For Immediate Release

June 20, 2008
Prosecutors Complete Leadership Training

Three Georgia prosecutors have graduated from the State Bar of Georgia's Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy. Molly Barrett, Assistant Solicitor-General in the Cobb County Solicitor's office; Nedal Shawkat, Assistant District Attorney in the Douglas County District Attorney’s office; and Thomas V. Duck III, Assistant District Attorney in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit completed the training. The graduation ceremony was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the State Bar of Georgia on June 6, 2008 at Amelia Island, Florida.

The Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy was founded in 2006, bringing together young lawyers from across the state with leaders in various areas of the legal practice. The Leadership Academy begins each January and meets once a month for six months. Each month’s program covers a different topic and students receive continuing legal education credits for their participation.

“The Leadership Academy has been, by far, one of the best things I have done in my legal career,” said Barrett. “The Academy has provided me with opportunities to gain knowledge from U.S. and State legislators, federal and state judges and state bar representatives, as well as younger lawyers. It also has allowed me to strengthen my professional career by gaining knowledge about different areas of the law and to build relationships with the young leaders of our profession.”

“I am honored to be among those selected for the YLD Leadership Academy.  Through my involvement with the Leadership Academy, I have been able to meet young lawyers, as well as leaders in the legal community, from across the state,” said Duck.

“Being a part of the Leadership Academy has been a great honor and an enriching experience,” said Shawkat. “The lessons learned and friendships born will never be forgotten. I am a better attorney thanks to the opportunity the Leadership Academy provided for me to draw from the experiences of a diverse group of attorneys, judges, and leaders from all across the state.”

Fifty-six lawyers were selected to participate in this year’s program. Some of this year’s topics included Service to the Bar, Lawyers as Legislators, Pro Bono Work and Community Service, Prosessionalism, and Lawyers and the Judiciary.

“The purpose of the Leadership Academy is to bring young lawyers together from across the state and from a diverse array of practice areas and to educate them about the opportunities available to them through the State Bar. Additionally, the Leadership Academy aspires to encourage the participants to become leaders within the Bar by exposing them to other Bar leaders serving in the state and federal judiciary, state legislature, Congress, and within the YLD and State Bar itself,” said Sharri Edenfield, Co-Chair of the YLD Leadership Academy.

The three were also among 30 lawyers elected to serve as District Representatives for the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division Executive Council. In addition, Shawkat has since been appointed by the Young Lawyer’s Division President, Josh Bell, to serve as Chairperson of the YLD Criminal Law Committee.

Prosecutor Profile:

Molly Barrett
Molly Barrett, Assistant Solicitor-General in the Cobb County Solicitor's office, has worked as a prosecutor with the Cobb County Solicitor-General’s office under the direction of Solicitor-General Barry E. Morgan for just over a year. She was formerly a prosecutor with the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s office. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia in 2002 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law in 2006.

Thomas V. Duck, III
Thomas V. Duck, III , Assistant District Attorney in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit, is a former Columbus Police Officer turned Prosecutor, and has been working in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office for approximately three years prosecuting felony cases.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1997 and a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2001, both from Columbus State University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Atlanta ’s John Marshall Law School in 2005.

Nedal Shawkat
For over a year and a half, Nedal Shawkat has worked as an Assistant District Attorney with the Douglas County District Attorney’s office under the direction of District Attorney David McDade. He was formerly a prosecutor with the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s office. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Augusta State University in 2001 and a Juris Doctor degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2006.

Left to Right: Nedal Shawkat, Molly Barrett and Thomas Duck.