On February 1, 2023, Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man was laid to rest in his hometown of Memphis. He died from injuries sustained during a violent encounter with the Memphis police which has shocked the U.S. conscience. So much so that even the Memphis chief of police admitted that the officers’ behavior was “heinous, reckless, and inhumane.” Several police officers have subsequently been charged with murder, kidnapping, assault, and misconduct for their actions and discharged from their posts. We hope that the judicial system will take its course and hold each of them accountable.
We know that the consistent reports of violence towards citizens by police cannot be sustained. We support the words of Tyre Nichols’ mother Row Vaughn Wells, when she said at his funeral “We need to take some action because there should be no other child that should suffer the way my son – and all the other parents here that lost their children” have.
We pray for Mr. Nichols’ mother, family and friends. We recognize that there are members of our law school community themselves who may fear that engagements with the police could end in violence. As the national perspective bends towards increased accountability for police misconduct, we join the chorus of voices demanding that violence towards citizens immediately stop. Those who are expected to protect and serve the public must be held to a standard that prohibits unjust harm and killings.
Protests in support of Mr. Nichols’ family and against the police officers whose violence resulted in his death have passed by the doors of our law school. As a law school in Atlanta, where the nation fixed its gaze a couple of weeks ago to celebrate the birth of Atlanta’s native son, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are keenly aware of Memphis as the site of where he was murdered. This juxtaposition helps frame the decades-long fight for social justice and civil rights work to end police violence against citizens as necessary, but incomplete.
As importantly, we have students, faculty, staff and alumni in our community that are from the State of Tennessee and Memphis in particular. For those members of our community, please know we are here to support you and recognize the pain you may be going through.
We must rally together to support all those in our community affected by Mr. Nichols’s death, and one another in general. We know that Tyre Nichols, Mya Hall, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Miriam Carey, Trayvon Martin, Aiyana Jones, Tamir Rice and many others have lost their lives far too soon. We want to make sure their lived experiences continue to inform our own pursuit for a more fair and just society.
For our students, we want to encourage them to please continue to be mindful of your mental health. Please take advantage of resources provided by the law school, should you need them.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Development and Alumni Relations Office is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities each semester. Our donors give generously to AJMLS and the John Marshall Law School Foundation, Inc. to help students cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and educational expenses. AJMLS offers merit-based, need-based, and service-based scholarships. Applications were carefully reviewed by the scholarship committee and we thank the committee for their time.
All inquiries related to the Development and Alumni Relations scholarships below should be directed to Wendy Aina, Chief Development Officer, at waina@johnmarshall.edu.
If you are a donor and would like to contribute to the scholarships, please visit our Giving pages or contact Wendy Aina directly.
The Fry|Goehring Law Firm Scholarship
Shinnay Richards
J.D. Candidate 2024
“I would like to extend a warm thank you to Attorney Fry, Attorney Goehring, and the scholarship committee for creating the Fry|Goehring Law Firm Scholarship. It is an honor to be selected as the recipient of this scholarship. The honor goes beyond financial assistance and speaks to the core understanding that our voices and journey through life can open many doors. I plan to use this scholarship to assist with paying my tuition, and I vow to one day give others the same support that our outstanding and continuously present alums have given me.”
Georgia Bar Success Endowed Award Scholarship
Keith Collins
J.D. Candidate 2023
“The gift of this award is immeasurable. I feel humbled, motivated, and so incredibly grateful; thank you! Your donation has provided me with a tangible means to secure my academic success and has allowed me to recognize the strength of my own worthiness.”
Georgia Bar Success Endowed Award Scholarship
Daniela Martinez
J.D. Candidate 2023
“I would like to thank Dr. Michael Markovitz, AJMLS, and everyone else who made this incredible opportunity possible. Finances have been a big hindrance for me reaching my full potential in law school. This scholarship will allow me to focus on studying for the bar, without worrying as much about the expenses of it all. I am beyond grateful!”
John E. Ryan Endowed Scholarship
Ashley Darling–Feuer
J.D. Candidate 2024
“I would like to extend my thanks to all of the donors that have made this scholarship possible. This scholarship has given me financial freedom to continue pursuing my dream of working for the state to help indigent populations. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that the John E. Ryan Scholarship has afforded me.”
John E. Ryan Endowed Scholarship
Maria Velasco
J.D. Candidate 2024
“I want to thank the John E. Ryan Endowed Scholarship committee. This scholarship is an opportunity to further my legal education and continue to pursue my goal of becoming a lawyer in my second language.”
Melissa Hamrick Scholarship
Elizabeth Harding
J.D. Candidate 2026
“I am thrilled to be a recipient of the Spring 2023 Melissa Hamrick Scholarship and extremely appreciative of Melissa’s classmate, Attorney Henderson (Class of 2010) for organizing this scholarship in her memory. Being a part time student, it is always difficult to balance work, family, and school. Receiving this scholarship will ease the financial pressure on me during the Spring semester so that I can focus more attention on my studies.”
Merchant & Gould Scholarship
Lamone Graham
J.D. Candidate 2025
Merchant & Gould Scholarship
Lloyd Jean
J.D. Candidate 2023
“I want to say thank you for your generosity and choosing me as the recipient for the Merchant & Gould Scholarship. I was extremely happy and appreciative to learn that I was chosen out of all the students who applied for it. By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden allowing to me to put more focus into my educations.”
Merchant & Gould Scholarship
Dean Moore
J.D. Candidate 2023
Merchant & Gould Scholarship
Jennifer Wilson-Walker
J.D. Candidate 2023
“I admire Merchant and Gould’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the practice of IP law. To be awarded this scholarship confirms that my dreams are valid, and that there is space in the field of IP for women who look like me. I look forward to boldly advocating for and protecting the work of creatives, innovators, and change-makers as an intellectual property and entertainment attorney.”
As we celebrate our 90th anniversary this year, our core values have remained true in serving all students. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) being ranked the 10th Best Law School for Black or African Americans by preLaw Magazine is truly a recognition we are proud of.
Providing a diverse learning environment for students is important to the faculty and administration at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. While this diversity enriches the academic environment, it also challenges the law school to meet the educational needs of all students, many of whom are either returning to the rigors of an academic experience, or are simply seeking a supportive environment for the study of law. Therefore, it is a great honor for preLaw Magazine and National Jurist Magazine to name Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School one of their Best Law Schools for Diversity the past six years.
The 2022-2023 student enrollment is 65% female and 69% minority and the 2022 entering class is 69% female and 69% minority. The entering class also boasts scholars who represent 15 birth countries.
We thank preLaw Magazine and National Jurist for their ongoing recognition and are incredibly proud of our diverse and welcoming community.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School – different on purpose.
On December 7, 2022, Director of Alumni Relations, A.J. Doucett, moved for nine Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) alumni to become members of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Bar. To be sworn into the Court, an attorney must have been sworn into the highest court in the state in which they are licensed for at least three years and be in good standing with that court. Those who were sworn in were: Lisanne Edelman (’17), Meaghan Eustice (’15), Randy Fry (’99), Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert (’12), Fernanda Hottle (’10), Shilpa Jadwani (’12), Megan McClinton (’13), Calina Plotkey (’12), Mary-Anne Uzoka (’14).
The applicants arrived at the SCOTUS with their guests and were escorted to the Natalie Cornell Rehnquist Dining Room, where they had a chance to mingle with each other and have their photos taken. Applicants and guests were escorted in shortly before the Court was gaveled into session. Doucett was called to the rostrum where he moved for the applicants to become members of the SCOTUS Bar, the applicants arose as they were called, and took the oath administered by the Clerk of the Court. After being sworn in, the newly admitted attorneys and guests remained in the courtroom to hear the case of Moore v. Harper. This case will have major implications on the States’ Legislatures’ power to determine the “time, place, and manner” of elections and the States’ Supreme Courts’ oversight.
