The University of Georgia School of Law announced on March 30 that Michael B. Terry and Carla Wong McMillian will receive the Distinguished Service Scroll Award, while Andrew Z. Smith will be honored with the Young Alumni of Excellence Award at its upcoming awards lunch on April 17.
These awards recognize individuals who have shown exceptional dedication to the legal profession and service to the law school. The honorees’ achievements reflect the school’s commitment to excellence in public legal education and community engagement, as described by the official website.
Terry, a graduate from 1987, is currently a partner at Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore. He has worked on significant class actions and civil trials, including being part of teams responsible for some of Georgia’s largest verdicts. Terry has received previous honors such as the State Bar of Georgia Tradition of Excellence Award in 2024 and was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Georgia by The Daily Report and American Lawyer Media in 2021. His service includes nearly two decades with the Atlanta Bar Association board—serving as president from 2010 to 2011—and positions with both state and national bar organizations.
McMillian serves as a justice on the Georgia Supreme Court after her appointment by Governor Brian Kemp in 2020. She is recognized as the first Asian Pacific American to serve on a state’s highest court in the southern United States. Her career includes roles with various courts in Georgia and experience as a partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan before joining public service. McMillian is also an alumna Woodruff Scholar from UGA Law and serves on its Board of Visitors.
Smith graduated from UGA Law in 2017 and works as a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig focusing on commercial litigation. He has been acknowledged among “40 Under 40” by Georgia Trend magazine, listed as a Rising Star by Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Leaders in Corporate Citizenship list, shortlisted for Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America Future Leader honor, served on Lambda Legal Defense’s National Leadership Council since 2022, participated previously with Quality Care for Children’s board, and led UGA Law’s Young Alumni Council.
The University of Georgia School of Law is known for excelling in advocacy competitions nationally and regionally according to its official website. The school offers experiential learning through clinics and externships while maintaining high employment rates among graduates as indicated online. It also houses extensive resources through its Alexander Campbell King Law Library according to university sources, ranks No.22 nationally per U.S News & World Report rankings as reported officially, supports diverse students with strong academic backgrounds according to university data, and focuses efforts toward redefining excellence via teaching quality and community service per its website.
