Orientation

Save the Dates: August 5, 2023 and August 7-9, 2023

If you have any questions about the content on this page, please first read the FAQ under “Admissions – Accepted Students” here, where there is a robust list of questions and answers specifically for Orientation.

The program is designed to assist you with your transition into law school. You will meet with law school faculty, staff, and administrators; participate in skills-building workshops; participate in mock classes; learn about student involvement opportunities and other services and resources the Law School offers; and interact with practitioners and new and current students. Attendance at Orientation is mandatory, and all students will be expected to participate in each session offered during the program. These sessions should help to prepare you for the first-year experience – one of the most intellectually challenging and rewarding experiences of your life.

Orientation Schedule – Day Students

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Today will mainly focus on Professionalism and requires Business Attire for the duration of the session. This will take place at the State Bar of Georgia, Auditorium. 

TimeSessionLocation
8:30 a.m.Registration State Bar Auditorium
9:00 a.m.WelcomeState Bar Auditorium 
9:15 a.m.Fitness Application ProcessState Bar Auditorium 
10:00 a.m.The Meaning of ProfessionalismState Bar Auditorium 
11:00 a.m.BREAK 
11:05 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Breakout SessionsState Bar, Various Locations
12:45 p.m.Lunch 
1:30 p.m.Wellness and Counseling ResourcesState Bar Auditorium
2:30 p.m.Financial LiteracyState Bar Auditorium
3:30 p.m.BREAK
3:35 p.m.Title IXState Bar Auditorium
4:45 p.m.Adjourn 

Monday, August 7, 2023

Today’s sessions will be located at the State Bar of Georgia and you may wear Business Casual attire. 

TimeSessionLocation
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.Orientation Day 2 WelcomeState Bar Auditorium
9:05 – 10:15 a.m.Critical Reading & Case BriefingState Bar Auditorium
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.Break 
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Case Briefing Breakout SessionsState Bar Auditorium
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 p.m.Mock ClassState Bar Auditorium
2:15 p.m.Professors’ Expectations in the Classroom State Bar Auditorium
3:15 p.m.AdjournState Bar Auditorium

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Today’s sessions will be located at the State Bar of Georgia and you may wear Business Casual attire. 

TimeSessionLocation
9:30 a.m.Professional Identity (303 B)State Bar Auditorium
10:30 a.m.Break
10:35 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.Diversity and Cross Cultural Competency 303(c)State Bar, Various Locations
12:05 p.m.The Role of a Lawyer in Promoting Social JusticeState Bar Auditorium
1:00 p.m.Adjourn 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Today’s sessions will take place at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and require Business Casual attire. Check your Canvas Orientation Schedule for AJMLS room assignments.

Please note that there are TWO schedules below depending on your Section designation.

SECTION A

TimeSessionLocation
9:00 – 9:20 a.m.Career DevelopmentAJMLS
9:20 – 9:40 a.m.Experiential Learning & Pro Bono OpportunitiesAJMLS
9:40 – 10:00 a.m.Financial AidAJMLS
10:00 – 10:20 a.m.Law Journal & Advocacy BoardAJMLS
10:20 – 11:00 a.m.Welcome to Student Life/Peer Mentoring ProgramAJMLS
11:00 a.m.Library/Student IDsAJMLS
12:00 p.m.Student Organization Fair/Optional Tours BeginAJMLS
Adjourn

SECTION B

TimeSessionLocation
9:00 – 9:20 a.m.Financial AidAJMLS
9:20 – 9:40 a.m.Law Journal & Advocacy BoardAJMLS
9:40 – 10:15 a.m.Welcome to Student Life/Peer Mentoring ProgramAJMLS
10:15 – 10:35 a.m.Experiential Learning & Pro Bono OpportunitiesAJMLS
10:35 – 11:00 a.m.Career DevelopmentAJMLS
11:30 a.m.Student Organization Fair/Optional Tours BeginAJMLS
12:00 p.m.Library/Student IDsAJMLS
Adjourn

Orientation Schedule – Evening

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Today will mainly focus on Professionalism and requires Business Attire for the duration of the session. This will take place at the State Bar of Georgia, Auditorium. 