Later that evening, the new bar members and their guests met at The Old Ebbitt Grille for appetizers and a celebratory toast to their accomplishment. Despite rain clouds throughout the day, everyone raved about this once-in-a-lifetime experience. AJMLS will continue to offer this trip annually to the alumni of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and Savannah Law School in late fall/early winter. Registration information will be announced in the alumni newsletter and will be first come first served once the application period opens. If you are not receiving the newsletter, please notify A.J. Doucett by email to be included in the distribution.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to report its most recent “A” ranking as a top school for criminal law by preLaw Magazine. The 2022 top ranking marks the fourth year in a row receiving the distinguished nod.
Since 2011, AJMLS has proudly offered a specialized curriculum to students interested in the field of criminal law. The curriculum prepares graduates to practice criminal law, whether as a prosecutor or a defender. The Criminal Justice Certificate Program is led by Professor Jonathan Rapping, Professor of Law, MacArthur Genius Fellow, and Founder of Gideon’s Promise.
Students may decide to pursue the Criminal Justice Certificate upon completion of their second year, after having the benefit of taking Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure. Students working towards the Criminal Justice Certificate would take the remainder of the required coursework during their 3L year along with a mandatory Criminal Justice Workshop. Interested students could also begin fulfilling their 300 hours of approved field work requirement during the summer between their 2L and 3L year.
Students graduate equipped with strategies to allow them to shape the criminal justice arena rather than simply being shaped by it. The Criminal Justice Certificate Program provides an integrated, applied approach to legal education that equips students with the necessary strategies to be ethical, professional, and moral lawyers in less than perfect systems.
preLaw Magazine grades law schools based on the breadth of their curricular offerings. The scores were weighted as follows: 30% for a concentration, 24% for a clinic, 12% for a center, 12% for an externship, 9% for a journal, 8% for a student group, 5% for a certificate and added value for other offerings.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is honored to announce that Adam Malone, Class of 2000, has established the S. Bradley Houck Memorial Scholarship honoring his friend and classmate. Houck, Class of 1997, succumbed to complications related to an extended illness in the fall of 2021. The gift establishing the memorial scholarship is the largest in the Law School’s nearly 90-year history.
S. Bradley “Brad” Houck was born and raised in a small coal-mining town in Mullens, West Virginia. He attended Marshall University and graduated with honors in 1993 earning a BA degree in Criminal Justice. Brad attended Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School graduating with the highest honor and Valedictorian of his class in 1997. After law school, Brad worked with attorneys Tommy Malone and Adam Malone, handling catastrophic personal injury cases, and serving as second chair at trial for both Malones. After starting his law firm in 2003, Brad served as lead counsel in dozens of cases involving personal injury and medical malpractice. Brad is survived by his lovely wife and two children.
The S. Bradley Houck Memorial Scholarship was created by Malone with support from Senetha Houck, and Wes Jordan, Class of 1997. The scholarship seeks to honor Brad and continue his legacy of excellence in academics and service to the community.
“I am proud to announce the endowment of the S. Bradley Houck Memorial Scholarship. While he was taken from us too soon, his spirit is with us always in his work and the good that he inspired. He always spoke of his time at John Marshall and the positive way it shaped his life and career. Now, we will have the opportunity to give many future lawyers a chance to experience the same,” said Adam Malone, owner of Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers.
Adam Malone is a longtime supporter of his alma mater, having served as a past president of the Alumni Board and now as a current member of the Board of Directors. He was the Class of 1999 Valedictorian and has also been honored as a Distinguished Alumni in 2008. Thank you, Adam, for honoring Brad’s life and establishing the memorial scholarship in his name.
Inquiries related to establishing named scholarship funds may be directed to Chief Development Officer, Wendy Aina.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates 2004 alumna, Sonja Brown, who was recently sworn in as a Cobb County Superior Court Judge after winning a runoff election this past summer. Judge Brown was honored by AJMLS as a Distinguished Alumni recipient in 2009.
Prior to her election win in Cobb County, Judge Brown had served as a Cobb County magistrate judge, Fulton County Assistant District Attorney, Director of Offender Re-Entry Services with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, and as Staff Counsel at Convergent Media Systems Corporation.
Outside the courtroom, Judge Brown is the past president of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA), member of the State Bar of Georgia, Corporate Counsel for Women of Color, and served on the Board of the Restorative Justice Center of the Atlanta Community Court Division (Atlanta Municipal Court), and the Georgia Breast Cancer Coalition Foundation. In 2006, she co-wrote “Fueled by Greatness – 10 Cutting Edge Strategies for Accelerating Your Destiny Now.”
While at AJMLS, Judge Brown was the Student Bar Association President and won the Aspen Book Award for Remedies, Civil Procedure I, and Civil Procedure II.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is pleased to celebrate alongside Judge Brown and wishes her much success as she takes the bench.
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
1L Class
Timecca Cordero
Timecca Cordero is a 1L student who is a Student Representative of the SBA, and serves on the SBA’s Academic Advisory Committee. Timecca is also a member of the Charlotte E. Ray Law Society (CERLS). She devotes her time to working pro bono at the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and believes an outstanding law student is “one who has drive to achieve academically by accessing all of AJMLS’s academic resources and being an AJMLS resource!”
Rubi Garcia-Manzo
Rubi Garcia-Manzo is a 1L at AJMLS. Before moving to Georgia in 2019, Rubi held many different leadership positions in college, from student government representative to Vice President of the Mexican American Student Association. In 2018, Rubi found an interest in leadership after interning at the York County Economic Alliance, where she and several other interns created the “YoCo Bloom” Micro-Grant. This grant serves as a stepping stone for organizations and businesses and has created lasting change for the beneficiaries in her hometown of York, Pennsylvania.
During the summer of 2019, Rubi interned in the Office of Governor Tom Wolf, where she assisted with public outreach. After moving to Georgia to pursue a law degree, Rubi received the role of policy co-chair with HYPE (the Hispanic Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs). While Rubi was the policy co-chair of HYPE, her team was able to raise more than ten thousand dollars in funding. One of the most memorable events during her two-year tenure was “pups and politics”, an event that would later be featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rubi has also served as the Leyendas chair for the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials and was selected to participate in GALEO’s Georgia Institute of Leadership. Rubi’s definition of an outstanding law student is “one who never gives up on their dreams and aspirations and one who takes error and uses it as a mechanism for growth. An outstanding student is one who looks fear and anxiety in the face and says, ‘I will not let you win’, even if that means getting up and trying again tomorrow.”
Suzanne Oldweiler
Suzanne Oldweiler, a 1L in the full-time program, is an Ann Kimsey and John Marshall Scholarship recipient and holds a B.S. in Business Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Suzanne advocates for children in foster care, and she volunteers as a coach for Partners in Change. Suzanne spent four years on Morningside Elementary’s Family Science Night Planning Committee and has volunteered with the Suzuki School, the American Red Cross, and First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. Suzanne served as a Board Member for the Georgia Tech Business Network and as President of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s Intown Atlanta Network. Currently, Suzanne holds student memberships with the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia.
Prior to law school, Suzanne was promoted to Key Accounts Sales Manager at GRAPHISOFT, a global company providing industry-leading Building Information Modeling software solutions for architecture and design. Suzanne led key account strategy and development in support of business objectives and revenue goals, while launching initiatives such as the Annual Business Review program and the DEI Council. After nearly two decades in the AEC industry, Suzanne brings extensive client advocacy, technology sales, and professional leadership experience to the AJMLS community. In addition, Suzanne is a finisher of the New York and Miami marathons, as well as 17 half-marathons. Suzanne believes that “growth, grit, and curiosity are key traits of outstanding law students. In addition to demonstrating humility and professionalism, such students foster a growth mindset, recognize strengths and blind spots are solution-focused, and stay true to their values. Outstanding law students pair their purpose in law with an unwavering commitment to progress and service.” Suzanne resides in Atlanta with her husband, two daughters, and adopted Chihuahua.
