Mercer University School of Law graduate Elizabeth Nelms, ’25, has spent the majority of her life serving others. Since she was 3 years old, she has been volunteering at nursing homes and delivering Meals on Wheels to people who are unable to purchase or prepare their own food.
She started her service working alongside her grandparents, who she said were the most giving people she’s ever known. Their lives and the challenges they faced in the aging process inspired Nelms to pursue a master’s degree in gerontology and a career in which she can advocate for older adults, protect their rights and help families navigate complex legal and care-related decisions.
“I am interested in practicing elder law due to my understanding of the challenges older adults face and my desire to ensure they receive the legal protections and support they deserve,” she said. “Honoring my grandparents’ memory has profoundly shaped my commitment to this work.”
When Nelms first started studying for the LSAT, her family lived in Tallahassee, Florida, and she intended to enroll in law school at Florida State University. However, her husband, Jeremy, received a series of job offers that took them first to north Georgia and then to Warner Robins, so Nelms put her law school plans on hold. She said that time turned out to be an invaluable gift.
“I was able to spend quality time with my children,” she said. “Teaching them and getting to witness them grow made the wait to attend law school worth it.”
In 2022, Nelms and her family decided that after years of taking care of her grandparents and eventually her parents, raising two children, and supporting her husband’s career, it was time for Nelms to pursue her own dream of going to law school.
“While my family is my top priority, Jeremy wanted to make sure I had my time to prioritize my own goals and aspirations,” she said. “Mercer Law was perfectly located for me to take the leap into law school while also allowing me to be with my family.”
Nelms said going back to school after several years away was one of the hardest things she has done but also one of the most rewarding. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Auburn University in 2008 and her master’s degree in gerontology from Kansas State University in 2014. Stepping into law school as a nontraditional student, a mother and a caregiver was daunting.
“I had to relearn how to be a student again — how to study effectively, manage my time and absorb an overwhelming amount of information — while also juggling the responsibilities of life outside of school,” she said.
The biggest challenge, Nelms said, was the mental shift.
“I had spent years prioritizing others and had to learn how to carve out space for myself. There have been moments when I wondered if I had taken on too much,” she said. “The struggles I’ve faced have made me stronger and helped me find purpose in the chaos, reminding me why I chose to pursue law in the first place. This journey has been hard, but it’s also been absolutely worth it.”
Nelms said being a nontraditional law student has shaped her journey in ways she never could have predicted. Now the primary caregiver for aging parents, she must do for her parents what she does for her children — advocate, protect and anticipate their every need — while also realizing that, just as much as they all need her, she needs them.
“I would not be who I am without their support and unwavering belief in me,” she said. “I wish I could give each of them their own honorary Juris Doctor degree.”
Though her experience as a nontraditional student has been unique, she said she has developed a deep sense of resilience and purpose. She does well academically and has had the opportunity to engage in several rewarding experiences, including her judicial field placement in probate court with Bibb County Probate Judge Sarah S. Harris, ’86. Nelms created an online guide and presentation for law students and attorneys that explains various aspects of advocating for older adult clients and how important it is to understand how those needs permeate all areas of law, which is usually thought to be just for those practicing elder law.
At Mercer Law School, Nelms was a member of the Mercer Advocacy Council’s negotiations team and competed in several competitions with teammate Anjali Patel, ’25. She was a member of the William A. Bootle American Inn of Court, Phi Delta Phi honor society and Association of Women Law Students. In addition, she was co-president of Older, Wiser Law Students; served as a research assistant to Margie Alsbrook, assistant professor of law; and was a Mercer Law student ambassador.
In her community, Nelms serves as a member of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission Aging Advisory Council and as the Middle Georgia Auburn Alumni Club secretary. Recently, she and her husband graduated from Leadership Georgia.
Now a Mercer Law graduate, Nelms will begin her career as a staff attorney for Judge Jeffery Monroe in the Superior Court of the Macon Judicial Circuit after completing the bar exam.
Nelms said she has found reward as an older student in developing close relationships with her younger classmates and being able to cheerlead for them and celebrate their victories.
To others considering going back to school to start a new career, Nelms said: “Remember that you don’t have to do it alone. It’s hard to carry things all by yourself, no matter how good you are at doing just that. But the truth is, we all need support. Be open to creating a support system for yourself, whether that’s classmates, professors, mentors, or even professional and community networks. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, understand you, and who remind you that you are capable of anything. Finally, give yourself grace. You are stepping into something new and challenging, and there will be hard days. Focus on your growth instead of perfection. Be patient with yourself, have faith in yourself, and remember why you started the journey. Your dreams are worth the effort.”