TimeSessionLocation
8:30 a.m.Registration State Bar Auditorium
9:00 a.m.WelcomeState Bar Auditorium 
9:15 a.m.Fitness Application ProcessState Bar Auditorium 
10:00 a.m.The Meaning of ProfessionalismState Bar Auditorium 
11:00 a.m.BREAK 
11:05 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. Breakout SessionsState Bar, Various Locations
12:45 p.m.Lunch 
1:30 p.m.Wellness and Counseling ResourcesState Bar Auditorium
2:30 p.m.Financial LiteracyState Bar Auditorium
3:30 p.m.BREAK
3:35 p.m.Title IXState Bar Auditorium
4:45 p.m.Adjourn 

Monday, August 7, 2023

Today’s sessions will be located at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and you may wear Business Casual attire. Check your Canvas Orientation Schedule for AJMLS room assignments.

TimeSessionLocation
5:00 – 5:15 p.m.Orientation Day 2 WelcomeAJMLS
5:15 p.m.Critical Reading & Case BriefingAJMLS
6:30 p.m.Case Briefing Breakout SessionsAJMLS
7:30 p.m.Break
7:35 p.m.Mock ClassAJMLS
8:45 p.m.Professors’ Expectations in the Classroom AJMLS
9:45 p.m.Adjourn

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Today’s sessions will be located at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and you may wear Business Casual attire. Check your Canvas Orientation Schedule for AJMLS room assignments

TimeSessionLocation 
6:00 p.m.Professional Identity (303 B)AJMLS
7:00 p.m.Break
7:05 p.m.Diversity and Cross Cultural Competency 303(c)AJMLS
8:35 p.m.The Role of a Lawyer in Promoting Social JusticeAJMLS
9:45 p.m.Adjourn 

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Today’s sessions will take place at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and require Business Casual attire. Check your Canvas Orientation Schedule for AJMLS room assignments 

TimeSessionLocation
4:00 – 5:00 p.m.Student Organization Fair/Optional Tours BeginAJMLS
5:00 – 5:20 p.m.Career DevelopmentAJMLS
5:20 – 5:40 p.m.Experiential Learning & Pro Bono OpportunitiesAJMLS
5:40 – 6:00 p.m.Financial AidAJMLS
6:00 – 6:25 p.m.Law Journal & Advocacy BoardAJMLS
6:25 – 7:10 p.m.Welcome to Student Life/Peer Mentoring ProgramAJMLS
7:10 p.m.Library/Student IDsAJMLS
Adjourn

Orientation will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 and Monday, August 7, 2023 through Wednesday, August 9, 2023. Your attendance and participation are mandatory throughout the entire Orientation program as these sessions will help to prepare you for your law school experience at AJMLS. If you have a scheduling conflict with these mandatory event days, please email Dean Harrison at sharrison@johnmarshall.edu. You may also review the 2023-2024 academic calendar here for full planning purposes.

The program is designed to assist you with your transition into law school. You will meet with law school faculty, staff, and administrators; participate in skills-building workshops; participate in mock classes; learn about student involvement opportunities and other services and resources the Law School offers; and interact with practitioners and new and current students.

Preparing for Orientation – 4 Crucial Dates and 8 Crucial Steps

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Business Attire

Location for All Students: State Bar of Georgia, Auditorium

Monday, August 7, 2023

Business Casual

Location for Day Students: State Bar of Georgia, Auditorium

Location for Evening Students: Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, 19th Floor

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 

Business Casual

Location for Day Students: State Bar of Georgia, Auditorium

Location for Evening Students: Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, 19th Floor

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Business Casual

Location for All Students: Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, 19th Floor

During Orientation, the faculty, academic support staff, and volunteer lawyers assisting with the mock classes and professionalism workshops are relying on you to have read all of the assigned material. Your materials are located in your AJMLS Canvas course materials (more on that below). Do not be alarmed if reading the material is confusing to you at first; that is normal. Reread material that you do not understand and look up foreign terms. During some of your sessions, the faculty and volunteer lawyers will build upon the information that you have been asked to read or the assignments you have been asked to complete. The underlying goal is to develop your understanding of what law school and the profession require and what is necessary to achieve academic and professional success.

