Author: Ian Ford

On December 12, 2013, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s Assistant Director of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning, Bridgett Ortega, was elected President of the Board of Directors for the National Juvenile Defender Center (NJDC) in Washington, D.C. NJDC, recipient of the coveted MacArthur Award for Creative & Effective Institutions, is the only organization in the United States devoted solely to improving access to counsel and the quality of representation for children in the justice system. The Center works with individual front-line juvenile defenders and offices, and a national network of regional defender centers, providing them with the tools, support, and skills needed to improve juvenile defense policy and practice. Ms. Ortega’s experience and dedication to juvenile justice makes her uniquely qualified and ready to serve as NJDC’s new president.  Also, on December 20, 2013 Ortega will also receive the NAACP “Freedom Fighter” award for her work in social and juvenile justice. On behalf of the law school, congratulations for your outstanding accomplishments, hard work and dedication the practice of law and the juvenile justice system.

Distinguished Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School alumni, faculty and students will feature prominently in Carlson on Evidence, an Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia sponsored seminar to be held December 19, 2013 at Georgia State Bar Headquarters, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The seminar will focus on a practical application of Georgia’s new evidence code.

“We have relied heavily on John Marshall graduates in the past and have been impressed with their dedication to our program,” said Fuller E. Callaway Chair of Law Emeritus, University of Georgia School of Law, Ron Carlson, co-chair of the program.

Carlson on Evidence will feature John Marshall alumni the Honorable James G. Bodiford of Cobb County Superior Court and Todd H. Ashley, Deputy Director of Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia. In addition, John Marshall adjunct professors Rebecca Crumrine, John Melvin and Mike Carlson will also present. Rachel Morelli, John Marshall 3L, has assisted in the preparation of the program materials and coordinating the various experts who are involved in the seminar.

“I appreciate very much the opportunity to be associated with this program and the support for John Marshall that both Ron and Mike Carlson are willing to provide,” says Morelli.

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kevin Cieply adds, “This looks to be a tremendous program that will serve to educate members of the Georgia Bar well.”

The Carlson on Evidence seminar will also serve as the “roll-out” for the Second Edition of Carlson on Evidence, a work that is focused on comparing the federal evidence rules to Georgia’s evidence rule. Morelli assisted in researching and editing various portions of the new edition. For more information on the seminar, click here.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is pleased to announce second-year law student Ella O’Kelley recently won first place at the Keenan’s Kids Foundation’s12^th annual Law Student Closing Argument Competition.The competition was established in 1997 to show students the importance of children’s rights and to encourage them into this most needed area of the law. The event also stands as an opportunity for students to gain experience in a courtroom in front of a jury.

“Each and every one of the students who competed in this event did an outstanding job,” said Foundation founder Don C. Keenan. “Our final scores were very close and I am so impressed with the dedication and preparation the students took before giving their arguments. We saw some excellent feedback from the judges and I am confident this has made a lasting impression with all the participants.” The Keenan Law Firm specializes in catastrophic child injury and death cases.  The Keenan’s Kids Foundation, started by the firm in 1993 to raise awareness on child safety, sponsors the competition to heighten the awareness of damage consideration to injured and maimed children.

A full list this year’s winners are:

– First place: Ella O’Kelley; Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (2L)

– Second Place: Mary Hashemi; Savannah Law School (2L)

– Third Place: Ramika Gourdine; Georgia State University School of Law (3L)

– Fourth Place: Utrophia Robinson; University of Georgia Law School (3L)

The law school is appreciative of the continuous hard work our students dedicate to the study of law and improving the community. At Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, we are passionate about providing a high-quality legal education to students from all backgrounds. We offer a regular Juris Doctor Program, an Honors J.D. in Criminal Justice Program and an accelerated J.D. Program which allows students to complete law school in 2 and one-half years. For the full press release provided by The Keenan Kids Foundation, click here. To contact an admissions professional, call 404-872-3593 ##Ext. 261261 or email admissions@johnmarshall.edu.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students Tyler Carey, Jeff Sayer, Amon Kirk, and Matt Messerli  recently represented the law school in the ABA Regional Negotiation Competition hosted by Emory University.  The competition consisted of 20 teams from across the southeast, each team made up of two students. The teams competed in two rounds on Saturday, negotiating two different contracts.  Despite a hard fought battle, neither of the two teams advanced to the finals on Sunday.  However, each team represented AJMLS well.

