Justia 10 Lawyer rating
Super Lawyers
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Avvo Rating 10 Kenneth L. Shigley
The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Bar Register Preemient Lawyers
GeorgiaTrend Legal elite
America's Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys
Georgia Trial Lawyer Association Champion 2018
Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent For Ethical Standars and Legal Ability

Emory and Uga Rank Among Top Law Schools

Johnson & Ward Team

I don’t put a lot of stock in college rankings in US News and other publications. The formulas are too contrived, too subject to manipulation and present too great a temptation for institutions to misplace priorities in order to rank higher.

They can distort high education much as over emphasis on standardized testing has distorted elementary and secondary education, with school systems requiring teachers to teach for the test rather than teaching kids and inspiring creativity. But I am not running for public office and this is not a blog post about educational policy in America.

While I generally disdain the rankings, I still look at them. And if they make my alma mater look good, I might inappropriately brag a little.

The 2025 US News rankings of law schools rate the University of Georgai in a tie for #22 and Emory University Law School at #28.  

If you or a loved one have suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, submit our inquiry form or call us now at 404-253-7862.

Updated January 19, 2026

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Johnson & Ward 

 Johnson & Ward, was the first personal injury specialty law firm in Georgia from its founding in 1949. The firm’s founders were also founders of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association. Built upon traditional, word-of-mouth referrals from other professionals, the firm has never needed to advertise on TV or billboards. Firm alumni have served as judges of Fulton County Superior Court and the Court of Appeals of Georgia, and current partners include former  presidents of the Atlanta Bar Association and State Bar of Georgia.

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Ken Shigley, an Emory Law graduate and a partner at Johnson & Ward, is a former president of the State Bar of Georgia. In 2019, he received the “Tradition of Excellence Award” for lifetime achievement in the legal profession. Mr. Shigley was lead author of eleven annual editions of a book about Georgia’s civil trial practice. He was the first Georgia lawyer to earn three national board certifications from the National Board of Trial Advocacy in trial practice and truck accident law. He graduated from Furman University and Emory University Law School. He also completed certificate programs in mediation and negotiation at Harvard Law School. A widower, he has two adult offspring. His son is a golf fitness trainer  and his daughter works in hospice with terminally ill patients. 

Client Reviews

Attorney Ken Shigley - did his lawyer thing - and increased my "take home amount" of settlement - the amount after paying core medical & legal fees - by over 3000% (three thousand percent) more than what some other law firms could do. He and courtney (his assistant) were like family! True blessings.

Louise W., Client

My mother was a passenger in a horrible car crash in Georgia when the car in which she was passenger was hit by an ex-convict who had no insurance, and who later died from a cocaine overdose. When I learned of mom's injury, I immediately flew in from California. As I work in Silicon Valley, I...

John P., Client

After my parents were killed in a tractor truck accident on December 2013, he fought hard against the insurance companies to help my brother, sister, and I. He was honest and always available to answer any questions I had. Ken went out of his way to meet with my brother and I while on vacation in...

Joan M., Client

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