Law alumna is only Tennesseean represented among nationally distinguished group
Alix Rogers (JD, ‘18), director of career and professional development at the Belmont University College of Law, was recently named as an On the Rise — Top 40 Young Lawyers Award honoree by the American Bar Association.
The ABA's On the Rise program annually recognizes 40 young lawyers under age 40 who are making a significant impact on the legal profession and their communities. Rogers is the only Tennessee honoree recognized this year for leading and serving in a broad range of industries across the nation.
“Receiving this recognition is incredibly humbling,” said Rogers. “This award is especially meaningful because it recognizes service to the legal profession in all its forms. I came to law school, and specifically chose Belmont Law, because I knew I wanted to help people, but I just didn't know what that career would look like.”
Finding Purpose Through Service
Deeply committed to public service and access to justice, the Belmont alumna joined the College of Law staff in 2022 as the inaugural public interest coordinator. Before transitioning to lead the Career and Professional Development Office, Rogers established a robust public interest program and launched monthly pro bono legal clinics, creating opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while providing free legal services to vulnerable and under-resourced communities.
At the heart of her professional journey lies a drive to help law students and young legal professionals discover their passion.
Rogers is the co-creator of the Rural Judicial Fellowship, a six-week long summer clerkship established to address the state’s shortage of rural attorneys while giving law students immersive experiences in rural Tennessee courtrooms.
Her work on the Rural Judicial Fellowship recently drew national attention. The ABA Journal featured Rogers in its Members Who Inspire series, highlighting her efforts to expose law students to the legal needs of rural communities and strengthen the pipeline of attorneys serving those areas.
After graduating from law school, Rogers first witnessed the access-to-justice gap facing rural communities while working as a generalist at a small firm in Lewisburg, Tennessee. The fellowship aims to help address that gap by introducing law students firsthand to rural legal work and encouraging them to build careers in underserved areas.
“I really do hope it creates a ripple effect,” Rogers shared in the feature. “Some students have reflected that they could really see themselves working in a rural community, but I think all of them are now more aware of this problem.”
Expanding Her Impact in Higher Education
Rogers' recognition is notable for another reason: in addition to being the only honoree from Tennessee, she is the only professional working in higher education rather than in traditional law practice.
Rogers' role at Belmont's College of Law offers a different perspective on service to the profession. While many of her peers serve clients directly, Rogers' impact is measured through the hundreds of future attorneys she helps prepare for the profession, shaping the next generation of legal leaders before they enter practice.
“I realized that my greatest impact could come from helping future lawyers launch meaningful careers and equipping them to serve others,” she said. “Working in higher education has broadened my understanding of what it means to be a lawyer and to serve the profession. While I am no longer representing individual clients every day, I have the privilege of helping shape hundreds of future attorneys as they begin their careers. It has also reinforced my belief that leadership is about creating opportunities for others to succeed.”
Her involvement across a wide range of legal and community organizations reflects the service-minded leadership she encourages in her students, demonstrating that a legal career can be defined as much by community impact as professional achievement.
She currently serves as the Middle Tennessee Governor for the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and as the Tennessee Young Lawyer Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. She is Vice Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Mentorship section, a member of the Access to Justice Committee and serves on multiple advisory committees for the Tennessee Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission. She also sits on the executive board for the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services and Community Helpers of Rutherford County.
“I am especially grateful to Belmont University College of Law for recognizing the value of these involvements and encouraging me to pursue my passion for creating opportunities for others through mentorship, professional development and expanding access to the legal profession,” Rogers said. “Knowing that these efforts are valued by my peers is both an honor and a reminder of the responsibility we all share to invest in the next generation of lawyers. If Belmont students graduate our program believing they can build excellent careers while also making their profession better, then I will feel like I have done my job.”
Rogers will accept an award at the ABA’s annual meeting in August.
Learn more about the College of Law at Belmont.