Emory Law School Website

During the sixties, Emory Law School lived up to the challenge of combining legal education with higher ideals of law by instituting law suit to allow integration of private colleges in Georgia. The suit was ultimately decided by the Georgia Supreme Court in favor of Emory. It ruled, "We hold that Emory, as a private school, can accept colored students without jeopardizing its tax exemptions..." In 1963, the first black student, Ted Smith, enrolled in Emory Law School and graduated in 1965.

Emory Law School also established two progressive programs during the 1960's, Pre-Start and the Emory Community Legal Services Center.Pre-Start attracted capable black students to the school. The Legal Services Center supervised operation of the school's neighborhood law office staffed by third year students, drafted legislation, carried out test cases, and recruited law students interested in careers in legal services for the poor.

In 1972, Gambrell Hall, Emory Law School's current home, was constructed. This spurred the doubling of the faculty and the student body during the decade. In addition to the usual classrooms, offices,interview rooms, and student lounge areas, Gambrell Hall includes a 450-seat auditorium and a state-of-the-art courtroom equipped with studio-quality video equipment. The Hugh F. McMillan Law Library sits adjacent to Gambrell Hall and is designed for easy student access. All faculty offices at the law school are clustered around classrooms.Office doors are typically open, reflecting a culture where Emory professors welcome students, listen to questions and concerns, and discuss both the joys and challenges of the law and of life. In addition, there are informal interactions at events for faculty, staff,and alumni, which law students regularly attend.