Jodi–Ann Salters
Jodi-Ann Salters is a 1L Student Bar Association Student Representative for Section B. She is a non-traditional student and a UGA alumnae with more than twelve years of leadership and management experience. Jodi-Ann believes in a balanced lifestyle and encourages her peers to do the same. With this in mind, she planned a Section B group study session and a social event to foster inclusivity and team building. Beyond studying and preparing for classes, Jodi-Ann enjoys spending quality time with her husband, children, and friends. Every Saturday, it’s “go Dawgs,” and every Sunday, it’s “go Browns!” Jodi-Ann is interested in becoming an entertainment and immigration lawyer, is a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and is working tirelessly to expand her professional network. She is also an active member of C.E.R.L.S. (Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society) and BLSA (Black Law Students Association). Jodi-Ann’s definition of an outstanding law student is “a student who is supportive, ethical, scholarly, charitable, and well-balanced. Outstanding law students motivate and encourage those around them to do their best. Law school is challenging but fun, tiring but purposeful, and sometimes depressing but rewarding.” Jodi-Ann believes “the relationships she builds are as meaningful as the new language she is learning.” She is thankful for the collective effort in section B, the team they have assembled, and the honor of representing them.
2L Class
Tiara Clemmons
Tiara L. Clemmons is a 2L student at AJMLS. Tiara currently serves as a Staff Editor for the Law Journal. She has earned CALI awards for both Civil Procedure and Criminal Law and has also received two Outstanding Student of the Quarter Awards. She serves on the Induction Committee for Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society and as a peer mentor, working to bridge the gap between Black women and the legal profession. She is also an active member of the Black Law Students Association. Tiara is passionate about uplifting others and regularly seeks out opportunities to make a positive impact in her community. She volunteered as a student contributor on the fourth edition of “Home for Good: Overcoming Legal Barriers to Reentry in Georgia.” She worked diligently with her colleagues to draft a comprehensive guide aimed at answering practical, legal questions to help those recently released from prison or jail remain in their community. Tiara’s definition of an outstanding law student is one who is “kind, respectful, professional, and always willing to lend a helping hand.”
3L Class
Taylor Blumenthal
Taylor Blumenthal is a 3L in the part-time program. She has received CALI awards in Legal Writing and Civil Procedure, and she recently joined Law Journal as a Staff Editor. Taylor juggles part-time classes, a full-time job as a legal assistant at an immigration law firm, a busy family life, which includes a seven-year-old daughter, two dogs, a cat, and three horses. Before deciding to pursue a legal career, Taylor worked on staff for the Georgia General Assembly. Being immersed in the political world opened her eyes to the important role attorneys play in our everyday lives. Currently, Taylor is undecided about her desired practice area, but she was surprised to find she has an interest in criminal law during a recent judicial clerkship. For now, she plans to continue exploring different options, while working towards graduation in the Spring of 2024. Taylor describes an outstanding law student as, “someone who manages the challenges of law school with integrity, hard work, and intellectual curiosity, showing that they will be a positive force in the world after gaining the power that comes with a law degree.”
Monique Cherry
Monique Cherry is a full-time 3L student and will graduate in May 2023. She has received CALI awards in Criminal Law, Legal Writing, Research & Analysis II, Domestic Relations, and Negotiations. She has served as a teaching assistant for Professor Dalton’s Legal Writing, Research & Analysis I and II courses since the Fall of 2021. Monique is also an academic peer advisor for the Law School, and assists students in navigating course requirements, selecting electives, understanding the requirements for graduation, and finding general course information. She currently serves as the Managing Editor of the Law Journal, where she has been a member since 2021. Monique was invited to join the Journal because she was ranked in the top 10% of her class.
Outside of class, Monique works for two law firms (one in Washington, DC and another in Atlanta, GA). Her work focuses primarily on immigration and criminal litigation. While she is unsure of the area of law in which she will practice upon graduating, her ultimate goal is to break into the world of space law! Monique’s definition of an outstanding student is “someone who is not only dedicated to their schooling and excelling in their courses, but who also demonstrates a commitment to their law school community and student development.” Recognizing that every student at AJMLS is undergoing stress and uncertainty, Monique aims to be a helping hand and voice of encouragement.
Grace Gomez
Grace C. Gomez is a 3L part-time evening program student. Despite working full time as a paralegal and attending AJMLS part time in the evening, she has found the time to be a student ambassador, a staff editor on Law Journal, and a vice-chair of the Advocacy Board. Grace holds a B.A. in Psychology, with a concentration in Sociology, from SUNY Stony Brook University, and an ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate from Marist College. In the 2022 National Appellate Advocacy Competition, she placed in the region’s top 10 oral advocates; that event confirmed that she is interested in litigation, specifically family law and in appellate work. Grace’s definition of an outstanding law student is “someone who tries their best in and out of the classroom, excels academically, and exemplifies the ideals of the profession.”
Chauncey Graham
Chauncey Graham is a 3L in the full-time program. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the John Marshall Law Journal for Volume XVI, 2022-2023. He is also a member of the Black Law Students Association, BLSA’s Fundraising Committee, and the Public Interest Law Society. Chauncey’s definition of an outstanding law student is one “who not only exhibits a passion for learning, but who also is well-rounded and committed to fostering an environment where all students are encouraged to thrive.”
MarQuita Jones
MarQuita Danielle “Danni” Jones is a 3L at AJMLS. She has received a CALI award in Legal Writing, is a member of the John Marshall Law School Law Journal, and has served as a peer mentor. Danielle is also a member of the executive board of the DeKalb Bar Association.
For the past 11 years, Danielle has worked as the Litigation Paralegal and Trial Assistant for Attorney Joe A. Weeks, an alumnus of AJMLS, and she provides mentorship to paralegals at other law firms. Danielle wants to become a trial lawyer, and has a passion for speaking on behalf of those who are unable to speak for themselves. Although Danielle loves civil litigation, her heart and passion are centered around changing lives and helping to restore hope, faith, and trust in our judicial system. Danielle believes that an outstanding law student is “not a perfect student, but a student who works diligently in her academic performance; someone who demonstrates sincere respect and concern for her fellow classmates and her professors; someone who displays a commitment to service within her community and abroad; someone with strong ethics and morals; and someone who, despite obstacles, has a positive attitude, while maintaining integrity and respect for the legal profession.”
Rose Love
Rose Love is a New Jersey-born Georgia Peach and is a 3L student with a background in marketing. She has a desire to bridge the education and wealth gap between black Americans and their counterparts from other racial and ethnic groups. Rose is the founder and Chief Justice of the Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society, and it is the largest organization on campus. Along with the executive board, Rose works diligently to increase the 1L retention rate among black female law students. Rose also serves as a peer mentor and a member of the President’s Corner. Rose also sits on the AJMLS chapter of GAWL’s executive board and is a student mentor for the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (Big GAWL). This year, Rose was chosen out of thousands of applicants to be 1 of 100 female law students to attend the “Ms. JD” Women in Law Conference in Malibu, California. Moreover, Rose is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Order of Eastern Star P.H.A.
During her tenure at AJMLS, Rose interned at Immigration Hope Atlanta, where she worked on cases regarding VAWA (Violence Against Women Act). At Immigration Hope Atlanta, Rose helped women of color who were victims of abuse obtain their green cards and a path to legal citizenship. Rose has also had the opportunity to intern at BAJI (Black Alliance for Just Immigration), the country’s largest non-profit organization that caters specifically to black immigrants. It led her to advocate for the injustices inside the immigration camps that house mostly black and brown people, and she has worked on projects involving the murder of George Floyd and its protest. Rose has also done work and research regarding the mutilation of black women’s bodies in Africa. She currently works as a legal redress agent for the NAACP, where she is advocating for criminal justice reform and to correct the inhumane conditions in Georgia’s prison system.
