Alabama Law Celebrates the Class of 2026

May 7, 2026

President Peter Mohler and Dean Bill Brewbaker lead the graduate procession during the University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

UA President Peter Mohler and Dean Bill Brewbaker lead the graduate procession during the commencement ceremony.

Two law school graduates smile at the camera during the procession at University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

Loren Reese and Hannah Palmer smile during the graduate procession.

A law school graduate smiles at someone during the procession at University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

Jason Carlton smiles during the graduate procession.

A law school graduate smiles at the camera while processing during the University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

Sav Miles, the Class of 2026 valedictorian, smiles during the graduate procession.

Haley Noele Follmer-Burnett smiles during the graduate procession.

Tom Lichtel performs the National Anthem.

Dean Bill Brewbaker shakes hands with Gail Johnson following Ms. Johnson's commencement address. They are each dress in law school commencement regalia.

Dean Bill Brewbaker shakes hands with Gail Johnson, the 2026 commencement speaker.

A law school graduate gets hooded during the University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

Yuqiao Hu gets hooded during the ceremony.

President Peter Mohler shakes hands with a University of Alabama School of Law graduate during the commencement ceremony.

UA President Peter Mohler shakes hands with a graduate as he walks across the stage.

Monroe Clayton is hooded by Assistant Dean Anil Mujumdar as Assistant Dean Anita Kay Head and Professor Russell Gold look on.

Gail Johnson shakes hands with a University of Alabama School of Law graduate during the commencement ceremony.

Gail Johnson, the 2026 commencement speaker, shakes hands with a graduate as she walks across the stage.

A female law school graduate is being hooded while wearing her commencement regalia. Her young son stands in front of her while giving a high-five to a faculty member. Everyone in the photo is wearing graduation regalia except for the child. The mother and others in the background are smiling at the high five.

Sara Philp is hooded as Professor Russell Gold high-fives her son, who joined his mother as she walked across the stage.

A group of law school graduates move their tassels during the University of Alabama School of Law commencement ceremony.

The newly-minted Alabama Law Class of 2026 moves their tassels to the left, signifying the completion of their degree.

On Sunday, May 3, The University of Alabama School of Law awarded 129 Juris Doctor degrees, with an additional two students receiving their Master of Business Administration, during the Class of 2026 commencement ceremony at Coleman Coliseum.

Sav Miles delivered the valedictory address, and outgoing Student Bar Association President Madeline Martin offered a reflection for the class. Next year, Sav will be clerking for Judge James Simmons of the Southern District of California before joining Miller & Martin as a litigator in their Chattanooga office, and Madeline will be clerking for Justice Chris McCool (’92) of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The commencement address was delivered by Gail Johnson, longtime mentor of Alabama Law students and friend of the Law School. Ms. Johnson’s relationship with the Law School began when she graduated from UCLA School of Law with Professor Bryan Fair. Since then, Ms. Johnson has delivered the annual keynote address at the Bryan K. Fair BLSA Chapter Welcome Party, and she is the namesake of the chapter’s Gail K. Johnson Award, which recognizes an Alabama lawyer who has provided outstanding service to the minority legal community.

“Recently, I was thanking my mentor, Brook, the person who got me to my current job, in an email. She wrote back, ‘But I just showed a lane, and you did the rest.’ That lane has led this Protestant to the Vatican to sit next to a former law clerk, now priest, as the late Pope Francis held an outdoor audience; to courthouses all over the country, with some wins and some losses; to stand graveside with a clerk who lost his father unexpectedly; to six venues across the country to officiate weddings of clerks who trusted me in that intimate triangle at the front of one of the biggest days of their lives,” Ms. Johnson said. “For those of you who are still uncertain about what happens after today’s graduation, know there is a lane made just for you. With the help of others, you will find it and do the rest.”

UA President Peter Mohler and UA System Trustee Karen Brooks also joined in the celebration, with President Mohler conferring the Juris Doctor degrees upon the graduates of the Class of 2026.

If you missed the ceremony, you can view a recording here.

The University of Alabama School of Law strives to remain neutral on issues of public policy. The Law School’s communications team may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Law School, the University, or affiliated leadership.