Law students from the University of Georgia are contributing legal expertise to support the state's coastal regions through a partnership between Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and the university’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The Legal Program, established in 2015, provides law students with professional development opportunities by involving them in projects that address issues such as environmental literacy, sustainable fisheries, resilient communities, and healthy coastal ecosystems.
Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, said his unit collaborated with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to create the Legal Program. He explained that including legal fellows broadens the program's impact while allowing students to apply their education in practical settings.
Katie Hill (J.D.’08), public service faculty member at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and director of the Legal Program, said, “Often, the work we do focuses on objective policy analysis to inform decision-makers. … Students understand why this type of policy work is extremely valuable for our governmental clients, the state of Georgia, and beyond.”
Recent projects include work by third-year law student Tamaris M. Henderson, who served as a Legal Fellow focusing on derelict crab and lobster traps in coastal states. Her efforts supported the Nationwide Fishing TRAP (Trap Removal, Assessment and Prevention) Program—a national initiative led by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) and funded by NOAA—by creating a database documenting laws and policies related to derelict fishing traps across U.S. coastal states. Henderson presented her findings to the Sea Grant Legal Network.
She said her fellowship allowed her to meet “amazing lawyers, marine biologists and other researchers” dedicated to the TRAP Program. Henderson noted that working on this project aligned with her goal of pursuing a career in environmental law.
This semester, another third-year student, Leighlee M. Mahony, has expanded Henderson’s database on state derelict trap regulations for use in ongoing TRAP Program work. Mahony summarized these findings at the UGA River Basin Center Annual Graduate Water Research Poster Contest in November. She also prepared memorandums on state programs for presentation at VIMS’s annual TRAP Program meeting and is drafting an article examining how derelict trap policies differ among states.
Mahony said she was drawn to the Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellowship because she wanted to help protect animals. She added that her experience has encouraged her to consider policy work after graduation so she can further affect change.
Risse anticipates increasing demand for support as more people move to Georgia’s coast. He expressed hopes to expand both funding for the fellowship and participation from law students at other universities.
Since its inception in 2015, more than 25 School of Law students have served as Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows on projects ranging from sea level rise adaptation to flood mitigation strategies. More information about the fellowship is available at https://gacoast.uga.edu/georgia-sea-grant-legal-fellowship/.