In addition to her many other obligations, Rose also works as an associate at Martin and Associates and has her 3L practice certificate. Rose has already been the first chair in two cases and argued in court, and she settled and won her first case in November. Rose credits Jesus, her parents, and her ancestors for her many accomplishments and is pursuing a law degree in their honor. She believes that an outstanding law student “understands that failure is not final, and that it is the courage to get up and continue that matters”.
Diamond Nimene
Diamond Nimene is a 3L at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She has received a CALI award in Legal Writing and Research II, and is vice-president of both the Black Law Students Association and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. Additionally, Diamond serves as a Student Ambassador for the school, the Secretary for the Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society, and a student representative for LexisNexis. She also regularly volunteers her time and efforts to mentor some of her younger classmates, while finding a balance between life and school.
Diamond is interested in becoming a transactional entertainment lawyer (although she has been told she has a knack for litigation). Diamond is a member of many Bar Associations, including the Atlanta Bar, Georgia Bar, Gate City, and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyer Association. She is working tirelessly to expand her professional network while reaching down to ensure others are able to advance similarly. Diamond’s definition of an outstanding law student is one “who has faced adversity but still journeys forward with humility, ensuring that those experiences instill a commitment to service and devotion to the highest ideals of this wonderful profession.” Diamond is grateful for this honor!
Grant Schrantz
Grant Schrantz is a full-time 3L who serves as the Executive Student Director of the Peer Mentoring Program and the SBA Treasurer.
Under Grant’s leadership, the Peer Mentoring Program has significantly expanded its operations to include taking a larger role in 1L Orientation and setting up a booth at the student organization fair, partnering with the SBA for a Fall Community Service Event with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, producing a PMP Impact video, taking part in producing a promotional video for the PMP/SBA/GAWL/OSA Dream Closet Initiative, starting a PMP Newsletter, and creating a PMP Instagram account for greater 1L and AJMLS awareness of the PMP’s contribution to the AJMLS community.
Under Grant’s leadership, the SBA Treasury has decreased the processing time for Student Organization funds requests, created a routine purchasing schedule for restocking the student lounge through the Beautify AJMLS Committee, and has several more plans for the future, as it is still early in Grant’s tenure.
Grant wants to practice corporate law after passing the bar. He is interested in business transactions and litigation because he prefers to gain a broad base of knowledge.
Grant’s definition of an outstanding student is “a student who goes above and beyond to benefit the AJMLS community through service and leadership.”
4L Class
Jacob Gregory
Jacob Gregory is a 4L in the part-time evening program and is from Atlanta, Georgia. Jacob has received over 20 CALI awards during his time at AJMLS and also has received the Best Oralist Award in his LWRA III class. He currently serves as the Executive Legislative Editor for the school’s Law Journal and wrote his Legislative Summary on Senate Bill 241, a Bill creating implications for Absentee Voting in the state of Georgia. Jacob serves as a Legal Writing Teaching Fellow, assisting in all things Legal Writing. In the future, he seeks to be a civil rights lawyer. Jacob’s definition of an outstanding law student is “one who can explain the law simply.”
Bethany Keyes
Bethany Keyes is a part-time 4L day student. Bethany works part time as a student associate at a local Atlanta law firm. When Bethany is not in school, studying, or working, she enjoys cooking, shopping, and spending time with her significant other, family, and friends. On any given day, you can typically find Bethany with an iced coffee in hand and a smile on her face. One of Bethany’s most recent accomplishments was having an opinion published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Bethany’s definition of an outstanding law student is “one who demonstrates the desire to learn, one who is kind and helpful, and one who is always willing to engage in debate to expand their horizon of knowledge.”
Joseph Maggiano
Joseph Maggiano is a 4L at AJMLS and has achieved Dean’s List three times throughout his law school career. He is a recipient of various awards. Joseph also works as a law clerk for a personal injury firm in the New York/New Jersey area. Joseph is a father of three, and is happily married to his teenage sweetheart, Yralka Maggiano. He proudly says that without her love and support, he could not have embarked on his law school career. Joseph’s goal is to become barred in New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, and to achieve civil trial certification.
Joseph believes that “outstanding students, like outstanding trial lawyers, learn and benefit from their mistakes. A wise man said, ‘there are no lessons in victory, but 1,000 lessons learned from defeat.’ Understanding that we are all imperfect, we learn from our mistakes and move on. We, as students, should not coast on a successful grade or sulk on a bad one. Every day matters in a law student’s career. It is important to start each day with optimism and close with the confident feeling that you gave the day your best effort.”
Originally introduced in the October 2022 AJMLS Dispatch, an SBA publication, we are pleased to introduce the 2022-2023 SBA Class Representatives.
3L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVE (DAY)
BROOKE HARRISON
I’m a Louisiana native who has developed a passion for justice and law through life experiences and social activism. My plans are to use my law degree to forge a career in civil rights and public interest law. As a class representative, I will ensure that all of our concerns regarding school-sponsored events are heard, that class offerings and course curriculums are decided with our concerns in mind, and that our events are executed smoothly and professionally. My goal with the Student Bar Association this year is simple: to make sure the voice of the people is heard and their needs are addressed.
NIKITA PATEL
I’m originally from Los Angeles, California and attended Louisiana State University for undergrad. Currently, I am living in Atlanta to attend law school. I plan on taking the Florida Bar and envision myself practicing in the corporate law sector. My goal for SBA is to be a voice for people who don’t feel comfortable speaking out for themselves. I also want to encourage more networking events. I think students put a lot of pressure on themselves when it comes to getting perfect grades. However, it is also important to make connections and network because knowing the right people makes a difference when it comes to getting various job opportunities.
2L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVE (PT)
JADE GREEN
My name is Jade Green, and I am a part-time evening 2L. I studied criminal justice at Dalton State and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. I am interested in becoming a criminal defense attorney and hope to one day work for the Innocence Project. I intend to serve as class representative to the best of my abilities and provide the 2L evening students with answers to their questions and ensure they have access to the resources they need to be successful. I hope to represent my class as well as the previous representatives did before me and appreciate this opportunity to do so!
JASMINE KNIGHT
I was born in Burlington, NJ and went to The University of Alabama for undergrad where I received a B.A. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. Later, I obtained my paralegal certificate from the University of Richmond. At AJMLS, I have immersed myself in various student organizations: Criminal Law Society, Student Advisory Board for the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society, Peer Mentoring Program, and the Advocacy Board. After passing the Bar, I plan to work as a prosecutor in Fulton County, Georgia. My goal is to make a difference in the lives of domestic violence survivors and loved ones of those who have been lost in the fight against domestic violence.
2L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVE (DAY)
TAHIRAH SCOTT
My name is Tahirah I. Scott and I was born and raised in Somerset, NJ. I graduated from the State University of New Jersey, Rutgers University, with a dual degree in Criminal Justice and Women & Gender Studies, and a minor in Creative Writing. Currently, I am very interested in intellectual property law, entertainment law, and sports law. As an SBA representative, it is my goal to make sure that not only students’ concerns are heard, but that there are also some solutions being offered as well.
TYLORE BELL
My name is Tylore Bell, I am the oldest of three girls, and you know what they say about the oldest daughters. Being from the west coast, I am a true California girl! I went to Cal State Dominguez Hills, where I also played basketball. I am currently interested in criminal defense, but as one of my favorite professors told me to do, I am keeping my options open. My goals for SBA are to create a safe space for social events for students to relax and de-stress while making connections, create better relationships among the student body, and help create a better environment for students to feel confident as we all work to pass the bar and become amazing lawyers.