Three of the four team members are 1Ls and the fourth is a 2L evening student.  John Marshall is very proud of these students for showing such initiative by participating in a competition this early in their law school careers. The team worked hard preparing for the competition and learned a great deal in the process.  The law school hopes they will want to compete again next year and put all the valuable insight they gained this year to work.

AJMLS would also like to thank our dedicated alumni coaches – Thomas (Torrey) Rainey (AJMLS 2012) and Amy Zapatka (AJMLS 2013) – who took the helm for this competition.  Having alumni who have competed in these competitions and who are not only willing to help, but are enthusiastic about coming back to AJMLS to share their wisdom and experience with the next generation of competitors is invaluable for the school and for the students.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School student Hussainatu Blake and her twin sister Hassanatu Blake have been chosen to be the TedxEmory Fall 2013 speakers. Winners of the White House Champions of Change Award, the Blake sisters are co-founders of Focal Point Global, a non-profit whose mission is to empower underserved youth in Namibia and Cameroon using education and technology to address social issues. Their TED Talk will take place at Emory University on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at 5 p.m.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting “ideas worth spreading.”  TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Their TEDx series offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world. Congratulations to Hussainatu and her sister on their accomplishments.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Moot Court/Mock Trial team advanced into the semi-final round of the Stetson National Pre-Trial Competition and finished third behind LSU and Texas Tech, and ahead of Baylor. This competition involved a pre-trial civil issue and requires both appellate and trial advocacy skills.  It includes written briefs, oral arguments, direct & cross examinations of witnesses, and a closing argument. AJMLS also received the award for Best Defendant’s Memorandum of Law.  This is the second year in a row that AJMLS has won a best brief award at this competition.  That is certainly a compliment to our writing professors.

The following students are on the team: LoriBeth Westbrook (4L part-time); Jason McClendon (4L part-time); Michelle Sandler (3L); and Nickolas Kitchens (2L).   They have been coached by our alumnus, Thomas Lyman, who also dedicated many hours to their preparation. The schools entered in the competition were Baylor, Chapman, Charleston, Chicago-Kent, Fordham, Golden Gate, LSU, Mississippi College, Northern Kentucky, Pace, Regent, Texas Tech, UDC, UMKC, and William & Mary.

The pairings of teams for the first two rounds was random.  Our first round on Friday morning was against Northern Kentucky and we were assigned to be plaintiffs.  The second round on Friday afternoon was against Regent.  Our defense team was up.  We were unfortunately assigned to a small seminar room, instead of a courtroom, and so, the technical aspects of presentation were challenging.  The third round pairing of teams was power matched, meaning the pairings were based upon ranking of the teams. We were paired against Chicago-Kent and our defense team was up again. In the fourth round we competed against LSU.

These students and their coaches have worked tirelessly for the past several weeks and performed outstandingly at the competition.  Congratulations on behalf of the law school.

Following Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s announcement of its new spring enrollment for prospective students, the Daily Report interviewed Dean Richardson Lynn about the law school’s decision.

For those in a hurry, Lynn said that the spring and summer semesters will comprise the first year, thus allowing a student to compress the normal three years of study into two and a half years. The school says students who enter in the spring will take criminal procedure and criminal law in their first year to ensure they are prepared for the fall semester and second year.  He says the arrangement will require more faculty resources.