Summary of steps to be completed prior to and during Orientation:

Crucial Steps (detailed information in your email)Step Begin Date & Deadline
Accept Invite to Orientation Canvas Page
(AJMLS Canvas)
Immediately upon receipt
Kaplan Pre-1L Diagnostic Assessment
(estimated 4 hours to complete)
ASAP/Prior to beginning Zero-L & Other Orientation Material; Complete by August 5, 2023
Harvard Zero-L Program (Harvard Canvas)
(estimated 12-14 hours to complete, dependent on individual pace)
Upon receipt of Login Material; Complete by August 5, 2023
Pre-Orientation Materials (AJMLS Canvas)After Kaplan Assessment; Complete by August 5, 2023
Chief Justice's Convocation on Professionalism Reading (AJMLS Canvas)Opens (TBD); Complete by (TBD)
Mock Class Materials (AJMLS Canvas)
            a. Read Mock Class Cases
            b. Brief Mock Class Cases
            c. Answer Mock Class Problems  
After Pre-Orientation Material; Complete by August 7, 2023
Orientation Week Material (AJMLS Canvas)During August 5, August 7-10, 2023
Become familiar with FAQ PageImmediately upon receipt

Detailed information about the steps you must complete prior to and during Orientation:

  1. Accept the email invitation you received to the Legal Foundations – Orientation AJMLS Canvas course where you can access the schedules, materials, and assignments. You can anticipate this invitation beginning Monday, June 5, 2023. Legal Foundations is a one-credit graded course, a combination of Orientation and your Academic Lab course, that will provide instruction and assignments on key academic skills you will use during law school, on the bar exam, and in the profession. It is critical that you accept this invitation with urgency, and review the course syllabus for additional directions and deadlines. There are readings and assignments that will be required during Orientation that will not be opened until those dates draw closer, so pay attention to your AJMLS email for announcements regarding the Legal Foundations course page. 
  2. Register for and complete the Kaplan Pre-1L Diagnostic Assessment. The assessment is administered through Kaplan’s site. You will receive instructions for accessing the assessment (and other helpful materials) directly from Kaplan. If you do not receive information on accessing the assessment, please contact Professor Nick Smith at nsmith@johnmarshall.edu. No preparation is required for this assessment, you are expected to take it prior to reading any of the Orientation materials or viewing the Zero-L modules. Please note that you will have 5 hours to complete the assessment (although it should not take longer than 3 hours), so please set aside a sufficient amount of time before beginning. If an emergency arises while you are taking the assessment, you will be able to pause it and come back to it later (you must manually pause the assessment). Once you have completed the Pre-1L Diagnostic Assessment, please take a screen capture or other confirmation and upload it to the Kaplan Pre-1L Diagnostic Assessment assignment on the Orientation Course Modules page in AJMLS Canvas. The Diagnostic Assessment must be completed by August 5, 2023 and will no longer be accessible once Orientation begins. (estimated 4 hours to complete)
  3. Register for and complete the required modules in the Harvard Zero-L program. You can find instructions for accessing the Zero-L program and which modules to complete in the Orientation Course Modules (AJMLS Canvas). Access to the Zero-L Program is handled by Harvard (Harvard Canvas), an outside third-party, and therefore may cause a delay in beginning this program. If you have not yet received your login information, please feel free to move onto the next step until you have retained access for Zero-L. Please note, this is a separate Canvas account from your AJMLS Canvas account and your AJMLS credentials will not work; you must register for a new account. (estimated 12-14 hours to complete the Zero-L modules, dependent on individual pace) If you have any questions regarding the Modules assigned in the Zero-L Program, please reach out to Associate Professor Kari Dalton at kdalton@johnmarshall.edu.
  4. Read the background materials that are included in the Pre-Orientation Module (AJMLS Canvas). You should read the materials in the order they are posted in the Module. As noted above, these materials will be available at a later date. You will be notified when new material is posted. If you have any questions regarding the AJMLS Canvas material, please reach out to Professor Sharon Phillips-Biondini at sphillips@johnmarshall.edu. 
  5. Read the materials for the Chief Justice’s Convocation on Professionalism on Saturday, August 5, 2023. These materials are identified by the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, and are anticipated to be received no later than TBD. If you have finished the previous steps, and the documents are not yet available, you may go to the next step. Keep in mind that all reading and assignments for the Saturday, August 5, 2023 presentations must be completed before that day. 
  6. a. Review the Mock Class materials (AJMLS Canvas) pertaining to the topic of the Intentional Tort of Battery. These materials will be referenced in one or more of the Orientation sessions held on August 7, 2023.

