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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.
Expected graduation: May 2005
Degree Objective: Juris Doctor
Other degrees:
B.S. in Legal Studies from Nova Southeastern University
University highlights, achievements and awards:
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.
High School: Stratford Academy
Hometown: Macon, Georgia
Family ties:
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 choose 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.
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