“While I always urge college students planning to go to law school to take at least two years off between college and law school,” Lynn adds, “they never listen.  This is a good option for December college graduates who don’t want to wait until the following August and the handful of students who plan to start in August, but have a health or personal issue at the last minute; they could start the next January, rather than wait an entire year.”

For the full story, click here. Prospective student interested in spring admission are encouraged to speak with an admissions professional at admissions@johnmarshall.edu or call (404) 872-3593 ##Ext. 261261. Information regarding our spring admission will also be discussed at the law school’s Fall Prospective Student Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at the Blackburn Conference Center, located on the campus of the law school. To RSVP, click here.

The Virtual Open House for the LL.M. in Employment Law is now available.
Learn about all aspects of the program with LL.M. Director Lisa Kaplan by
clicking here

At the American Film Institute’s recent screening of Gideon’s Army, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke about the film’s impact in the legal community. “Gideon’s Army is a documentary that challenges each of us – as legal professionals, as policymakers, and as patriotic citizens from all backgrounds and walks of life – to reclaim the values enshrined in this important ruling, to ask difficult questions about our criminal justice system as a whole, and to recommit ourselves – as individuals, and as a people – to realizing the founding promise that has always stood at the core of our identity as a nation:  of equal justice, and equal opportunity, for all,” says Holder.

He goes on to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Professor Jon Rapping. Holder says, “Under the leadership of remarkable men and women like Jon Rapping – the founder of Gideon’s Promise, formerly known as the Southern Public Defender Training Center, who we’re fortunate to have with us tonight – they’re fighting to make a difference, once case at a time.  They’re working to restore and improve public defender programs that – in some places – do little more than process people in and out of our courts.”

Rapping later participated in a panel discussion about the film. To read the Attorney General’s full speech, click here. Below please view at short video of  opening day at the American Film Festival where the film was debuted – the first minute of the video discusses Gideon’s Army.

The State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program (GDP) in partnership with Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) and The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys, Inc. (LIWOCA) sponsored its 6th High School Pipeline Program.  The program was held at AJMLS from May 28 – June 7, 2013 where  Teach for America’s Pierce Hand taught the students daily one-hour sessions of grammar and writing; and speech classes were taught by the school’s law professors, attorneys at GDP member law firms and corporations, and LIWOCA attorneys.  The students visited law firms and corporate law offices daily where they were mentored on topics including social media etiquette, dining room etiquette, credit, study skills, interviewing skills and selecting the college of your choice.   Students also engaged in one-on-one mentoring sessions with attorneys and summer associates.  The program concluded with an oral and written competition and an ice cream social at one of the GDP firms.

Lawyers Without Borders recently hosted its third training on Trafficking in Persons in Monrovia, Liberia. The training is part of a three-year program sponsored in part by the United States Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and was the first in a series of three annual trainings to complement a range of other program activities being undertaken throughout Liberia.

Amongst a very prestigious delegation of U.S. Federal Judges, and partners and associates from major law firms in the U.S. and U.K., were Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students Amyia McCarthy and Xavier Cunningham. These 3L students were selected to participate in this global initiative, and functioned as vital support staff to the lead trainers.

The Republic of Liberia is on the West Coast of Africa, and was established by the American Colonization Society in 1822 as a haven for freed slaves from the United States. Following over a century of progress, from 1990 to 2003 Liberia self-destructed through civil war. In 2003, a comprehensive peace accord was implemented and since then Liberia has been on an upward trajectory.

Xavier and Amyia would like to send a special note of gratitude to Professor Turner, Professor Brown, Dean Harrison, and Professor Baker for their guidance and encouragement.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) recently recognized AJMLS graduate Jack Reeves in their April newsletter. Reeves, a 1976 John Marshall graduate, was highlighted for being a pioneer in using the Internet in Africa in the late 1990s.

