From Eagle Scout to ACLU Attorney: Meet Professor George Bach
After spending the 2023–2024 academic year as a visiting professor at USF Law, Professor George Bach returned to campus this fall as a full-time member of the faculty, teaching Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Civil Procedure.
What or who inspired you to pursue a career in law — and eventually in higher ed?
I’ve always had a desire to do public interest work. Certainly, being a member of the LGBTQ+ community was a big part of it. I also had the great fortune to work for firms that represented labor unions and that did civil rights work before I joined the ACLU as an attorney. I had so many amazing mentors who led me to teaching, including Prof. Barbara Bergman (now at Arizona), who asked me to teach as an adjunct, which started me down this path.
What drew you to USF?
USF cares about its students and teaching. It cares about training lawyers to serve their communities. Being a part of that mission is truly exciting.
What’s one piece of advice you give your students that you wish someone had told you in law school?
In my experience, happiness as a lawyer is inversely proportional to how much you are focused on making money. Try to keep your expenses low and follow your heart, not your wallet.
Favorite book (legal or otherwise)?
Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls. I confess I spent too much time reading it during my 1L year and even attempted (emphasis on “attempted”) to write a paper in my Jurisprudence course on it.
What’s your go-to way to unwind after a long day of teaching or writing?
Walking my crazy dog! And swimming.
What’s a hobby or skill you’ve picked up recently?
A good friend taught me to play cribbage this year.
What’s something your students or colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?
I was an Eagle Scout!
