Donation to benefit the First Amendment Clinic

The University of Georgia School of Law is pleased to share news of its largest gift in history – a $5 million donation from the Stanton Foundation to support the ongoing operations of the First Amendment Clinic with an endowment.

Established in 2019, the clinic defends and advances freedoms of speech, press, assembly and petition through direct client representation and advocacy, while also serving as a hands-on learning opportunity for roughly 15-20 law students each year.

First Amendment Clinic team members include: (front, l. to r.) Charlotte Umanoff, Adoris Gibbs, Ellie Wilson-Wade, Clinic Director Clare Norins, Jessica Cooper, Clinic Fellow Urub Khawaja, (back, l. to r.) Carsen Christy, Jackson Rowe, Alex Klein, Joseph Will, Avery Hill and Clinic Fellow Christina Lee.

“The long-term support provided by the Stanton Foundation’s generous gift means that many future classes of UGA law students will have the opportunity to work on real-world cases in Georgia and beyond, all highlighting how essential free speech and a free press are for a healthy democracy,” according to First Amendment Clinic Director Clare R. Norins. “Many graduates describe the clinic as one of their most meaningful experiences in law school, noting that they have a heightened appreciation for the importance of protecting First Amendment rights.”

Norins added that the Stanton Foundation’s gift also assures the clinic will be able to continue serving as a free educational resource on First Amendment issues for a variety of audiences including organizations, students, journalists and citizens defending and advancing First Amendment issues.

School of Law Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge said the Stanton Foundation has been a staunch partner of the law school and, with this latest contribution, the organization has become the school’s largest overall donor.

The group contributed approximately $1 million to establish the First Amendment Clinic roughly five years ago. Since then, it has provided significant funding for the law school’s Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills and other initiatives for an overall investment in the school of almost $8.5 million.

“Our law school’s partnership with the Stanton Foundation has been transformative,” Rutledge said. “I am grateful to the Stanton Foundation for its steadfast commitment to our institution and our students. The foundation’s remarkable generosity, which is helping to educate the next generation of legal leaders, will have an immense and lasting impact.”

Stanton Foundation co-director Liz Allison said, “The Foundation looks for investment opportunities as eagerly as schools look for donors, and no one has done more to identify opportunities for impactful giving at UGA than Dean Bo Rutledge. He has provided unwavering support as Director Norins shaped the First Amendment Clinic and has expertly connected us to multiple other giving opportunities within the university.”

Rutledge added that the School of Law is redefining what it means to be a great national public law school through strong relationships like this one with the Stanton Foundation. “Together, we are providing our students world-class, hands-on and purpose-driven experiences with a focus on remaining one of the best returns on investment in legal education today.”

The Stanton Foundation was established by former television broadcasting executive Frank Stanton, who was a longtime president of CBS. The core objectives of the foundation include protecting the First Amendment, supporting work in nuclear security and promoting the welfare of dogs and strengthening the human/dog bond. In addition to the School of Law, the foundation has provided substantial support to UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Public and International Affairs.

Since the initial gift to establish the First Amendment Clinic roughly five years ago, the Stanton Foundation has provided significant funding for the Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills and other initiatives for an overall investment in the School of Law of almost $8.5 million.