The article says, “Jack Reeves, then Head of the Information Services Program, sent a short message to the National Agriculture and Animal Research Institute (NAARI), Namulonge, Uganda, to test a recently installed high frequency radio link with NAARI. The link connected NAARI to the national telephone system, in Kampala, and through an Internet service provider (ISP) to the Internet and thereby the world. Because of this, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has called IITA a ‘pioneer’ for using the Internet in USAID’s AfricaLink program to connect national agricultural researchers in Africa with the resources of the Institute’s library and international staff.” To view the full article and other stories from the IITA newsletter, click here.

The Sixth Annual Youth and the Law Summit was held on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Atlanta’s John Marshall’s Blackburn Center.  Each year the Summit introduces minority middle and high school students to the law through an examination of emerging legal issues that directly impact their lives.  .  The program has become a much anticipated event for participating schools and students.  This year’s Summit focused on both cyber bullying and the legislative process.  During the morning session, students learned how a bill becomes a law. Students were also introduced to DiscoverLaw.org, a LSAC funded program designed to increase minority enrollment in law schools.  After lunch, students presented arguments for and against proposed anti-bullying legislation before a congressional committee comprised of high school students. Students made eloquent first amendment, privacy and policy arguments in support of their positions. 

The Gate City Bar Association has partnered with John Marshall since 2008 to organize this dynamic program as part of Gate City’s and John Marshall’s continued commitment to strengthening the pipeline to law school for minority students.  The Summit is co-chaired by Darrick McDuffie of King and Spalding and Gate City, and Prof. Renata D. Turner. Special thanks to Debra Tavares of Soulstice, Inc., Natasha Berry, and John Marshall’s student ambassadors for their contributions to the success of this year’s program.

Christina Harris Schwinn is a recent graduate from the inaugural cohort of the LL.M. in Employment Law program at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. As a final project, Schwinn and her classmates presented a Thesis Presentation at the law school.  As a result of the thesis, which has been submitted for publication, Northeastern University School of Law’s law review team invited her to speak at its recent symposium on employee misclassification entitled Are You Employed or Just Working. The panelists included law professors from a number of different law schools, practicing attorneys and attorneys working for various not-for-profit organizations.  Schwinn recalled the symposium saying, “The experience was very gratifying personally and it provided a tremendous opportunity for the attendees to see a much bigger picture regarding the stark realities that exist in the world of work today and changes on the horizon.”

She also credits the law school for broadening her understanding of the employment law field. “Obtaining my LL.M. in Employment Law from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School has allowed me to participate in new opportunities that were not readily accessible to me before in academia,” she said. “One of the reasons that I wanted to pursue an LL.M. in Employment Law is because I have a desire to teach in the future at the university level or even at a law school.”

To read more about Schwinn, click here.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) would like to recognize the work of Professor Jonathan Rapping and his non-profit organization, Gideon’s Promise (formerly the Southern Public Defender Training Center). Professor Rapping was recently interviewed by USA Today, and the Miami Herald for his contributions and service. Additionally, Rapping wrote an op-ed for The Huffington Post and a letter for The New York Times.

At the upcoming Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Criminal Justice Honors Open House, Professor Rapping will discuss the soon-to-be-released award-winning HBO documentary, Gideon’s Army, featuring his non-profit organization. Gideon’s Army follows three Gideon’s Promise public defenders who are trained and supported by Professors Rapping, Fulcher, Saviello and a national faculty of current and former public defenders. The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on March 30, 2013 at the Blackburn Conference Center, located at 1405 Spring St. NW Atlanta, GA 30309. Parking will be available in the parking garage attached to the law school. Please RSVP to the Office of Admissions at admissions@johnmarshall.edu or (404) 872-3593 ##Ext. 201.

In a recent interview with Georgia Public Broadcasting Television, Michael Mears, Associate Professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, was interviewed on the station’s program entitled “The Lawmakers”. During the segment, Professor Mears and three other experts discussed Georgia’s standard of proof required to show that an individual is mentally retarded.

