University of Georgia School of Law Looks to Increase Diversity

The University of Georgia School of Law has announced the establishment of the Benham Scholars Program aimed at increasing diversity at the law school and in the legal profession as a whole. The new program is named after Robert Benham, justice on the Georgia Supreme Court. Justice Benham enrolled at the University of Georgia School of Law 50 years ago and was the law school’s second African American graduate. He is a graduate of Tuskegee University and also holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Virginia. In 1989, he was the first African American appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court.

The new Benham Scholars Program will focus on recruitment, preparation for law school, academic support, and career planning for students from underrepresented groups. The first Benham Scholars will enroll this coming fall.

Peter B. Rutledge, dean of the law school stated that “one of our goals as an institution of legal education is to ensure our student body, and ultimately the new lawyers who enter the profession, is reflective of today’s society. We know that for some academically qualified students, barriers still exist to entering law school. Some of these are financial and others are tied to access to information and support. Through the Benham Scholars Program, we hope to give these young men and women the opportunity to thrive both in law school and in their careers.”