When Margie Alsbrook graduated fom Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, with a bachelor’s degree in history, she began her career as a business reporter covering food and agriculture — industries central to the region and essential to everyday life. Her reporting sparked an awareness of the sweeping influence of food and agriculture law. Later, she transitioned into corporate public relations for a publicly held company, where frequent collaboration with the legal department planted the seeds of a new career direction.
Though becoming a lawyer had not been part of her original plan, friends often encouraged her to consider law school. Eventually, their suggestion resonated.
“There was a moment in my corporate job when I was running an errand and the car in front of me had a bumper sticker that said, ‘Due to budget cuts, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off,’” Alsbrook recalled. “The company where I was working was having some troubles, and I could tell layoffs were coming. But it was not until that moment that I realized how unhappy I had become in that job. I went back to the office and gave my boss four weeks’ notice, and pretty soon after that I signed up to take the LSAT.”
Still, she said it was not until her first semester of law school was underway that she fully grasped her calling.
“I don’t think I really knew what a great fit it was for me until I was already actively engaged in the study of law,” she said.
Alsbrook earned her J.D. in 2005 from the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she distinguished herself as a member of the Arkansas Law Review, served as national student director of the ABA’s Client Counseling Championships, and co-founded the groundbreaking Journal of Food Law & Policy. By its first publication, the journal had paid subscribers on six continents, and a special printing of the United States Food Law Update, co-authored by Alsbrook and Michael T. Roberts, was delivered to every member of Congress.
“We worked hard to create ‘evergreen’ policies that would set the journal up for success for years to come,” Alsbrooke said. “This was vital because law journals have 100% leadership turnover every year, so the structure has to be solid for a journal to succeed. I am very proud that we just celebrated our 20th anniversary this year.”
She went on to earn her LL.M. in agriculture and food law after a year of intensive study, supported by her work as a graduate assistant at the National Agricultural Law Center. Her research focused on food safety and labeling issues.
For nearly two decades before entering academia, Alsbrook practiced law and developed a thriving boutique practice serving small business clients while also engaging in food and agricultural policy work. Her areas of expertise included the nuanced field of genetically modified and genetically engineered organism law, regulations that govern biotechnology while balancing human health, environmental safety, and ethical concerns. She also contributed as a freelance legal writer and researcher for several law firms.
With a successful practice in motion, what ultimately drew her to the classroom?
“People had been telling me for a long time I would be a good law professor,” Alsbrook said. “But it was not until I accepted the job as a visiting professor at the University of Arkansas that I realized how much I loved this role. It was like a part of my heart that I did not know was there cracked open, and I truly found my purpose. I loved teaching so much I could not imagine not doing it.”
The realization prompted a major life change. Determined to continue teaching, Alsbrook moved across the country to a town she had barely heard of, where she did not know a single person, to join Mercer Law.
“That was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” she said.
At Mercer, Alsbrook teaches courses including Civil Lawsuits, Agricultural Law Seminar, Legal Writing I and II, and Introduction to the Study of Law. Her aim, she said, is to prepare students with strong written and verbal communication skills and instill confidence in their ability to advocate for clients.
“Helping students grow in their understanding of the law and change their approach to legal skills over the course of a semester and seeing them continue to increase skills during their time at Mercer Law … it’s truly an honor,” she said. “Mercer Law students are amazing, and working with them is the best part of the job.”
Beyond the classroom, Alsbrook partners with Professor Pat Longan, Dean Karen Sneddon, and a team of practitioners and judges led by alumna Kate Cook, ’02, to formalize Mercer Law’s partnership with the Journal of Southern Legal History. She also serves as faculty advisor to Phi Delta Phi and the Rural Law Students Association and is a board member for Middle Georgia Justice.
Her favorite part of the Mercer Law community, she said, is the genuine kindness that permeates the campus.
“Everyone takes what we do seriously, but we are all here to help the students as much as possible, and that keeps us focused on kindness and pragmatic productivity. It’s a great community and a great learning environment,” she said.
Now settled in Middle Georgia, Alsbrook has embraced her new home.
“I love to travel, so one of my favorite things about this area is being so close to a large airport,” she said. “I also love to volunteer, attend Mercer music concerts and community events, and visit with friends. When I have quiet time, I love to read for fun and to do needle arts such as embroidery or cross stitching.”
