A former staff attorney with the Mountain Judicial Circuit has returned to North Georgia to join the Hasty Pope law firm in Gainesville.
According to a press release from Hasty Pope, Mary Elizabeth "MaryBeth" Handte has worked as both a staff attorney for a Superior Court Judge in the Mountain Judicial Circuit and for an insurance defense firm in the Atlanta area.
"MaryBeth's journey to becoming an attorney began in her childhood, where she was told she would one day become a lawyer," the release said. "Her bullheaded sense of justice, paired with a soft and sympathetic heart, has helped her connect with her clients and understand their hardships."
Handte graduated from the University of North Georgia with degrees in Business Administration and Korean and then enrolled in Mercer University's School of Law, where she served as a Justice on the Honor Court and worked for a local trial attorney.
Handte moved back home to the mountains of North Georgia and completed her legal education when the COVID-19 pandemic hit during her last semester at Mercer. She began working as a staff attorney for a Superior Court Judge in the Mountain Judicial Circuit after earning her law degree. This led her to join an insurance defense firm in the Atlanta area, where she developed new professional skills.
"She eventually decided that city life was not for her and found a home with Hasty Pope, happy to return to the rolling hills and green trees of Gainesville and surrounding areas," the release said.
"We are thrilled to welcome MaryBeth to our team," said Jon Pope, co-founder of Hasty Pope. "Her unique perspective and dedication to her clients make her a valuable addition to our firm."
Find more information about Hasty Pope by visiting their website.