1L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVE (PT – EVENING)
TIMECCA CORDERO
My name is Timecca Cordero and I’m a community advocate. I strive to enhance the lives of others through awareness by working together with other community representatives and officials. I aspire to further my initiatives of advocating for the vulnerable population, which includes those that are economically disadvantaged, people with disabilities, and children, by becoming their legal resource. It’s my desire to be a part of the greatness AJMLS has to offer its students by being a great Student Bar Association representative. As an SBA representative, my goal is to ensure each student has an exceptional learning experience by receiving the adequate learning resources within AJMLS’s excellent learning environment.
PARIESE LEWIS
My name is Pariese J. Lewis and I am from Phoenix, AZ. I have a background in Biology, Management and have worked in pharmaceutical research for over 12 years. With my passion in law, my goal is to use my legal degree in conjunction with my pharmaceutical experience to work on clinical research contracts. As an SBA representative, my goal is to be a voice for the evening students. As evening students, we face particular issues that may not be faced by the larger body and it is important that these be brought to light, especially safety. I look forward to the journey ahead and working together as a team. We are stronger together!
1L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVE (PT- DAY)
GIZELLE LAMASTUS
My name is Gizelle Lamastus and I am a 1L part-time day time student. Before attending AJMLS, I graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Psychology. It was through an experience during an undergraduate study abroad program in Morocco that I decided to change paths and become a lawyer with a focus on family law! I have a passion for people and want to ensure that people are confident that they are being advocated for. This passion for people that led me towards law school has now led me to the SBA. I will make it a priority to be consistent and effective in addressing your concerns. I am excited to experience the AJMLS community as one of your SBA representatives. We will have the opportunity to get to know one another throughout our years here, but until then, here is a bit about me! I enjoy dancing (not very well I might add), thrift shopping (always here for a good bargain), and hiking/traveling. Remember, we are all in law school and although challenging, it is something we should be proud of!
1L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVES (FT – SECTION B)
JODI-ANN SALTERS
I am a proud wife and mother to three adorable children. I was born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx, New York. In 2006 I moved to Georgia, and in 2012 received my BBA in Management at UGA. I am at AJMLS to continue my journey leading and serving my community as an attorney at law. I am interested in serving immigrant clients as well as entertainers. As an SBA representative, I will continue to bridge the gap for all students. My promise is to represent all students’ viewpoints to faculty and staff. I will continue this effort by maintaining open and transparent communication with students while clearly and consistently communicating our views to faculty and staff. The work we do today will impact future students and the community alike.
GABRIELLA HENRIQUEZ CHAVEZ
¡Hola, que tal! My name is Gabriella Henriquez Chavez, and I am a first-generation American, undergraduate, and now law student. My mother is from Guatemala, my father was from Chile and my husband is from Mexico. My background, as well as my experience in various immigration law firms, inspire me to find and be a voice for the community of immigrants who are living in the shadows. I have a strong interest in immigration law, but while in law school I am exploring the criminal, public interest, and civil law fields. My goal as your SBA representative is to ensure 1L students have a voice and are #AJMLSProud. My top priorities right now are to (1) help beautify the student lounge, (2) start a student safety blog, and (3) promote your workshop and fundraising ideas.
1L SBA CLASS REPRESENTATIVES (FT – SECTION A)
LEAH ROBERTSON
My name is Leah Robertson. I was born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, which is about 40 minutes outside of the city (shoutout to the Northside Hospital Atlanta babies!). I graduated from Kennesaw State University in Fall 2020 with my BS in Communications (Hooty Hoo!). My areas of interest include family law and intellectual property. My goal is to explore both areas as I have an interest in helping families as well as artists, writers, and designers when it comes to protecting the rights to their intellectual property. My goal for SBA is to get as many concerns/questions/issues raised by students resolved or answered by the end of 2022-2023 school year. We have many opportunities to improve our school community and I am excited to be a part of it!
WHITNEY DREW
Hello all! My name is Whitney Ariana Drew, and I was born and raised in Georgia. Learning languages is one of my favorite activities, so I earned an MA in French last May from Georgia State, while I was teaching French I. Some of my hobbies include writing, playing flute, and stargazing. Regarding law, my area of interest is corporate law. I’ve wanted to be a corporate lawyer for as long as I can remember. My goal for SBA is to help create more student success events. As one of the 1L representatives for Section A, I’ve already heard great ideas that I’d love to see implemented. Thank you for letting me represent you!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Teri P. McClure, Former General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer, Senior Vice President of Labor Relations and Communications for United Parcel Service of America, Inc. (UPS), to the Board of Directors. Before retiring in 2019, McClure had responsibility globally for Legal and Compliance, Human Resources, Employee Communications, and Labor Relations for UPS and its 500,000 employees worldwide. She was a member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team responsible for setting strategy, profit, and operating plans for UPS worldwide operations.
Prior to McClure’s history-making 24 year career at UPS, she practiced employment and labor law at Troutman Sanders Atlanta. Her 2006 appointment to the UPS Executive Leadership Team changed history, becoming the first female African American senior vice president at the company, one of the world’s largest shipping couriers. She received her B.A. in marketing and economics from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned her J.D. from Emory University School of Law.
As an experienced corporate director for publicly traded companies, Lennar, GMS, JetBlue, and Flour, as well as board member for privately held Board Prospects and Accelya, and board chair for the Task Force for Global Health, McClure’s leadership experience is comprehensive and diverse. She remarked about her appointment with AJMLS, “I look forward to the contributions I can bring to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s growing organization and established team of leaders.” Her board expertise includes governance, strategic human capital and culture, executive compensation, strategic planning, performance management, and succession, global legal and regulatory compliance, government affairs, and crisis management.
McClure joins the following members and advisor of the Board of Directors:
Members
Dr. Michael C. Markovitz, Ph.D. Chairman, Board of Directors
Dean Frank T. Read Vice Chairman, Board of Directors President & Dean Emeritus, South Texas College of Law
Kwaku C. George (KC) Director, National Development Council
Honorable Carol W. Hunstein Former Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia
Adam Malone Partner, Malone Law
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker County Attorney, Fulton County, Georgia
Kevin Ross President, Kevin Ross Public Affairs Group LLC Dr. Lawrence B. Schlachter DDS, MD, JD, Schlachter Law Firm
Dean James P. White Consultant Emeritus, Section on Legal Education & Admission to the Bar, American Bar Association
On Saturday, November 19, 2022, the Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) community, comprised of staff, students, and alumni, partnered with Avalon Sports, the Office of Fulton County Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman, District 6, the Cobb Justice Foundation Legal Aid’s Office, the Grady Gives Foundation, and many more to provide turkeys, hens, hams, Thanksgiving fixings, and fresh produce to single moms in need during this holiday season.
A special thanks to our student leaders of the Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society for assisting in planning and recruiting AJMLS volunteers for this event.
We were excited and thankful to partner with Grady Gives in support of their mission of “transforming and impacting lives one by one” and giving back to the community.
On Saturday, October 29, 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) was pleased to host the 12th Annual Owl Classic Invitation Mock Trial Tournament for Kennesaw State University (KSU). The competition welcomed Lee University, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), University of South Florida (USF), University of West Florida (UWF), Auburn University, Mercer University, Georgia State University (GSU), Samford University, University of North Carolina- Charlotte (UNC- Charlotte), and Georgia College and State University (GCSU) to AJMLS’s campus in Downtown Atlanta.
Thank you to this year’s coordinators: Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, Jessica Turner, Jazmine King, and AJMLS Director of Recruitment and Outreach, Marc Reece. It was a pleasure to work with you and host the tournament.
