Mississippi College School of Law leaders selected Robert G. "Bob" Anderson as the 2009 Lawyer of the Year.

The award, presented annually by the law school in downtown Jackson, recognizes a lawyer who has been a credit to the law school and the legal community.

A native of Pascagoula, Anderson serves as senior counsel with Butler Snow law firm in the white collar crime and government investigations practice group. He is responsible for defending white collar criminal cases and handle commercial litigation among a host of other duties.

 A 1983 graduate of Millsaps College, he received his bachelor's degree in political science.

 Law school dean Jim Rosenblatt describes Bob Anderson as being a person who makes complicated things seem easy.  "He has taken on so many challenges and armed himself with a plethora of legal work experiences.  I respect him as a leader from his duties with the US Attorney's Office, as a sophisticated attorney from his work at Butler Snow, and as a teacher from his instruction as an adjunct professor at MCSOL," says Rosenblatt. 

The 1987 law school graduate is involved with the Federal Bar Association, the American Bar Association, American Health Lawyers Association and the Christian Legal Society. In addition, Anderson is former president of the Optimist Club of Jackson and vice-president of the Ridgeland community theater group, Center Players.

Anderson is married to Judy Ann Fortenberry and has one daughter, Lindseyann, a junior at Mississippi State. They are dedicated members of First Baptist Church in Jackson.

 "There are so many other lawyers who also give graciously of their time and resources to the law school," says Anderson. "I give back to Mississippi College School of Law because it has allowed me to achieve great success and I want to be a part of the success for the law school and its students."