“Under Georgia law, a person is not eligible for execution if they are found to be mentally retarded,” said Professor Mears. “However, the standard for proving that a person is mental retarded is extremely high. The defendant claiming mental retardation as a bar to execution must prove to a jury that he or she is mentally retarded by the standard of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’  This is the highest standard under our legal system.”

Professor Mears’ segment begins at 15 minutes. To view the video, click here.

It is with great pleasure that Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School announces that Kandice Allen and Stefanie Hilliard are the SRBLSA Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition Regional Champions!  Kandice and Stefanie placed first in the competition, by outperforming 23 other teams.  This victory makes them the first team in John Marshall’s history to win first prize in this competition. In addition to winning the competition, Stefanie also received the Outstanding Oral Advocate award.

The school would also like to recognize Hunter Millwood for his phenomenal advocacy in the competition!  Not only did he perform well in the competition, but he also showed an unparalleled level of team spirit and humility by helping the coaches prepare Kandice and Stefanie for the final round of the competition. This was a collective effort, and AJMLS thanks you for your time, dedication, and input. John Marshall looks forward to watching you shine in future competitions.  In the words of one of the competition judges, “You should definitely plan to take your career into the courtroom, because you are a natural.”

Finally, the school would like to thank Lauren McAlpin, Sharee Tumbling, Ashley Barnett, Shaheem Williams, Kristal Ramirez, Derric Crowther, Tiffany Simmons, Zaira Solano, Nick Kitchens, Jacqueline Givens, Professor Van Detta, Professor de Haven, Professor Kent, Professor Stevens, Professor Doneff, Professor Gelin, Professor Williams, Professor Burch and Professor Redleaf-Durbin for benching the team.  You made significant contributions to the team’s success and your time and feedback are truly appreciated.

As a result of the team’s win at Regionals, Kandice and Stefanie will compete in the National FDMC Competition in early March.  This competition will take place in Atlanta, at AJMLS. Please congratulate Kandice, Stefanie, and Hunter for a job well done.

In an effort to ease the economic burden of students entering law school, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School recently announced the Relocation Tuition Credit program for incoming students. The Relocation Tuition Credit is designed to assist students with the costs associated with moving to Atlanta. To be eligible for the program, an entering student must be relocating to Atlanta from a distance of more than 100 miles away. Once verified, students will receive a one-time credit in the amount of $1,000, applied towards the fall term tuition in which they begin study.

To apply, complete the Relocation Tuition Credit application and submit it to the Office of Admissions by July 15, 2013. Prospective students interested in this opportunity are encouraged to speak with an Admissions professional today at 404-872-3593 or email admissions@johnmarshall.edu!

Please note, this program was discontinued after the 2021-2022 academic year.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School professor Michael Mears was recently interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding the decline in death penalty rulings in Georgia and nationwide. Based on a survey designed to track capital punishment nationwide, it appears more juries are less likely to opt for the death penalty. The article stated, “Only twice this year did a Georgia jury choose death as the punishment for murder. Those numbers are consistent with recent years, as the death penalty has been on the wane for more than a decade in Georgia and nationally.”

Viewed as a death penalty expert, Professor Mears said, “Jurors are finally catching on that sentencing someone to death really doesn’t accomplish any sense of justice for the victim’s family. Jurors are beginning to believe that life without parole does mean life without parole. The gloss is off the death penalty in many, many cases and it’s showing up on the number of death penalty cases.”

Professor Mears said he believes the cost of death penalty trials is part of the reason district attorneys are not seeking the punishment as often as they did in the past. He goes on to say a death case can cost $1 million to $1.5 million, including appeals. The article mentioned the death penalty trial of convicted courthouse killer Brian Nichols cost $3.2 million to which Professor Mears responded, “Cases like the Brian Nichols case can break the back of the public defender system.”

Professor Mears teaches Advanced Criminal Procedure, Advanced Evidence, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence at the law school.

