William Hill, Polsinelli, Atlanta. Photo by John Disney/Daily Report) William Hill, Polsinelli, Atlanta. (Photo by John Disney/ALM)
The attorney who nominated you for the Lifetime Achievement award noted that, in 1987, you became the first African-American lawyer to argue for the state of Georgia at the U.S. Supreme Court. What was that experience like?  Did it matter that, despite winning a 6-3 decision, Justice Thurgood Marshall—the first black justice on the U.S. high court—voted against Georgia's position? Who were some of your mentors, and what did you learn from them? In your career, you have practiced criminal law for the government, served as a judge and handled a wide variety of matters in private practice—including criminal defense and representing entities in the auto, pharmaceutical and hospitality industries. How have you kept yourself versatile?   What has been your biggest accomplishment in the law, and what was your biggest challenge in achieving it? You teach law students. What do you tell them they should do to achieve success in the law?