Andrew Doyle Mason | Cobb Circuit, Post 2

Education

• Kennesaw State University, magna cum laude, 2011
  
• University of Georgia School of Law, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2015
  

Personal/Family

• I am a Marietta resident. I am married with two daughters (10 years and 22 months). My wife is a teacher and the head cheerleading coach at Walton High School in East Cobb. I am in my second and final term as co-president of the Murdock Elementary PTA.
• I love baseball, football, and golf. I support the Braves, Georgia Bulldogs and Falcons. I enjoy traveling, and I married into a Disney family, so I spend a disproportionate amount of my vacation time in Orlando. I also enjoy hiking, camping and fishing.
• I am a first-generation college graduate, and I was raised in a working-class family. My father was an ironworker, and my mother was a disabled homemaker.

Professional Background, Bar Activities, Civic Activities

• Counsel, Division of Enforcement, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Work History
  • Sullivan & Cromwell—New York, New York
  • King & Spalding—Atlanta, Georgia
  • Chilivis Grubman—Atlanta, Georgia
• Bar Memberships
  • State Bar of Georgia
  • Cobb County Bar Association
  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
• Chair, Criminal Law Section, Atlanta Bar Association
• Published five articles concerning government investigations in the Daily Report
• Guest lecturer, Georgia State University College of Law: “The Nuts & Bolts of Healthcare Fraud Investigations” (2022)
• U.S. Navy Reserve; served eight years as an enlisted Intelligence Specialist
• Eagle Scout

Main Issues Facing the State Bar/Position

• Artificial Intelligence
  • I hope to work with the Bar’s Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Technology to ensure proper safeguards are put in place concerning the use of AI, including clear guidance on required disclosures to clients.
  • There should be significant consequences for attorneys who fail to proof/Shepardize filings.
  • We need robust licensing requirements for AI document review.
• Clerks of Court
  • The Board of Governors must explore potential strategies to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of Clerks of Court offices.
  • If the Clerk’s office is hindering the proper administration of justice, the courts and Bar must be able to address those obstacles.
• Attorney Mental Health
  • The Board of Governors should explore new strategies to combat the issues of mental health, substance abuse, and suicide.
  • The Bar already offers wellness CLE credit; however, I would be in favor of giving attorneys the option to earn 1 CLE hour per year by chatting with a counselor or participating in some group activity designed to improve mental health.
• Civility
  • Multiple judges and litigators have expressed to me concerns with the breakdown of civility between attorneys.
  • The Bar would benefit from better enforcement of existing rules regarding civility and professionalism in practice.
• Attorney Military Service
  • Outside of government practice, the legal community has not always been particularly supportive of service in the military reserves. I left the Navy Reserve after law school because my firm was clearly not okay with the time commitment. I wish other young attorneys didn’t have to make that choice.
  • I don’t think it should be a requirement, but I'd like the Bar to encourage firms to allow attorneys to take two weeks a year for annual training without any negative consequences.
  • Perhaps firms could award pro bono credit for annual training to count toward billable hours requirements.