Elizabeth Prelogar 02C has a client that often gets sued: the United States.
Prelogar was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as solicitor general and assumed office on Oct. 28, 2021. As solicitor general, it is Prelogar’s responsibility to represent the interests of the federal government in legal cases that come before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Prelogar, an Emory College graduate, returned to her alma mater with events organized by Advancement and Alumni Engagement to discuss her career journey and responsibilities as the fourth-highest ranking official in the Department of Justice, plus offer words of wisdom with students at the School of Law and Emory College.
Her return to campus began with a fireside chat with law students, moderated by Paul Koster, professor of practice in the School of Law, and Alexandra Zimmer 25L, executive director of the Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Program (ELSSCAP).
“The visit by Solicitor General Prelogar was a singular event: an opportunity for students and faculty to hear from the official whose office represents the United States in litigation at the Supreme Court,” said Richard D. Freer, dean of the School of Law. “General Prelogar provided a window into the operation of the Solicitor General’s office, the importance of public service and her own remarkable career.”
Prelogar discussed her time at Emory, including her involvement with The Emory Wheel. Her initial plan was to study law so she could write and report about it as a journalist. But she quickly learned that she loved to practice.
In addition to working for the Wheel, Prelogar was a Woodruff Scholar and graduated summa cum laude with degrees in English and Russian. She then completed her master’s in creative writing as a Bobby Jones Scholar at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and was a Fulbright scholar in St Petersburg, Russia.
She graduated from Harvard Law School magna cum laude in 2008.
Before becoming solicitor general, she clerked for then-judge Merrick B. Garland on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and later clerked in the Supreme Court for Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan.
Offering perspectives and advice to hopeful future attorneys
She shared a truth with the law students that she reflects on throughout her career that has enhanced her skills and pushed her into new territory — with impacts she still feels today.
“The one thing that I think has been important in opening doors for me and exposing me to new experiences was to make myself uncomfortable,” said Prelogar. “Every time I’ve had to put myself out there and try something new that made me uncomfortable, it has been a chance for tremendous growth. It’s improved my ability to practice law and shape new skills.”
Prelogar recognizes the incredible magnitude of the cases she argues and how their outcomes could impact people across the country.
“The work that the Court is doing and the cases they decide very much affect the society we live in, the legal rules that order our lives and the way that our government operates,” Prelogar said. “I do think that there’s room to bring some emotion and a recognition of the practical stakes of the cases to the litigation efforts.”
Offering parting thoughts to the law students, Prelogar insisted they can be fierce advocates and still be respectful to those arguing other positions, citing a tradition she is part of every time she argues in front of the Supreme Court.
“There’s a tradition in the Supreme Court for when you’re arguing at the lectern and you want to refer to the other side, you refer to the other attorney as ‘my friend,’ which usually happens right before you logically deconstruct their argument. But, it is an illustration of the idea that you can be respectful while powerfully presenting your side of the case,” said Prelogar.
First-year law student Lauren Marie Kramer noted how thankful she was to hear such a high-profile government official speak on campus.
“Because of events like this, I feel like I’m at a school where they really want us to be exposed to all aspects of the legal field,” said Kramer. “I don’t feel like there’s any stone left unturned. General Prelogar is an Emory alum, and seeing her reach this point makes it feel like there’s no limit to what a person can do.”
Later that afternoon, Prelogar visited with a group of students from Emory College who are studying various disciplines, including philosophy, Spanish, political science and more.
In a conversation hosted by the Pathways Center and moderated by Alexander Bolton, associate professor of political science, Prelogar and Bolton discussed topics including her career trajectory, advice for navigating opportunities, why she deeply believes in the power of public service. A Q&A time with students concluded the session.
“It’s so important to engage with alumni. They are such a big part of our school and community,” said Jaden Bradish, a fourth-year student studying sociology and philosophy, politics and law. “Having the solicitor general here today is a great opportunity to ask engaging questions about the legal implications of a variety of topics our nation is facing right now.”
Sharing a different piece of advice with this group of students, Prelogar emphasized the importance of embracing failure when trying new things.
“I remember moments at Emory and beyond where I felt like I failed at something or hadn’t been as good as I hoped to be,” said Prelogar. “In the moment, those disappointments can be very profound and really affect you. But with the perspective I now have, those were moments where I grew as a person and where I further learned and defined how my life was going to unfold. Those failures can provide a springboard for the next door that might open.”
Reflecting on her career as solicitor general, Prelogar noted that though she has argued in front of the Supreme Court more than 30 times, it never gets old.
“I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world, and I have the very best job as a Supreme Court litigator. It is an incredible privilege and honor to represent the United States in the Supreme Court and to be charged with the responsibility of determining our positions on cases,” said Prelogar.
“I stand at the podium of the Supreme Court and think, ‘I am here representing my country, making legal arguments that I think best serve the American people.’ I wake up every morning and pinch myself to confirm that it's really true.”