Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Professor and Criminal and Civil Justice Institute (CCJI) Faculty Director, Jonathan Rapping, led a cohort of law students at Harvard Law School as part of the institution’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, a popular program offered each January during Harvard’s winter J-term.
The three-week intensive course enrolled over 140 students annually and was taught by some of the nation’s most accomplished trial lawyers and judges. Students were divided into six groups, each guided by a Team Leader. Professor Rapping served as one of six Team Leaders, overseeing a full section of students while also delivering the opening presentation to the entire cohort.
Professor Rapping opened the program with a lecture on storytelling and case theory, two foundational components of effective trial advocacy. In doing so, he challenged students to reflect on the broader purpose of the legal profession. He emphasized the critical role lawyers play in ensuring equal justice and underscored that some of the most important legal work is performed by attorneys who commit themselves to serving people who would otherwise struggle to access the justice system.
Rapping also highlighted his work at AJMLS, noting that the institution disproportionately prepares students to become trial lawyers in both the criminal and civil justice systems who go on to serve society’s most vulnerable communities. He encouraged students to think intentionally about the legacy they wish to leave through their careers.
In his remarks, Professor Rapping shared the quote, “Every day you write your epitaph,” urging students to pursue paths that align with their values. He reinforced that no amount of financial success is worth building a legacy one cannot be proud of at the end of a legal career.