Mercer University School of Law

With a student body of just 440 students, Mercer School of Law offers small class sizes and an open door policy to encourage close student and faculty interaction. The student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1 is one of the lowest among ABA-accredited law schools.

The school's Woodruff Curriculum, which was introduced in 1990 after George W. Woodruff donated $15 million to the law school, is partially responsible for the school's focus on small class sizes with an increased concentration on practical skills, ethics, professionalism, and access to cutting-edge technology.


Mercer School of Law offers a traditional JD program, a unique LLM in Federal Criminal Practice and Procedure, and a joint JD/MBA degree program which is offered in collaboration with the university's Eugene Stetson School of Business and Economics. Additionally, students have the option of working toward a Certificate in Advanced Legal Writing, Research, and Drafting or a Business Certificate in Practice Management or Corporate Finance.

The law school's centers and special programs include the Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, the Legal Writing Institute, and the National Criminal Defense College.

About half of the students choose to involve themselves in the highly ranked Law and Public Service Program, which allows students to receive academic credit while working on real cases. At the heart of the program is a focus on volunteer community service and pro bono legal work, with the ultimate goal of developing graduates who will pursue public interest legal work.

The school publishes the student edited Mercer Law Review, which is the oldest continually published law review in Georgia. Also, the Journal of Southern Legal History is published by the Georgia Legal History Foundation, Inc. but hosted by Mercer Law School. The journal's focus in on the history, culture, and courts within Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, and Texas.

Summer abroad programs are offered in collaboration with the Stetson University College of Law in Florida and include destinations such as Spain, Argentina, China, Germany, and the Netherlands.

With more than 24 student organization and group offerings, the law school provides students with plenty of additional opportunities to socialize, network, and develop crucial skills. Offerings include the Association of Women Law Students, the International Law Society, the Mercer Association of Veteran Students, Older Wiser Law Students, the Student Bar Association, the Second Amendment Society, and more. Mercer School of Law has also established a reputation of excellence in Moot Court competitions throughout the US over the past several years.

The Walter F. George School of Law is led by Dean Gary J. Simson, who took on his current position in 2010. Prior to joining Mercer School of Law, Simson was involved teaching and administration at Cornell, the University of Texas, and Case Western Reserve. He is a graduate of both Yale University and Yale Law School.

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