needs relating15
to health, income tax assistance, disability benefits, and business development; and16
WHEREAS, more than $1,000,000 in benefits have been obtained by the Health Law17
Partnership Clinic for children and families in need of both medical and legal services,18
garnering nationwide attention as the highest-ranked health clinic in the country; and19
WHEREAS, the Phillip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic has recovered in excess of20
$55,000 in refunds for more than 200 low-income Georgians during the post-audit stage of21
their Internal Revenue Service disputes; and22
WHEREAS, the Immigration Clinic is the first of its kind in Georgia and one of the few in23
the Southeastern United States that offers representation for low-income individuals24
appearing before immigration courts and in detention proceedings; and25
WHEREAS, the Community Development and Entrepreneurship Clinic is the only in-house,26
law-school-based transactional law clinic in metropolitan Atlanta with a service emphasis27
on small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and grassroots coalitions; and28
WHEREAS, through the Mediation Clinic, students gain invaluable skills relating to29
alternative dispute resolution; and30
WHEREAS, student practitioners in the Capital Defender Clinic provide immeasurable31
assistance to the Office of the Georgia Capital Defender in representing defendants who face32
the death penalty; and33
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WHEREAS, low-income children and adults with disabilities benefit immeasurably from the
34
crucial legal advocacy students furnish as part of the Olmstead Disability Clinic; and35
WHEREAS, each of these clinics offered by the Georgia State University College of Law36
is an unmatched testament to the State of Georgia's commitment to a brighter and more just37
future for all its citizens; and38
WHEREAS, the College of Law's clinical legal education offerings are ranked among the39
highest in the nation, consistently surpassing the standards of excellence and service; and40
WHEREAS, it is both fitting and proper to acknowledge the transformative impact each of41
these clinics has on the lives of Georgians, to celebrate the sustained focus and dedication42
of all of the students and faculty members, and to express gratitude for the work that reflects43
favorably upon this state.44
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that45
the members of this body celebrate, commend, and congratulate the clinical legal education46
program at the Georgia State University College of Law for its towering accomplishments,47
for its steadfast dedication to the ideals of access to justice, and for its unwavering48
commitment to experiential learning for its students.49
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized50
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Interim51
Dean Courtney L. Anderson and to the directors of each of the respective clinics listed52
herein.53
H. R. 356
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