David Dove, who will receive his Juris Doctor this spring, has served in numerous School of Law roles to improve the academic experience for all Georgia Law students.
Hometown:
Athens, Ga.
High School:
Prince Avenue
Degree objective:
Juris Doctor
Other degrees:
B.A. in political science, UGA 2009
Expected graduation:
Spring 2014
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I currently serve as the president of the Student Bar Association, Georgia Law’s student government. It has been an honor to work with and serve the law school student body to improve the school’s community and create new programs that positively impact our campus. As president, I have helped launch several programs including the Student Leader Roundtable, the Student Advisory Committee and Athens Eats. We have also created new positions on our board to improve professional work-life balance, community involvement, student organization relations, student synergy and academic support. SBA has a great board that has given a lot of time and energy to see these ideas through, and I am very appreciative for its help and support in accomplishing these goals.
I am also involved in the law school’s advocacy programs as a member of the Moot Court and Mock Trial boards. Last year I competed in the Intrastate Moot Court Competition where both Georgia Law teams advanced to the finals. This year I am excited to be competing on several teams. I will compete on mock trial teams at the William Daniel Mock Trial Competition in Atlanta and in the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge in Houston. I also will compete on a moot court team in London at Gray’s Inn as a part of their moot court exchange program. In addition, I will have the honor of helping coach this year’s Intrastate Moot Court Team, which will hopefully win the competition for the ninth consecutive year. The advocacy programs at Georgia Law are a great way to develop practical skills for law practice, and I am very honored to be a member of both boards.
In addition to SBA and advocacy, I serve as a research assistant for J. Alton Hosch Professor of Law Lori Ringhand. I have previously served as class president for two terms and have served as the vice president of the Georgia Association of Law & Politics. Further, I have worked to affiliate Georgia Law’s Republican student organization with the Republican National Lawyers Association, serving as our chapter’s chair for one term. I am a member of the Business Law Society, the Federalist Society and serve as a student representative for BARBRI, which prepares law school graduates for bar exams. I am honored to be a member of the Joseph Henry Lumpkin Inn of Court and Blue Key Honor Society.
Family Ties to UGA:
My family has lived in Athens for many years and various family members have attended the university. However, as an undergraduate at UGA, I discovered that my ancestor, William Lampkin, arrived in Athens with his family in the early 1800s and was an early supporter of the university. In fact, I found that when the university had limited dormitory space, William Lampkin and his family were some of the few Athens residents approved by the president and faculty of UGA to have students board in their home. It was pretty cool to see that my family’s affiliation with the university went back that far.
I chose to attend UGA because…
… I wanted a top-tier legal education at a reasonable price. Despite attending Georgia for undergrad, I considered going out of state to pursue my J.D. However, it was impossible to find another law school in the Southeast that could compete with Georgia’s track record for excellence, quality of faculty, alumni network and tuition. It also did not hurt that Georgia Law is located in Athens, the greatest college town on Earth.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
… numerous. There are so many great things to do on Georgia’s campus. The greatest is cheering on the Dawgs at Sanford Stadium in the fall, but I also really enjoy attending any UGA sporting event. Additionally, nothing beats reading a book or a newspaper on North Campus. I also really enjoy attending concerts at the School of Music.
When I have free time, I like…
… to spend time with my wife, Courtney, and my dog, Hazel. We really enjoy taking day trips, watching movies or spending time with friends. I also love to read (not casebooks) and fish in the North Georgia mountains. Both are very relaxing, especially right after exams.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
… once while visiting Washington, D.C., friends and I decided to take a walking tour of the monuments. However, our timing was not the best. We began our trek near the National Cathedral at midnight during a snowstorm. Although we got to see Lafayette Park, the White House, the Washington Monument and the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials blanketed in snow, we walked for more than six hours in the freezing cold. I have never been so happy to see a Metro train in all my life.
My favorite place to study is…
… at my desk at home. However, on campus, nothing beats the law library in front of those massive windows looking out on North Campus. There are also some good spots in the main library for when I need really quiet space.
My favorite professor is…
… Kellie Casey. She is the advocacy director at the law school and does an incredible job. Following President Jere W. Morehead in the position, she maintained the law school’s standard for excellence in advocacy and has ensured the program is one of the best in the country. She cares deeply about her students and continually works hard to ensure each receives personal critique and encouragement.
In addition to professor Casey, the law school benefits from having an absolutely stellar faculty. Many professors have made great impacts on my education, some who I have never even had for a class. Those relationships are a testament to the quality of faculty at Georgia Law as well as their level of engagement and mentorship with students.
I would also be remiss if I did not include Charles Bullock. Even though I last had his class as an undergraduate, he is an incredible man who has been a wonderful mentor to me since my sophomore year at Georgia. He has taught generations of Georgia students, always learning each student’s name and hometown. Many say it is a rite of passage in the School of Public and International Affairs to take one of his classes, and I would agree. He has the unique ability to make the material he teaches come alive while taking a unique interest in each and every student–encouraging them in their studies and pushing them to achieve their goals.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
… the two Georgia giants, Larry Munson and Lewis Grizzard, probably having the best conversation ever about Georgia football.
If I knew I could not fail, I would…
… open a restaurant. I love to cook, and I love to eat. Two of my favorite hobbies are trying new restaurants and cooking for friends. Owning a place that would combine those passions while providing a place for people to hang out and have a good time would be a lot of fun for me. Maybe I could even run a law practice out of the upstairs.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
… travel Europe for several months with my wife. She has been to Europe before, but despite traveling outside the U.S., I have never made it out of the Western Hemisphere. Taking some substantial time off to see those countries and experience their cultures would be incredible.
After graduation, I plan to…
… work in Atlanta practicing law.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
Although I have been to several very memorable football games, marrying my wife in the Chapel on North Campus trumps everything else.