The Office of Academic Achievement and Bar Success’s (AABS) mission is to provide instruction, support, mentoring, and well-rounded educational programming to bolster and accelerate the learning process for students of all backgrounds in pursuit of achieving their academic goals. We serve as a resource for students seeking understanding, guidance, and direction as they pursue their legal education. Through the utilization of learning sciences combined with a focus on proactive engagement with students, faculty, and staff, our team helps maximize each individual student’s legal knowledge, skills, and competency while in law school. Additionally, we assist students in preparing for and achieving success on the bar exam through our Bar Support Program.
AABS serves as a resource center focused on enhancing and optimizing the academic and critical thinking skills that underline law school success. AABS offers multiple opportunities for students to identify, strengthen, and leverage their academic skills through individual assistance, group workshops, and formal course offerings. Below is the academic programming offered through AABS.
Contact us at aabs@johnmarshall.edu
All StudentsAcademic Counseling and Skill BuildingGet individual targeted help and advice on building specific skills by completing this survey prior to your appointment. Many students find discussing specific academic challenges or questions with a licensed attorney to be very valuable as they navigate law school. Set up an appointment to get advice regarding the key ingredients of a strong study schedule, important exam taking strategies on both essay and multiple choice exams, and additional advice on key academic skills, such as case briefing and course outlining/concept mapping. One-on-one counseling is the best way to seek expert advice on specific questions related to one’s individual academic performance. Courses & Resources1L SuccessLegal FoundationsOffered in the first semester of the first year. This course is an orientation program that provides instruction and assignments on key academic skills that underpin success in law school, on the bar exam, and in the profession. Academic Lab: To ensure students have continued support and iterative practice in the skills introduced and employed in Legal Foundations, students will attend a series of active skills workshops that orient students to the skills that drive law school success. Legal MethodsOffered to a select number of students in their second semester of the first year. Students receive focused instruction and intensive practical experience in the application of skills and strategies associated with expert-level legal learning and problem-solving. 2L SuccessMastering Legal Principles I (MLP I)Offered in the second semester of the second year. This course begins the three course programming for student’s success on the bar exam. The course provides an intense review of commonly tested bar exam subjects, as well as several opportunities to apply, practice, and access the various components of the bar exam, the multistate bar exam (MBE), and the state specific essay components of the bar exam. 3L SuccessMastering Legal Skills (MLS)Offered in the first semester of the third year. MLS introduces 3Ls to the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), a component of the Georgia bar exam and several other jurisdictions. Through this course, students actively employ these skills through multiple assessments and exercises. Students will receive instructive and practical feedback with regard to their individual MPT performance along with numerous strategies to succeed on the MPT. Mastering Legal Principles II (MLP II)Offered in the second semester of the third year. Continuing on the foundations of Mastering Legal Principles I, MLP II completes the three course jumpstart to bar preparation. The course provides an intense review of commonly tested bar exam subjects as well as several opportunities to apply, practice and assess the various components of the bar exam, the multistate bar exam (MBE) and the state specific essay component of the bar exam. MPRE Registration InformationClick here for dates and deadlines. Georgia Office of Bar AdmissionsClick here for the main website to the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions. Jurisdiction ResearchClick here to find the Character and Fitness Requirements for your intended jurisdiction. Post-Graduation Bar SupportSupplemental Bar Support: Studying for the bar exam is not something that you have to do alone without support and expert advice. After graduation, alumni are provided with an opportunity to participate in the bar success program. The supplemental bar success program is not intended to be a substitute for a commercial bar review but rather is intended to be an added benefit and support program to alumni sitting and preparing for the upcoming bar exam. Additionally, Project 470, a new pilot program launched in November 2020, is a supplemental bar success program designed specifically for first-time takers and is available on an opt-in basis. Visit this page to learn more about the program. Bar Coaching: Bar exam takers that participate in either the traditional supplemental program or Project 470 are paired with a bar review coach. This member of the AABS team offers support and strategies to students as they prepare for this difficult exam. |
![]() Director of Academic Achievement and Bar Success sgoins@johnmarshall.edu (678) 916-2652
![]() Academic Professional and Academic Support Professional vduke@johnmarshall.edu (678) 916-2651 ![]() Academic Support Professional sphillips@johnmarshall.edu (678) 916-2648 ![]() Academic Support Professional bsmith@johnmarshall.edu (678) 916-2635 |
Team | Title | Phone | |
---|---|---|---|
Scot Goins | Director of Academic Achievement and Bar Success | sgoins@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2652 |
Victoria C. Duke | Academic Professional and Academic Support Professional | vduke@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2651 |
Sharon Phillips-Biondini | Academic Support Professional | sphillips@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2648 |
Benjamin Smith | Academic Support Professional | bsmith@johnmarshall.edu | (678) 916-2635 |