AJMLS students and faculty recently attended the 13^th Annual Gate City Bar Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony. Students – Tannyka Bent, Sharee Tumbling, and Uchenna Uzoka were among the six recipients of the 2012 Gate City Bar Foundation Scholarship.  The scholarship is awarded annually to minority law students who are either currently enrolled in a Georgia law school, or who are Georgia residents enrolled in an out-of-state law school.

There were several notable attendees and inductees into the Gate City Bar Hall of Fame. The Gate City Bar inducted Miles J. Alexander; M. Gino Brogdon; Teresa Wynn Roseborough; and Larry D. Thompson. The inductees were honored for their commitment to the legal profession and community.  The keynote speaker was Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., the Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and Founding and Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.

Established in 1948, the Gate City Bar Association is the oldest African American Bar association in the State of Georgia.  For more information on the organization, visit www.gatecitybar.org.

AJMLS student Yashica Marshall was recently offered a fellowship from the Georgia Hospital Association’s (GHA) affiliated society, Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys (GAHA). The summer 2013 fellowship is awarded to two students annually. The fellowship, which began in 1999, has previously been awarded to students at the other Georgia law schools. AJMLS is proud to announce Ms. Marshall is the first student from John Marshall to receive this fellowship.

The 10 week fellowship is designed to allow students to spend half the time working for the GHA and remainder of the program working for the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta. The fellowship involves working with GHA legal staff on a wide range of issues from assisting in drafting legislation to be proposed for enactment during an upcoming session of the Georgia General Assembly to meeting with attorneys and healthcare executives who are involved in matters affecting GHA. The fellowship also provides an opportunity to work with in-house counsel at CHOA on a variety of legal projects, such as Medicaid managed care appeals and hospital policy development.

On behalf of AJMLS, congratulations Ms. Marshall on your outstanding accomplishments. Continue to strive for new heights in your legal education and career.

AJMLS was recently awarded the trophy for the best plaintiff’s brief at the Stetson National Pretrial Competition last weekend. This is the school’s second brief writing award for a moot court competition and our first award in a national setting.  The brief was ranked higher than those submitted by Georgetown, William and Mary, South Texas, Baylor, Pacific McGeorge, Illinois, and several other law schools.  AJMLS has been working toward this award since the moot court program began eight years ago.

Team members – LoriBeth Westbrook, Charles Murphy, Benjamin Stidham, and Irena Chernova worked extremely hard to earn this award. As for the competition itself, AJMLS performed at a very high level, drawing South Texas, William and Mary, and Georgetown as its adversaries. Unfortunately, AJMLS barely missed the cut-off for the semi-finals.

Finally, in terms of credit, the team’s success would not have occurred but for the efforts of two AJMLS alumni coaches – Thomas Lyman and Erin Fowler.  It was amazing to watch these two highly capable alumni pass on their extensive practical knowledge to a new generation of advocates.

Everyone involved on this team raised the stature of AJMLS this weekend.  Thank you.

AJMLS will attend the LL.M. Law School Forum in New York on October 13. The forum, which is hosted by the Law School Admission Council, will give prospective LL.M. students the chance to speak personally with the LL.M. Program Director. AJMLS offers both residential and online LL.M. programs, for both U.S. and foreign-educated attorneys. The event will be held at the Hilton New York on the Avenue of the Americas from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free of charge. For more information, please visit the LSAC LL.M. forum event website.

Four students at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School have created educational videos covering several areas of the law for low-income Georgians.  The videos, all found online now at GeorgiaLegalAid.org, cover domestic violence, consumer law, Social Security and unemployment insurance law.

Greg Gelpi, a third-year law student at John Marshall coordinated the effort after meeting with the State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project director, Mike Monahan. “Law students are looking for ways to learn and to contribute their time and talents.  Technology is such a part of our generation that we thought one good way to offer pro bono services as law students would be to help create web content to improve access to justice,” says Gelpi.