b. Prepare written case briefs for the mock class cases. Use the techniques of reading, note taking, case briefing, and outlining that you studied in the Zero-L Program and the background materials to prepare your briefs. You will have an opportunity to revise your case briefs after the Orientation session on Critical Reading & Case Briefing and before the mock class. You should have your case briefs available to use during the mock class.

c. After completing the case briefs, prepare answers to the problems at the end of the Mock Class materials and have copies of your answers available to refer to during the Mock Class. You will be asked to upload your case briefs and answers to the Mock Class Problems on the AJMLS Canvas site at the end of that class.

  1. Review the materials in the Orientation Week Module (AJMLS Canvas) to prepare for the sessions on August 5, August 7-10, 2023.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the Frequently Asked Questions page of the website here, which includes a special section for Orientation under “Admissions – Accepted Students”. Additionally, each department has provided a round-up of their top inquiries.

Workshop on Professionalism, Saturday, August 5, 2023

The Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism will host a workshop on professionalism for all incoming students. As part of this workshop, you will take an oath, administered by a Georgia judge, to abide by the provisions of the AJMLS Code of Student Responsibility. Because you will be sworn to uphold the AJMLS Code of Student Responsibility, you must read the Code before Orientation. The Code is located in the Student Handbook on the website here. You will also take an Oath of Professionalism. This Oath should guide your aspirations and conduct. By taking it, you are pledging to accept fully the duties and responsibilities that accompany your entry into the legal profession. 

You will be receiving materials via email from the Office of Student Affairs on behalf of the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism that will be mandatory to read in preparation for this workshop. Please reach out to Dean Harrison with your questions at sharrison@johnmarshall.edu.

Transportation and Parking

Please note the locations for each day of programming. Orientation will be split between the State Bar of Georgia (a great perk of our Downtown campus!) and the Law School. Please familiarize yourself with your travel options in advance, make a plan, and arrive early to account for any traffic or delays.

When traveling to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School at 245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE

General directions to campus from each major highway may be found here. Students will have the opportunity to purchase a parking pass from the Bursar’s Office and the application information for Fall 2023 is available on the Forms page. The parking garage that you will use is located at 227 Courtland Street, Atlanta, GA 30303, outlined on our site here. If you purchase a pass through the Bursar’s Office by Tuesday, August 1, 2023, you will be able to pick it up on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the Convocation on Professionalism for use throughout Orientation and beyond. Students who opt to reserve parking independently may find the following resources helpful: interactive map of Downtown Atlanta public parking, Lanier Parking garage search tool

MARTA is Atlanta’s railway, with two stations a reasonable walking distance from AJMLS. The closest station is Peachtree Center (roughly a three block walk). The second closest station is Civic Center (roughly a four to five block walk). Standard MARTA fares may be viewed here, and rides may be purchased on-site at your origination station. Students who wish to ride the train more frequently may purchase reduced rate monthly passes through the Bursar’s Office; information and pricing may be found on this page. If you purchase a reduced rate MARTA pass through the Bursar’s Office by Tuesday, August 1, 2023, you will be able to pick it up on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the Convocation on Professionalism for use throughout Orientation and the remainder of the month of August.

