Dennis C. Sweet IV Clinical Professor of Law and Director, Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic

Phone: 540-458-8510

Email: dsweet@wlu.edu

Office:  253A Lewis Hall

Education

BA, Tougaloo College

JD, Thurgood Marshall School of Law

LLM, George Washington University Law School

About

Dennis C. Sweet IV has joined Washington and Lee University School of Law as Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic. He has successfully litigated cases in both state and federal courts, with a record that includes jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of victims of police misconduct and wrongful death. In Harrion v. City of Jackson, a jury found the city liable for the wrongful death of Ruth Helen Harrion, leading to changes in how police respond to prowler calls. In Lewis v. City of Jackson, he authored the appellate brief that resulted in a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling clarifying standards for police accountability. He has also secured not-guilty verdicts in capital murder trials and overturned wrongful convictions through retrials and strategic litigation.

Professor Sweet is deeply committed to public service and pro bono work, providing housing-related legal counseling through the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. He previously served as a liaison for the NAACP and Black Lives Matter, collaborating on community initiatives to advance racial justice and public safety reform.

He earned his B.A. from Tougaloo College, his J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and an LL.M. in Litigation and Dispute Resolution from The George Washington University Law School. For over a decade, he taught at Tougaloo College, where he mentored students through the Ruben V. Anderson Pre-Law Society, coached mock trial teams, and taught courses on disaster law and policy. He has also guest lectured at Brown University.

Professor Sweet is a member of the Mississippi Bar, the Washington, D.C. Bar, and the Virginia Bar. His work has been recognized by numerous professional organizations, including the National Black Lawyers Top 100, the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys' Top 40 Under 40, the American Association of Attorney Advocates, and the Lawyers of Distinction 2024 Award for Excellence in Civil Rights.

At W&L, he leads the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic, which is launching with a focus on housing discrimination and equitable access to housing, while preparing students for practice through real-world legal experience and community engagement.