Founded in 1873, the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and the first one in the state of Georgia accredited by the American Bar Association. Mercer Law School has a longstanding commitment to legal education along the lines proposed in the Carnegie Report. Since its beginning, the law school has provided a holistic legal education that prepares students for the multiple demands of being a lawyer. Its current approach includes a deliberately small student body, which allows the following: substantial student-faculty interaction, both in and out of the classroom; a supportive and collegial learning environment; multiple opportunities for small-section experiences, including two small-section courses in the first year; and, an emphasis on skills courses, including externships and clinics. These choices are part of an overall commitment to a legal education that emphasizes the development of each student's professional identity, seeks to prepare students for a life of service and fulfillment, and fosters connections between the law school and the legal profession.
Mercer Law School's Woodruff Curriculum has long been viewed as a model for law schools across America, earning the Gambrell Professionalism Award from the ABA for its "depth and excellence" and its "commitment to professionalism." Mercer is also nationally recognized for its exceptional programs in legal writing, law and public service, and professionalism and ethics, as well as its leadership in legal education reform.