Mercer University School of Law Associate Professor Bonnie Carlson traces her interest in the legal profession to a defining moment early in her college years. As a freshman at the University of Virginia, she attended a Take Back the Night vigil where classmates anonymously shared their experiences with sexual assault.
“That was an eye-opening and transformative event for me,” said Carlson, who also serves as director of experiential education at Mercer Law. “I realized that I wanted to help people who experienced similar assaults.”
From that point forward, she determined that direct legal representation would be the most effective way to make an impact.
After earning her Juris Doctor degree from The George Washington University Law School in 2012, Carlson began her legal career as a staff attorney at Legal Services of Northern Virginia. There, she represented survivors of domestic violence in a wide range of family law matters, including protective orders, child custody and visitation, child support and divorce.
Carlson later joined the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence as a training and technical assistance staff attorney. In that role, she helped develop training manuals and conducted educational programs for family law attorneys nationwide.
“That work allowed me to think more broadly about how lawyers are trained and how that training affects survivors,” she said.
During this time, Carlson also began teaching legal research and writing at The George Washington University Law School, an experience that confirmed her interest in legal education. Her career continued at Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as a clinical teaching fellow in the domestic violence clinic. Carlson co-taught the clinic and supervised students representing survivors in protective order cases before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
“Clinical teaching allows students to move beyond theory and take responsibility for real clients,” she said. “You can see their growth happen very quickly when the work matters in a concrete way.”
Carlson joined Mercer Law in August 2021, and in fall 2022 she launched the domestic violence clinic, a year-long experiential program for upper-level law students. The clinic provides students with both substantive legal instruction and extensive hands-on experience.
During the first semester, students study Georgia law governing protective orders and develop foundational skills such as client interviewing, counseling, negotiation and trial advocacy. In the second semester, students represent clients in protective order cases before Bibb County Superior Court, handling cases from intake through resolution.
“Students are the lead attorneys on these cases from start to finish,” Carlson said. “That includes determining eligibility under the statute, drafting petitions, appearing at ex parte hearings, preparing trial documents, negotiating with respondents, and litigating the case if necessary.”
The close supervision provided throughout the process allows students to develop confidence while maintaining high standards of client representation, she said.
The clinic partners closely with Crisis Line & Safe House of Central Georgia. Carlson serves on the board, which provides all client referrals and works with students throughout the representation.
“Crisis Line & Safe House has been an outstanding partner for us,” Carlson said. “Our students shadow their advocates, communicate regularly about client needs, and benefit from the organization’s deep experience working with survivors.”
In addition to her clinical work, Carlson’s scholarship focuses on gun rights and regulation, particularly as they intersect with domestic violence. She was first introduced to the issue as a law student intern at the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
“I became fascinated with the competing interests on both sides—the right to bear arms and the right to live free from gun violence,” she said.
This topic has since become the primary focus of her academic writing. At Mercer, she teaches a Second Amendment seminar that explores a wide range of firearms-related legal issues.
As director of experiential education, Carlson oversees all clinical and externship programs at Mercer Law. Her responsibilities include managing placements, working with instructors, administering the Public Service Certificate program, and overseeing summer stipends for students engaged in pro bono work. She also helps organize Experiential-palooza, an event designed to connect students with externship supervisors. “Mercer Law has more experiential course offerings than ever,” she said, “and students really value the opportunity to learn by doing.”
Carlson identifies student development as the most rewarding aspect of her work. “I absolutely love our students,” she said. “Seeing them move from the student role to the role of lead attorney is incredibly rewarding.”
While she acknowledges the subject matter of her work can be challenging, Carlson believes mentorship and experiential education are essential.
“The magnitude of these issues — domestic violence, sexual violence and gun violence — can be overwhelming. But that’s exactly why this work is so important,” she said.
