In 2016, after a successful multi-year career in banking, mortgages and financial planning, Allison L. Cartwright, ’25, began working as a senior account executive at New Horizons Computer Learning Center in Atlanta. There, she had the opportunity to serve as a mentor, encouraging others to work hard, do their best, act honorably and accomplish their goals.
When the pandemic hit, she, like many people, had a lot of time to think about her life, career and future. Though she enjoyed her job at New Horizons, Cartwright felt like she was working at something rather than working toward something.
She became fascinated with the legal profession after taking a course in tort law during her undergraduate years at Georgia College & State University, where she graduated with a business degree, cum laude with honors. The practice of law, she said, is a unique profession that is poised in society to help solve problems rather than create them.
“Being an attorney is often about giving a voice to the silenced and strength to the weary,” she said. “That is something of which I want to be a part. That is why I want to be a lawyer.”
Cartwright said when she first began contemplating law school, she was concerned about being back in the academic world after 22 years in the working world. But after studying for the LSAT and taking an online, live law class her 0L summer, she felt she was prepared to go back. This time with a briefcase instead of a backpack.
On Aug. 9, 2022, at the age of 42, she enrolled at Mercer University School of Law, taking the first step toward making her dream come true.
“It was a perfect time in my life to pursue a career as a lawyer because through my previous experiences I had honed the dedication and mental fortitude that is required to dive fully into the world of law,” she said. “I knew that earning a law degree would teach me how to navigate the legal frameworks of the profession for my clients, while also providing new outlets for me to be a valued member of society outside of the courtroom.”
Since May 2023, Cartwright has served as a student law clerk to Sam Hart Jr., ’97, at Dozier Law Firm in Macon where, among other things, she researches complex civil litigation matters to create, file and serve legal complaints, motions and briefs. She enjoys working both on plaintiff civil suits and criminal defense. She plans to be a trial attorney and will join Dozier as an associate attorney after graduating and passing the bar exam.
Cartwright was an Elon National Moot quarterfinalist in 2024; won the Best Oralist Award at the Georgia State Bar Intrastate Moot Court Competition in 2024; was the Dan W. Sweat Memorial Endowment Recipient for 2023-2024; was a Phi Delta Phi Law Honor Society Inductee in 2023; was a W. Homer Drake Jr. Georgia Bankruptcy American Inn of Court Inductee in 2023; won the CALI Award in the Accounting for Lawyers course — the highest-scoring student in the class — in fall 2023; and served as president of the Older, Wiser Law Students (OWLS) for 2023-2024. OWLS endeavors to support all law students but especially those who are married, beginning their second career, or who are geographically separated from family.
Cartwright currently serves as chief justice of the Honor Court, an elected position, and has been an Honor Court representative all three years of law school. She said her favorite involvement at Mercer has been competing on moot court, where she also serves on the executive board as the council’s public relations/alumni chair.
“Being chosen for such an elite team is inspiring and has helped sharpen my speaking and writing skills,” she said. “Mercer Advocacy Council makes practice-ready lawyers, and we push each other to be the best. As Dean (Katie) Powers, ’09, always says, ‘No one is going to out-work Mercer!’”
Cartwright’s advice to others considering going back to school to start a new career is to “just do it!”
“It is a lot of work, but it is so worth it to pursue your dream. Make sure you have a support system in place — be it family, friends or both. Mine have provided unwavering support at every turn,” she said. “There will be days when you will need to lean on them, so don’t be afraid to do just that. Be ready for the sacrifices of free time and extra cash, but life is about the journey, and I’m so grateful that God opened every door to make my dream come true.”
Cartwright will be the second lawyer in her family. Her cousin Joel Graham graduated from Mercer Law in 2014 and will serve as Cartwright’s hooder at graduation in May.
“I know I have what it takes to become an exceptional lawyer and, hopefully, an inspiration to others by reminding them that one should never give up on a dream and do everything possible to make it come true,” she said.
