Law students from the University of Georgia School of Law are contributing their legal expertise to support projects that benefit Georgia’s coastal regions. The Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program, developed in 2015 through a partnership between Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and the university’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides law students with practical experience while expanding the program’s impact.
Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, explained that involving legal fellows extends the reach of the program and gives law students opportunities for professional development by applying their education in real-world contexts.
Katie Hill (J.D.’08), public service faculty member at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government and director of the Legal Program, said, “Often, the work we do focuses on objective policy analysis to inform decision-makers. … Students understand why this type of policy work is extremely valuable for our governmental clients, the state of Georgia, and beyond.”
Legal fellows take on projects within four main areas: environmental literacy and workforce development; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; resilient communities and economies; and healthy coastal ecosystems.
Third-year law student Tamaris M. Henderson served as a Legal Fellow earlier this year with a focus on derelict crab and lobster traps in coastal states. Her work was connected to the Nationwide Fishing TRAP (Trap Removal, Assessment and Prevention) Program. This initiative aims to detect and remove lost or abandoned fishing traps. The TRAP Program is administered by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) with funding from NOAA.
Henderson compiled a database detailing current laws and policies regarding derelict fishing traps across U.S. coastal states. She presented her findings to the Sea Grant Legal Network—a national group comprising lawyers working within Sea Grant programs.
She stated that her fellowship allowed her to meet “amazing lawyers, marine biologists and other researchers” dedicated to addressing issues through the TRAP Program. Henderson noted that as someone interested in environmental law, participating in this project matched her career goals.
This semester, another third-year student Leighlee M. Mahony has continued developing Henderson’s database on state derelict trap laws for use with the TRAP Program. Mahony summarized these findings at November’s UGA River Basin Center Annual Graduate Water Research Poster Contest.
Mahony also prepared memorandums about state programs used at VIMS’ annual TRAP Program meeting. She is currently drafting an article discussing how basic derelict trap policy questions differ among states.
Mahony said she joined the Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellowship because she wanted to help protect animals, adding that her experiences have led her to consider policy work after graduation so she can further effect change.
Risse indicated there will likely be increased demand for supporting coastal ecosystems as population growth continues along Georgia’s coast. He expressed hopes to expand both funding for fellowships and participation by including law students from additional universities.
Since its inception in 2015, more than 25 School of Law students have participated as Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows on projects ranging from sea level rise adaptation efforts to salt marsh restoration initiatives, flood mitigation strategies, military installations support, and community engagement along coastal areas. Further information about fellowship opportunities is available at https://gacoast.uga.edu/georgia-sea-grant-legal-fellowship/.