Congratulations to the top trial teams at the Owl Classic Invitational
1st Place: Auburn University (Team Ghouls)
2nd Place: Middle Tennessee State University (Team Goblins)
3rd Place: University of South Florida (Team Werewolves)
Honorable Mention Teams: Georgia State University (Team Skeletons), Lee University (Team Zombies)
Congratulations to individual award winners at the Owl Classic Invitational!
In the 2-round tournament, it took a minimum of 9 ranks to earn a witness award and a minimum of 9 ranks to earn an attorney award.
Outstanding witnesses with 10 ranks: Abby Bauer (KSU); Alaysha Lamb (GSU); Anna McFadden (UNC-Charlotte); and Katelynn Pricer (MTSU).
Special shout out to Anna Sweet (Auburn) who earned 10 ranks as a witness on BOTH sides of the case!
Outstanding witnesses with 9 ranks: Eli Askren (MTSU); Mary Chascsa (MTSU); Sydney Fant (Lee); Manasi Giridharan (Mercer); Connor Hilly (GCSU); Olivia Kilpatrick (MTSU); Liz Medina (Samford); and Emily Wyche (GCSU).
Outstanding attorneys with 10 ranks: Lisa Calvert (GCSU); Mary Chascsa (MTSU); Zachary Ouellette (MTSU); Molley Petty (Lee); and Brayden Tompkins (UWF).
Special shout outs to the double threats: Jaida Kelley of KSU, who earned 10 ranks on BOTH sides of the case; and Caroline Deale of Auburn, who earned 10 ranks on Defense and 9 ranks on Prosecution.
Outstanding attorneys with 9 ranks: Paul Atherton (Lee); Tamia Campbell (GSU); Milla Magyar (GSU); Stelios Spirou (GCSU); and Isabella Terry (MTSU).
Eligible hours must be completed between October 1st and October 31st
Welcome to October AJMLS,
There are several ways to develop the professional identities of law students and new attorneys, however, none-more impactful than pro bono service.
Especially now, in this time of economic turmoil, practice by way of service provides essential representation and resources to those who need it most. During the wake of the pandemic, the rate of Americans in need of critical civil legal service grew, further widening the justice gap (Flagg, 2022). Populations including Veterans, senior citizens, and individuals from low-income households face legal issues around access to safe housing, health care, employment, and more, often without representation. To put this into perspective, in 2021, legal aid organizations across the U.S. received almost 1.9 million requests for assistance from low-income individuals. In 2022, low-income Americans were without assistance for more than 90% of their substantial legal issues. lack of representation results in further widening the justice gap and increasing costs for individuals who are already financially burdened. In addition to legal representation, pro bono services such as providing legal education, volunteering to improve voting rights, and assisting with local government issues are all meaningful ways to serve for the public good.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Gandhi
While each day presents an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to society at large, the month of October represents a time to showcase a renewed spirit of service through legal stewardship. As we enter into this season of pro-bono, let us demonstrate a commitment to serving the very community that has served our law school for more than 80 years. With the law school’s close proximity to more than 100 public interest and government organizations, pro bono opportunities are boundless, and assistance is greatly needed. By participating in pro bono activities and encouraging law students to follow suit, we contribute to their development as compassionate practitioners, we build on Atlanta’s John Marshall Law school legacy, we provide critical services to individuals who may not otherwise have the means to afford them, and we demonstrate our dedication to “preparing highly skilled, ethical, and professional lawyers who possess a strong social conscience” (AJMLS Mission, 2022).
Students are eligible for the following pro bono awards,
· Join Us here to reach our goal of 500 pro bono hours during the month of October.
· For a list of organizations and pro bono opportunities click here.
· Instructions to log your pro bono hours in 12Twenty can be found here.
Have a great month!
All the Best,
J.L. Wyatt-Keyton, PhD
Executive Director of Career Services and Professional Development
The Community Needs YOU!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) has a strong pro bono culture. We recognize the growing severity of unmet legal needs of the poor and disadvantaged in the state of Georgia. As such we encourage and support the participation of our students, faculty, alumni, and staff in pro bono activities. AJMLS provides a broad range of pro bono opportunities to ensure that our law school community can participate in pro bono activities.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Associate Professor, Michael Mears, has been appointed to serve on the Southeastern Association of Law Schools (SEALS) Global Outreach Committee for this coming year. SEALS is a regional association of law schools that provides annual opportunities for faculty to present and receive feedback on their ongoing research at their annual meeting, and offers legal educators panels and discussion groups to enhance their classroom teaching and scholarly works.
The International Committee has three core missions:
1) Develop and Sustain Strong International Partnerships
SEALS is historically and still primarily focused on law schools in the Southeastern United States. However, we recognize that building good relationships with colleagues around the world is a worthy and important goal. We seek to encourage and facilitate participation in SEALS by law faculty who live and work beyond the U.S. borders.
2) Encourage global & comparative perspectives on the law and legal education
While international and comparative law are core pillars of legal practice and legal education in most of the world, they have not attained such prominence in the United States. The A.B.A. has recognized this as an area for improvement and this committee agrees. We will propose programs, panels and events that prioritize a more global focus and/or comparative analysis.
3) Provide international opportunities for SEALS members
This committee is very proud of the professors at our member schools and wants to showcase them to the world. Our goal is to seek out international publication, speaking and teaching opportunities and publish these to the member schools.
Thank you, Professor Mears, for your ongoing contributions to the legal community and legal education.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Advocacy Board is a student-run academic organization dedicated to promoting the art of written and oral advocacy in moot court and mock trial competitions. The Board is governed by its Executive Council.
Professor Loren Pratt, Faculty Advisor
Executive Council
Carolina Melguizo, Chair
Carolina Melguizo was born in Medellin, Colombia, and moved to the United States at the age of 15. With a passion for learning, Carolina earned a B.S. in history and political science from Georgia State University and is currently a part-time student.
In her first year of law school, Carolina earned the CALI award in LWRA I and was invited to join the Advocacy Board. During her second year, Carolina served as SBA representative and competed in the NAAC Moot Court Competition. She has served as a peer mentor since 2021.
Carolina is honored to lead the Advocacy Board as its Chair. She looks forward to increasing the Board’s presence in moot court and mock trial competitions. She is excited to be a part of an academic organization that celebrates practical written and oral advocacy.
Grace Gomez, Vice Chair
Grace C. Gomez is the daughter of immigrants, originally from Peru, and the first in her family to attend law school. She moved to Atlanta from Westchester County, New York in 2017 and is a part-time evening student expected to graduate in 2024. She earned her B.A. in Psychology, with a concentration in Sociology, from SUNY Stony Brook University in 2015 and earned her ABA-approved Paralegal Certificate from Marist College a few months before moving to Atlanta in 2017.
Working full-time and going to school part-time has not been an easy feat, however, having a strong support system has allowed Grace to thrive. After completing her 2L year, she accepted an invite to join Atlanta’s John Marshall’s Law Journal as a Staff Editor and was elected to Advocacy Board’s Executive Council as a Vice Chair. She has also been a Student Ambassador for the last year.
She is excited about the opportunity to help create an organization where our members can grow professionally in their written, oral, and legal research skills.
Marquez Jones, Vice Chair
Marquez Jones is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and is currently a part-time student with an expected graduation date of May 2024. He has a degree in Mass Communications and Media Studies with a focus in Broadcast/Journalism.
Prior to law school, Marquez worked in entertainment as a tour manager and agent for artists in the entertainment industry.
Accepting a position as a Vice Chair was a no brainer due to Marquez’s strong desire for trial advocacy and appellate court work.
Wendi Lucas, Vice Chair
Wendi Lucas was born and raised in Rome, Georgia where she graduated with honors from Pepperell High School. Wendi attended Kennesaw State University where she graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Political Science with a minor in legal studies. In addition to academic pursuits, Wendi has worked as a paralegal handling countless complex personal injury cases since 2017. Wendi served as SBA class representative her 1L year and currently serves as a peer mentor as a 3L. Wendi accepted the position as a Vice Chair in hopes of furthering Advocacy Board competition opportunities and growing the organization.
