Dennis C. Sweet IV Assistant Clinical Professor of Law; 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 brings over 16 years of experience in civil rights and criminal defense litigation, with a practice grounded in advocacy for underserved communities and systemic reform. He has successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His work has resulted in 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 policy changes in how the city responds to prowler calls. In Lewis v. City of Jackson, he authored the appellate brief resulting in a Mississippi Supreme Court ruling that clarified standards for police accountability. He has also secured not-guilty verdicts in capital murder cases and overturned wrongful convictions through retrials and strategic litigation.

Professor Sweet earned a B.A. from Tougaloo College, a J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and an LL.M. in Litigation and Dispute Resolution from George Washington University Law School. He has taught for more than a decade at Tougaloo College, where he advised and mentored students through the Ruben Anderson Pre-Law Society, coached mock trial teams, and taught courses on disaster law and policy. He has also guest lectured at Brown University. He is a member of both the Mississippi Bar and the Washington, D.C. Bar. His work has been recognized by the National Black Lawyers Top 100, the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys' Top 40 Under 40, and the American Association of Attorney Advocates. At W&L, he will lead the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Clinic, 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.