Where has the time gone? It seems like we just began the 2025-26 academic year, and here we are closing it out! It was wonderful to celebrate the Class of 2026 graduates with their families and loved ones last month. We were honored to have Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels Peterson deliver the keynote address and to have Law School Alumni Council President-elect Francys Johnson welcome these students into our alumni family.
As we prepare for the new school year, I want to share a few changes and opportunities on the horizon. First, we are formally launching our Sports Law Program, which is largely anchored by our new Master in the Study of Law with Sports Emphasis. Given the rapidly growing and evolving legal landscape of professional, collegiate and high school sports, this degree will benefit future sports agents and sports lawyers alike.
Next, we are introducing changes to the curriculum this fall to ensure our students will graduate with essential critical thinking and analytical skills as well as fluency in the latest technology. I am sure you agree competence in both areas is a must for the modern lawyer. Associate Professor Christian Turner and our Technology/AI Taskforce are guiding the school's AI initiatives.
The upcoming changes to the Georgia Bar Exam are also on our mind. In 2028, third-year law students will once again be able to sit for the bar in February, about three months before graduation. Separately, the state will be switching to the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination with a Georgia-specific component starting with the July 2028 sitting.
In sum, changes and challenges are coming. Nevertheless, your law school is ready for what lies ahead. We can say this with confidence thanks to a knowledgeable team that includes the UGA administration (led by 1980 alumnus Jere Morehead), our three alumni boards, our dedicated faculty and staff, and – most of all – you, our alumni and friends.
Please take a minute to reflect on all the ways UGA Law has made a difference to you. If you have not yet made a gift this fiscal year, I encourage you to do so by June 30. Your support makes us stronger.
Thank you and, as always, Go Dawgs!
- Dean Usha R. Rodrigues