In addition to her academic and professional pursuits, Wendi enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
On August 1, 2022, the Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Alumni Association welcomed its new Board of Directors and Officers. The Officers will serve in their roles for the 2022-2023 year.
Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert Class of 2012 PresidentTavis Knighten Class of 2005 Vice-PresidentErik Provitt Class of 2016 TreasurerReece Riden Class of 2018 Secretary
During the July 2022 Alumni Association Board of Directors meeting, six new members were selected to join the Board. It is an honor to present the newest members of the Board. You can see the returning members here.
Keren Barrios, Class of 2013
Where were you raised?
I was raised in Guatemala until I was 10 years old and then moved to Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education?
Georgia State University (Criminal Justice Legal Path)
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
Owner/Founder of Barrios Virguez Attorneys, specializing in personal injury and immigration.
What do you do in your free time?
Spend as much time with my husband and two boys.
Why did you join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
To mentor and help AJMLS students in any way possible so they can succeed in their careers.
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
Anything is possible with dedication and determination.
Tianna M. Bias, Class of 2018, Savannah Law School
Where were you raised?
Augusta, GA
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education
Paine College
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
Criminal Defense Attorney – Hawk Law Group
What do you do in your free time?
Play with my sons; try new restaurants and travel
Why did you join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
To advocate for and assist in the inclusion of the talented alumni from Savannah Law School
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference. Many people assumed that attending smaller institutions for undergrad and law school put me at a disadvantage but these schools opened the doors for opportunities beyond my wildest dreams.
D. Wesley “Wes” Jordan, Class of 1997
Where were you raised?
Atlanta, GA
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education?
University of Georgia
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
Law Office of D. Wesley Jordan, P.C. — Self-employed attorney with a focus on Residential Real Estate Closings. Currently in my 25th year of practice.
What do you do in your free time?
My hobby outside of my practice is aviation. I received my pilot’s license a few years ago and am currently working on my instrument rating at McCollum Airport in Marietta. In Addition to the Real Estate Section of the Bar, I am also a member of the Aviation Section. I am an active member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church, along with my parents who I also take care of.
Why did you join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
I recently received an invitation to do so, and I am honored to join. It was last year about this time that I lost my good friend S. Bradley Houck (1997 Valedictorian) and as a result become re-acquainted with several AJMLS folks when I suggested a scholarship fund be set up in Brad’s Memory.
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
Citing the above, and as I stated in an impromptu speech at the AJMLS Open House last October… you never know where the relationships you make in law school will take you. The friendship you make along the way is a large part of the journey in shaping your path in life and the direction it will eventually take.
Kayla Kudratt, Class of 2018
Where were you raised?
Lithonia, Ga.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education?
Georgia Southern University
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
Assistant District Attorney assigned to the Crimes Against Women and Children/ Domestic Violence Unit in the Henry County District Attorney’s Office
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy traveling the world, volunteering with the youth in my community, exercising, and running Stone Mountain.
Why did you join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
I joined the AJMLS Alumni Board because I love Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and I am forever grateful for the opportunities offered to me.
As a student, I was very involved in the AJMLS community, and serving on the Alumni Board will allow me to continue my engagement with the Law School.
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
I want the alumni and current students to know that AJMLS is near and dear to my heart as this community encouraged and supported me in law school and in my career, so it is my duty and pleasure to give back. I will proudly serve on the Alumni Board to ensure current students are afforded the same opportunities I enjoyed as a student.
Emily Napier, Class of 2016
Where were you raised?
I’m a military brat so I had the gift of getting to call several places my home during my childhood. Some include Florida, New Hampshire, and now Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education?
Georgia State University, Bachelor of Business Administration Finance
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
I am the Owner and Founder of Napier Law Firm LLC. Our areas of practice include Estate Planning and Probate.
What do you do in your free time?
Spend time with my family, bake, travel, work out, and plan parties for family and friends.
Why did you join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
Having run multiple businesses and now being the founding attorney of Napier Law Firm I understand the importance of networking and having a strong presence in the community. I want to share my experiences and be a resource for students.
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
I believe that anything is possible. Sometimes the current situation might seem like it is insurmountable, but I’ve found that you just have to focus on what is in front of you today and put one foot forward.
Michael Urbina, Class of 2011
Where were you raised?
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education?
Georgia State University
Tell us where you currently work, title, and what you do there/area of practice?
Urbina Law Firm, Managing Attorney, Immigration Law
What do you do in your free time?
I love to spend time with my wife and 3 daughters, we travel a lot, especially to Disney World. I like to read, watch movies, find ways to improve myself and my firm, watch NBA and MLB games, and like to play basketball.
Why didyou join the AJMLS Alumni Board?
I joined because I always felt the AJMLS community has been a welcoming community and I love the opportunity to help in any way I can. I feel our alumni are very successful and have the opportunity to help current students and other alumni to connect and help each other out. The power of community is one I have been a part of since I was in high school and have seen the potential of what engaged individuals can do together. I see a lot of potential for all AJMLS alumni and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be involved.
What do you want the AJMLS alumni and current students to know about you?
My favorite quote is “Adapt of Die” and I think that in our industry, we must constantly look for ways to improve not just our legal knowledge, but also how to be efficient and innovative in our everyday practice. I love finding ways to improve my personal and work life to find new levels.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lawrence Schlachter, attorney and board-certified Neurological Surgeon, to the Board of Directors. Dr. Schlachter is a 2004 graduate of AJMLS and owns The Schlachter Law Firm.
Dr. Schlachter is one of the few attorneys in the United States who has a unique background combining dentistry, neurosurgery, and law, with licenses to practice in each profession. Attorneys across the United States regularly call upon Dr. Schlachter for his expertise as a neurosurgeon and lawyer. During Dr. Schlachter’s neurosurgical practice, he performed over 10,000 surgical procedures on the brain and spine. He was also the neurosurgeon on call for the President of the United States for the Atlanta area.
The proud alumnus remarked, “I have always had a special place in my heart for AJMLS as it was the place that opened doors for me and many others to advance our professional careers and to use our law degrees to improve the lives of others. The professors and staff at AJMLS were always available, supportive, kind, yet demanding of the students. I hope that my contributions to the school will continue that kind of supportive environment.”
Dr. Schlachter graduated from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in 1969. He received a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1973 and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1976 from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also served as a resident in general surgery for two years and in neurological surgery for five years at Emory University and affiliated hospitals from 1976 to 1983.
After retiring from active medical practice following a hand injury in 1999, Dr. Schlachter attended Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, graduating with a J.D. degree in 2004. He is an active member of the Georgia Bar, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a Fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine, and is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Schlachter joins the following members and advisor of the Board of Directors:
Members
Dr. Michael C. Markovitz, Ph.D.
Chairman, Board of Directors
Dean Frank T. Read
Vice Chairman, Board of Directors President & Dean Emeritus, South Texas College of Law
Kwaku C. George (KC)
Director, National Development Council
Honorable Carol W. Hunstein
Former Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia
Adam Malone
Partner, Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker
County Attorney, Fulton County, Georgia
Kevin Ross
President, Kevin Ross Public Affairs Group LLC
Dean James P. White
Consultant Emeritus, Section on Legal Education & Admission to the Bar, American Bar Association
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates and celebrates Professor Jonathan Rapping, Director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program, for his recent election to The American Law Institute (ALI). The American Law Institute is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.
As stated by the ALI, “Our membership consists of eminent judges, lawyers, and law professors from all areas of the United States and from many foreign countries, selected on the basis of professional achievement and demonstrated interest in improving the law.
