Third-year law student, Sonali Garg, has been all over the world, and when she graduates with her law degree this spring, she plans to become a litigator in Georgia. And with her experience, she will shine. Last year, she was named World’s Best Oralist out of over 360 international competitors at the 2004 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, the world’s largest international moot court competition. Between classes, Sonali works for two law offices where she gets hands-on experience in the world of law while also being employed at the Alexander Campbell King Law Library.
Hometown:
Macon, Georgia
High School:
Stratford Academy
Degree objective:
Juris Doctor
Other degrees:
B.S. in Legal Studies from Nova Southeastern University
Expected graduation:
May 2005
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I am currently a third year law student at the University of Georgia School of Law. I have been very active in the advocacy program at the School of Law. Last year, I competed in the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition where I received the award for the Best Oralist in the World in the International/National Competition held in Washington D.C. My team placed 9th in the World during
the International/National competition after winning the Regionals in Atlanta, Georgia. The International/National Competition had over 360 competitors from 94 different countries. The competition involved fictitious countries dealing with realistic problems brought before the International Court of Justice involving International Law and the parameters of the newly established International Criminal Court. This year I also competed with the King’s Inn Moot Court Team which also involved arguing an International Law problem against an Irish team. We traveled to Dublin, Ireland for this competition. Lastly, I also competed for Mock Trial on the National Trial Competition Team in February of this year which involved a criminal problem involving the prosecution and defense of a man accused of murder. We competed in Jacksonville, Florida
Current Employment:
I am currently working for several different employers while finishing up my last semester of law school. I am employed part-time as a law clerk with Scott, Wells &
McElwee, a law firm located in downtown Athens that handles issues involving personal injury, medical malpractice and workers’ compensation. I am also employed part-time as a law clerk for the Office of Shelley Welch Cox, Attorney at Law, which is a general practice sole proprietorship that handles civil and criminal matters. I am getting great hands-on experience to prepare me for the practice of law with these positions. Lastly, I also work for the Alexander Campbell King Law Library.
Family Ties to UGA:
My father is a businessman who owns and runs Sonal Imports International, a furniture and interior decoration business in Macon, Georgia. My mother is an emergency room physician who works in Hazelhurst, Georgia. My sister is in her second year of residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. My family has moved around a lot. My parents were born and raised in India. They lived in Germany for eight years where my sister was born.
They then moved to Lusaka, Zambia in Africa and lived there for eight years where I was born. We moved to the United States when I was four years old and I have lived in Chicago; San Francisco; Brooklyn, New York; Macon, Georgia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and now I am in Athens, Georgia, but I am planning to move to Atlanta soon.
I chose to attend UGA because…
I want to practice law in Georgia, and the University of Georgia has an absolutely wonderful law school filled with brilliant minds, students and professors alike. I do not believe that I could have received a better, more well-rounded legal education and experience anywhere else.
When I have free time, I like…
I do not have much free time with law school, extracurricular activities and work, but if I did I would love to travel to different places in the world that I have never been.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
When I was 13 years old, my sister, father and I went backpacking to 24 cities in 10 countries in Europe in one month.
My favorite place to study is…
…the law library. Sitting next to the tall glass windows that cover the wall while you study make you feel still a part of the outside world while putting in long, grueling hours of studying.
My favorite professor is…
I have two favorite professors. The first is Larry E. Blount, who passed away in May of 2004. He was the first African American professor at the School of Law, and he left a legacy. Professor Blount reached out to all of his students and made them feel special. He personally touched and motivated me, along with many others. My other favorite professor is Ronald L. Carlson, evidence guru in the State of Georgia. Professor Carlson also takes a personal interest in his students and has always helped me in my endeavors.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…President George W. Bush. I would like to discuss his views and opinions behind his actions so far as President of the United States, the state of our country, and where he thinks our country is going.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
…travel all over the world and make it to all seven continents. I would also like to travel on a shuttle into outer space.
After graduation, I plan to…
…practice law as a litigator in Atlanta, Georgia. I want to make a difference in the community personally and through my profession.
