AJMLS Alumni Board Chair, Neera Bahl, Awarded “Glory of India” Award

The school would like to congratulate AJMLS Alumni Board Chair, Neera Bahl (’01), for recently receiving the “Glory of India” award from the India International Friendship Society (IIFS), an organization engaged in helping achieve India’s targeted economic growth and modernization. This honor is awarded to individuals in India and abroad, who have glorified the country with outstanding contributions in their specialized fields. Neera practices immigration law in Atlanta, Georgia.

We are extremely proud for Neera and wish her the best as she continues to represent our school and the entire legal community with honor and professionalism. Congratulations, Neera!

Are You Making the Most of Your Law School Visit?

This is the time of year when students are planning visits to various law schools across the country. Whether you’re a prospective student or admitted student, US News & World Report strongly suggest visiting schools in order to make a well-informed decision. Author, Shawn O’Connor, details how to make the most of your law school visit and even gives a breakdown of specific things to do during each visit. Click here for the full article.

ALSA Members Recognized for Volunteer Efforts

AJMLS would like to recognize members of the Asian Law Student Association, who volunteered at the 2011 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Conference in Atlanta recently. They are: Caroline Yi, Jason Kim, Thomas Hwang, Yoohwa Seong, Suzette Guerra, Crystal Tran, and Wellington Tzou. Thanks to them and to all of our students who represent us so well in professional settings.

Law Admissions Lowdown – How Important are Extracurricular Activities?

U.S. News & World Report gives the “law admissions lowdown” on extracurricular activities in a recent article. Author, Shawn O’Connor, disputes the notion that law school admissions are solely based on LSAT scores and GPAs. “While these are the two single most significant factors in the admissions process, other factors, including extracurricular involvement, application essays, and recommendations, can also be very important,” he says.

O’Connor reveals four areas to consider before choosing an extracurricular activity: quality not quantity, not all activities are created equal, start early and be selective, and law-related activities are not essential. For a detailed look at each point, clickhere.

AJMLS Alumnus Dustin Hightower Elected to Georgia Legislature

The Alumni Office would like to congratulate Dustin “Dusty” Hightower (’08) on his most recent accomplishment! On January 3, 2012, Dusty was elected to represent District 68 in the Georgia Legislature. He joins fellow AJMLS alumni in the Legislature, Senator Ronald Ramsey (’92), and Representatives Stephen Allison (’96), Alex Atwood (’93), Douglas Collins (’08) and Billy Maddox (’06). Congratulations and good luck in all future endeavors!

AJMLS Staff Member Elected as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the NJDC

AJMLS’ Assistant Director of Pro Bono Outreach and Externships, Bridgett Ortega, was recently elected as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) in Washington D.C. The mission of the NJDC is to ensure excellence in juvenile defense and promote justice for all children.The organization was created in 1999 to respond to the critical need to build the capacity of the juvenile defense bar and to improve access to counsel and quality of representation for children in the justice system. They also give juvenile defense attorneys a more permanent capacity to address practice issues, improve advocacy skills, build partnerships, exchange information, and participate in the national debate over juvenile crime.AJMLS congratulates you on your accomplishments and all that you do for the school!

Law School Students Help Adopt a Family for the Holidays

On behalf of the AJMLS Department of Recruitment and Marketing and its Student Ambassadors, we would like to thank everyone for your generous donations and candy gram purchases. We collected more than $700 for the family. Your commitment to helping our Adopt-A-Family program is sincerely appreciated. Because of your generosity, we were able to further our mission in bettering the lives of children across the city of Atlanta.

The pro bono partnership of Atlanta Legal Aid and Kilpatrick Townsend handles adoptions for the Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project. Our school and volunteers from many firms expand the capacity of Atlanta Legal Aid’s staff and enable many more grandparents and other care-giving relatives to provide stable, loving homes for children whose parents cannot care for them.

Thanks, again, for generously supporting our efforts!

Three Factors to Consider When Choosing a Law School

The Lawyerist.com recently posted an article geared toward helping prospective law students choose the right school to attend. Author Tyler White recalls his journey to becoming a 1L and provides important advice for those looking to pursue a legal education. According to White, there are three key factors to consider when shopping for the right law school: ranking, cost and location.

Click here for the full article.

AJMLS Student Koji Noguchi Awarded Microsoft Scholarship

AJMLS is continually impressed with the caliber of students attending the school. To add another achievement to the long list of AJMLS scholars is Koji Noguchi’s recent scholarship awarded by Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).

The CLEO-Microsoft Intellectual Property Scholarship selects only four recipients each year for this honor. The competitive nature of the application process makes Koji’s accomplishment even more impressive. To acknowledge his achievement, the CLEO will be highlighting Koji along with his fellow scholarship winners in the January edition of their “Your CLEO” e-bulletin.

On behalf of the school, congratulations on your selection and continued success in law school!