John Marshall students Sharee Malcolm, Heather Miller, Maria Keller and Jacqueline Givens developed legal education videos based on legal information brochures from Georgia Legal Services Program.  Videos entitled Breaking Free from Domestic Violence, What You Need to Know about Garnishments and Bankruptcies, Unemployment Insurance Benefits- Common Questions, and  Spanish and English versions of Overpayments and Collections- Social Security and SSI Benefits were created by the four students over the past few months.

“Many web users prefer audio or video over text.  People learn in different ways,” adds Mike Monahan, Director of the State Bar of Georgia Pro Bono Project and co-manager of GeorgiaLegalAid.org . “Once we get low-income clients on the web reading and listening, we can move them to take action on their legal problem or help them avoid a problem altogether.  We can also direct them on the website to legal aid programs or to local bar associations in their community to get legal assistance.”

Renata Turner, Associate Professor and Director of Pro Bono Outreach and Externships at John Marshall Law School notes, “We are honored and proud to be a part of this project. Our students had fun, learned about discrete areas of the law, and created a practical tool to improve access to justice for low-income citizens- all the goals of our pro bono  program.”

“This is just the beginning,” Gelpi said. “Our goal is to create a comprehensive video library in multiple languages to serve as a jumping-off point for those in need of legal assistance.”

For more information on these programs visit Pro Bono Project or the Georgia Legal Services Program. AJMLS would also like to extend our appreciation to Mike Mohahan for highlighting the accomplishments of our students.

Students interested in attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School are invited to learn more about the school, meet professors, students, alumni and key staff at our Prospective Student Open House 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 20, 2012. The event will be at the law school’s Blackburn Conference Center located at 1405 Spring Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. To RSVP to this event, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@johnmarshall.edu or by phone at 404-872-3593 ##Ext. 211.

On Friday, July 6th, the White House honored AJMLS student Hussainatu Blake and her twin sister, Hassanatu as two of 11 Champions of Change who are leaders in communities from across the United States selected from more than 1,500 nominations submitted by friends, family, co-workers and community members.

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

Hassanatu and Hussainatu are founders of Focal Point Global, a 501c3 organization whose mission is to empower the world’s underserved youth to address social issues using global education and technology. Focal Point Global is dedicated to fostering global partnerships to create the next generation of leaders. Youth are connected through low cost bandwidth tools, like Skype, to discuss issues facing their community and then matched with local organizations to complete projects to combat those issues. Focal Point Global has reached nearly 50 youth in the United States (Baltimore, MD and Atlanta, GA), Cameroon and Namibia to address HIV and child trafficking in their communities.

Visit the White House’s Champions of Change web page for more information on Hussainatu and Focal Point Global. Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment.

AJMLS will host an informational for all prospective students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., on July 14, 2012 at the Blackburn Conference Center on the campus of AJMLS. The Prospective Student Information Session will allow prospective students to learn about the school, meet various departments, current students, alumni and key staff. To RSVP to this event, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@johnmarshall.edu or call (404) 872-3593 ##Ext. 201.

AJMLS  is proud to have once again hosted the two-week State Bar of Georgia Diversity High School Pipeline Program which brings high school students together for classes and real-life experiences.  This year’s class of 16 spent each morning in classes for training in grammar, writing, speech and library usage.  Afternoons were spent visiting law firms and corporate legal departments for lunch and mentoring.  For the full story from the State Bar of Georgia’s website, click here.  Congratulations to all the participants!

The Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation hospital for people with spinal cord injury and brain injury, recently shared in the commencement ceremony of former patient and AJMLS graduate, Keaston White. Photographer, Gary Meek and WXIA reporter, Matt Pearl documented White’s graduation from AJMLS on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

For the full article from the Shepherd Center, click here. For the WXIA interview, click here. Congratulations not only to White, but all AJMLS graduates!

AJMLS welcomes its newest alumni – the Class of 2012! The 2012 Commencement Ceremony, held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, was attended by administration, faculty, staff, students, friends and family all to show their support of the graduates.