When traveling to the State Bar of Georgia at 104 Marietta St. NW

Onsite parking is available at the State Bar of Georgia on a first come first serve basis for $10 per day. 

If you would like to park at the Law School and walk to the State Bar, it is roughly a 15 minute walk and .6 miles. Here are the recommended walking routes from Google Maps.

There are two MARTA stations a reasonable walking distance from the State Bar. The first is the Georgia World Congress Center/CNN Center Station (roughly 7 minutes and .3 miles), and the second, the Five Points Station (roughly 7 minutes and .3 miles). Standard MARTA fares may be viewed here, and rides may be purchased on-site at your origination station. Students who wish to ride the train more frequently may purchase reduced rate monthly passes through the Bursar’s Office; information and pricing may be found on this page. If you purchase a reduced rate MARTA pass through the Bursar’s Office by Tuesday, August 1, 2023, you will be able to pick it up on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the Convocation on Professionalism for use throughout Orientation and the remainder of the month of August.

AJMLS Email Account

You should now have access to your AJMLS email account. Please be sure to check your AJMLS email account daily for information relating to Orientation, financial aid, billing, reading assignments, the peer mentoring program, books, law school events, and student organization membership. Throughout your law school career, information that you need to receive in a timely manner will be communicated to you through your AJMLS email account. If your email account is full, or you do not check your account regularly, you will miss important information and deadlines.

Additionally, please note that you are able to view all previously sent email announcements. To review the messages log into your AJMLS email account, toggle the Google Apps icon at the top right of your screen (nine dot icon), select Groups, click each individual group associated with your account and review the emails.

First Day of Classes and First Class Assignments

Classes will begin on Monday, August 14, 2023 (the full academic calendar is online here). Your first-year courses are required courses and are selected for you – the process is simple as the Registrar, Ms. Cheryl Ferebee, will register you for classes. Once you are registered, you will receive an email with instructions on accessing your schedule.

First class assignments and the texts required for each of your courses will be posted on the AJMLS website before Orientation. Once the information has been posted, you will be notified via your AJMLS email account.

Peer Mentoring Program

To help first-year students navigate the first-year experience, AJMLS pairs all first-year students with peer mentors, upper-class students who were handpicked based on their academic success, interpersonal skills, and/or strong leadership skills. The overall objective of the AJMLS Peer Mentoring Program is to improve the quality of life for the new student by providing academic, social and personal support.

The Student Directors of the Peer Mentoring Program will send more information about the Peer Mentoring Program in the near future. Please respond to all of their requests for information so you will not miss out on the opportunity to be matched with a mentor. You will meet with your mentor virtually before Orientation.

#AJMLSproud

We believe that Orientation will accurately provide a preview of the first-year experience and help to prepare you for one of the most intellectually challenging and rewarding experiences of your legal career. We look forward to meeting you at Orientation and to you becoming part of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s legacy of producing high-quality lawyers with a desire to make a difference.

If you are unable to answer a question about Orientation from reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions page (Under “Admissions – Accepted Students”) on our website, please reach out to the following contacts according to topic.

Questions about Canvas and the Legal Foundations course: 

Professor Sharon Phillips-Biondini, sphillips@johnmarshall.edu

Questions about Kaplan and the Diagnostic: 

Professor Nicholas Smith, nsmith@johnmarshall.edu

Questions about the Harvard Zero-L program: 

Associate Professor Kari Dalton, kdalton@johnmarshall.edu

Issues accessing Harvard Zero-L: 

Dean Rebecca Milter, rmilter@johnmarshall.edu 

Questions about the Workshop on Professionalism and attendance: 

Dean Sheryl Harrison, sharrison@johnmarshall.edu

Issues accessing AJMLS email:

itsupport@johnmarshall.edu