The Social Justice Program aims to promote a dynamic atmosphere within which issues of equality, access and service are openly and regularly explored by faculty and students inside and outside the classroom. Students can choose from a variety of courses and clinics addressing a diversity of topics, including non-litigation strategies for social change; race and the law; drug law and policy; domestic violence; labor and employment; poverty law; mental health law; bioethics; immigration; the death penalty; and wrongful conviction. The program also offers an innovative Social Justice Reading Group that allows students to explore a range of substantive issues addressed by public interest lawyers as well as the challenges and rewards of representing marginalized clients and communities.
Throughout the year, the Social Justice Program sponsors guest speakers, conferences, workshops and a variety of activities for both students and faculty. In our annual flagship event the Social Justice Program recognizes a Social Justice Fellow, a distinguished member of the bar who has devoted his or her career to public interest law. During an on-campus residency, the Fellow gives a public lecture, presents to the faculty and offers individual student mentoring sessions.
Dedication of the George Barrett Social Justice Program
The program was endowed by Darren Robbins '93 in honor of his friend and mentor, "Citizen" George Barrett.
Vanderbilt is excited to announce the establishment of the George Barrett Social Justice Fellowship, which was made possible by a generous donation to the law school in honor of renowned civil rights attorney George Barrett ‘57. The George Barrett Social Justice Fellow will carry out a one-year public interest project under the supervision of a partner non-profit organization or public defender office.