The school was honored to have Professor Lawrence Lessig as the Commencement speaker. Professor Lessig is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School, and director of the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University.
In addition to the graduates, this was a day of celebration for AJMLS alumni, E. Michael Moran and Judith Alembik who each received the Distinguished Alumni Award. Students also received an array of awards and honors during the ceremony. Below is a full list of student honors and awards.

Judge Harold R. Banke Advocacy Award
Grace Curtis

AJMLS Outstanding Graduate Award
Full-time Division:
Chad Alexis
Stacie Chapman
Kimberly Colmey
Matthew Nestrud
Thomas Rainey
Keaston White
Part-time Division:
Audrey Holliday
Sanchia Jeffers

The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
Melody Toddy

Excellence in Pro Bono
David Phillips

Pro Bono Distinction
Karen Kenner
Ross Moore
Antoine Williams

AJMLS Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy
Thomas Lyman

GAWL Outstanding Law Student Award
Audrey Holliday

Congratulations to the graduates and thank you to all who made graduation a success!

Launched in 2010, the online LL.M. in Employment Law program’s inaugural cohort graduated May 19, 2012. The five-semester program is designed to prepare new and experienced attorneys to better meet the needs of their clients while anticipating future developments in employment law.

The exclusively online program allows for all course work to be completed electronically, with the exception of an end-of-program Thesis Presentation which was held Friday, May 18, 2012 at AJMLS’s Blackburn Conference Center.

Congratulations to the first graduates of the LL.M. in Employment Law program.

The inaugural cohort of the LL.M. in Employment Law ended the five-semester program by delivering their thesis presentations on Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Blackburn Conference Center. Four LL.M. students presented their papers to Dean Richardson Lynn, the LL.M. faculty, local attorneys and guests. We commend Craig Oakes, Ed Peterson, Christina Schwinn and David Arm on this tremendous accomplishment. Well done!

2012 AJMLS graduate, Karen Kenner was recently featured on the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers’ (GAWL) website as a scholarship recipient. Kenner received the GAWL Foundation scholarship which is awarded annually to two to four law students in Georgia who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership and philanthropic potential, and a strong commitment to the legal profession.

Congratulations to Kenner for her outstanding accomplishments. To view her full profile, click here.

The inaugural cohort of the LL.M. in Employment Law ended the five-semester program by delivering their thesis presentations on Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Blackburn Conference Center. Four LL.M. students presented their papers to Dean Richardson Lynn, the LL.M. faculty, local attorneys and guests. We commend Craig Oakes, Ed Peterson, Christina Schwinn and David Arm on this tremendous accomplishment. Well done!

Launched in 2010, the online LL.M. in Employment Law program’s inaugural cohort graduated May 19, 2012. The five-semester program is designed to prepare new and experienced attorneys to better meet the needs of their clients while anticipating future developments in employment law.

The exclusively online program allows for all course work to be completed electronically, with the exception of an end-of-program Thesis Presentation which was held Friday, May 18, 2012 at AJMLS’s Blackburn Conference Center.

Congratulations to the first graduates of the LL.M. in Employment Law program.

AJMLS is pleased to announce that need-based scholarships are now available to qualified applicants to the LL.M. in Employment Law program! Learn more about scholarship opportunities at the Tuition & Financial Aid page and at the How to Apply page. The LL.M. in Employment Law is delivered exclusively online; you take only one class at a time; the program uses innovative distance learning technology; and it is a part-time program designed to be completed in five consecutive semesters.

New students enter the program in May and September of each year. The next LL.M. cohort will begin classes in early May and attend orientation April 27-28. You can learn more about the LL.M. in Employment Law, and about scholarship opportunities by using the navigation tools to the left of this page or by contacting LL.M. Program Director, Lisa Kaplan at lkaplan@johnmarshall.edu.

Please note that due to anticipated high demand, space in the program is expected to fill up quickly (each cohort is approximately 15 students).