To further its work, the Institute elects individuals who reflect the excellence and diversity of today’s legal profession. Membership in The American Law Institute is a distinct professional honor, and the number of elected members is limited.”
Professor Rapping is one of sixty new members elected this summer. He shared, “It is a great honor to be elected as a member of the American Law Institute. I look forward to bringing my experience as a Law Professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, my work as a criminal justice reformer through Gideon’s Promise, and my scholarship and expertise in the areas of public defense and criminal justice to this organization.”
In addition to leading the Criminal Justice Certificate Program, Professor Rapping has taught Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Advanced Criminal Procedure, and Criminal Justice Lawyering at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) moved into its new Downtown Atlanta campus in 2021. In connection with its move, the Law School received its largest in-kind donation from the American Cancer Society (ACS) of premium office furniture. The Atlanta nonprofit donated enough furniture to furnish every office, conference room, and common area in the new facility.
On July 28, 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School welcomed friends and community supporters to its Open House, where guests toured the new facility and helped the Law School honor the American Cancer Society for its support and donation. The grand staircase was unveiled to be named after the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Scholarship was introduced.
Ms. Mo Ivory, ACS Managing Counsel of Corporate Real Estate, attended the event and spoke for the Atlanta nonprofit. “On behalf of the American Cancer Society, it is my honor to be a part of the donation to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Providing the faculty, staff and especially students a comfortable environment to study and learn and become a part of the thriving law community in Atlanta.”
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School thanks its community supporters for the work they are doing to support our students and alumni through networking, hiring, and financial support. All inquiries related to giving and scholarship creation should be directed to Wendy Aina, Chief Development Officer, at waina@johnmarshall.edu. If you would like to make a donation, please visit our Giving page.
About the American Cancer Society Scholarship
American Cancer Society’s mission is to eliminate cancer as a major health provider by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from the disease, through research, education, advocacy, and service. Families who are faced with cancer undergo severe physical, psychological, and financial strain. Many graduate students who are fighting cancer must often interrupt their education and cannot work to save money for school or participate in extracurricular activities. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery can be extremely debilitating, requiring extensive rehabilitation. Cancer survivors and caretakers face so many challenges both emotionally and financially.
Graduate students who struggle with or succeed in their fight against cancer deserve assistance in their pursuit of a law education. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 8 million Americans have a history of cancer. Ambitious students who attend law school despite their health setbacks display impressive resolve. In an effort to acknowledge the wonderful generosity from the American Cancer Society to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, a scholarship has been created to provide additional assistance to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students who are battling or have battled cancer at any point in their life. This includes those students who have a parent, sibling, or immediate family member that has battled cancer or is currently fighting cancer.
Recipients will be selected by the scholarship committee based on a brief application process which will be based on the applicants’ personal hardship and financial need. The $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to two students annually, applied to tuition and fees only. Full-time and part-time 2L, 3L, and 4L students are eligible to apply.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Development and Alumni Relations Office is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities each semester. Our donors give generously to AJMLS and the John Marshall Law School Foundation, Inc. to help students cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and educational expenses. AJMLS offers merit-based, need-based, and service-based scholarships. Applications were carefully reviewed by the scholarship committee and we thank the committee for their time.
All inquiries related to the Development and Alumni Relations scholarships below should be directed to Wendy Aina, Chief Development Officer, at waina@johnmarshall.edu. If you are a donor and would like to contribute to the scholarships, please visit our Giving pages or contact Wendy Aina directly.
Congratulations to the Fall 2022 scholarship recipients!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) has teamed up with the Atlanta VA Health Care System to provide legal services at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. The Homeless Veteran’s Clinic is a pro bono project of the Law School that originally started as an externship. Due to COVID-19, services at the hospital were scaled back for safety reasons. AJMLS is proud to restart this program as a pro bono program until full services are restored.
The Homeless Veterans Clinic is run by distinguished alumni, Mr. Corey Martin (Class of 2009) of Martin and Associates, Ms. Gulliana Goehring (Class of 2021) of the Fry Law Firm, and student volunteers of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. As a Veteran himself, Mr. Martin notes that this is very personal to him, “I understand the sacrifices that my fellow Veterans have given and continue to give daily to keep us all safe. I didn’t think twice about my participation as the Supervising Attorney in the Clinic.”
The Office of Career Services and Professional Development, who is responsible for the Pro Bono Program at AJMLS, administers the clinic. The Clinic is open every second Friday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and is open to homeless Veterans receiving services at the Atlanta VA Health Care Center. The services provided are for veterans with legal problems, which may include but are not limited to misdemeanors, that adversely affect the stability of the homeless Veterans.
Mr. Martin further details, “My vision is a great but attainable one. I envision AJMLS being the leader throughout the US when it comes to helping veterans navigate the criminal justice system and getting quantifiable, sustainable, and positive results. My goal is to help as many Veterans as possible to get back to a life of hope and positivity, and to help ensure that their criminal history does not prevent them from getting a job, getting a home, or reuniting with their family. I want my battle buddies to know, we are in this together.”
Currently, eight students are supporting the program and they work on a rotating basis depending on how many Veteran cases are scheduled. Students assist with client interviewing, facilitating warrant recalls, legal research, and many other tasks, under the supervision of the attorneys. Should the attorneys decide to keep the case pro bono, the students can assist with the case through completion.
Students who would like more information about the Homeless Veteran’s Clinic Pro Bono Project should contact Dr. Jymmyca Wyatt-Keyton, jwyatt@johnmarshall.edu or Ms. Angela Sumpter at asumpter@johnmarshall.edu.
Veterans with legal problems who would like to participate in the Homeless Veteran’s Legal Clinic should reach out to Ms. Thwindia Cabiness, at the Justice Program Office of the Atlanta VA Health Care System to make an appointment.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) joins the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Georgia in celebrating Dr. Bridgett Ortega, Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development, for her 12 years of service and leadership. After 11 years at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Dr. Ortega is closing out her last month as a full-time administrator and will return this fall as an Adjunct Professor in her retirement.
Joined by her family and AJMLS team members, Dr. Ortega attended the 2022 Annual Membership Meeting for the ACLU of Georgia on June 29, 2022 at the Atlanta History Center. At the event, she was celebrated by her peers and thanked for her long term service and contributions.
The ACLU shared at the event, “The current ACLU of Georgia you helped build is one that brings a complex, expert, and passionate approach to the considerable civil rights and civil liberties challenges of our times. In your role as the Equity Officer, you have guided our organization to integrate Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging into all aspects of our work, and the increasingly diverse staff and Board are reflections of this.”
Dr. Ortega served the ACLU of Georgia Board of Directors as the Equity Officer from 2011-2022 and co-chairs the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at AJMLS since its inception.
“I am honored to receive this recognition from the ACLU. I am just one of many voices for liberty and justice who work for and with the ACLU. I will continue my journey with them but as a ground soldier now.” said Dr. Ortega.
AJMLS acknowledges the incredible contributions that Dr. Ortega has made at the Law School and in our community, and we applaud her ongoing service to the ACLU.
The Law School is incredibly proud of its graduates. Your perseverance and resilience during this challenging time is a testament to your professionalism and work ethic. We look forward to following your careers and championing all your future successes.
Valedictorians
This award is given to the valedictorian from each of the school’s divisions (full-time and part-time).
Mats Rosén, full-time program
Undergraduate institution:
Colorado State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
One of my most favorite memories from AJMLS is competing in the Regional portion of the 2022 National Appellate Advocacy Competition hosted by the ABA and beating one of the teams that ended up making it to the National portion of the competition.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to secure a position as a Judicial Clerk or some comparable position with one of the State or Federal courts in Georgia. Upon completion of such a position I aspire to become a civil litigator with a large firm in the metro Atlanta area.
Lauren Boffill, part-time program
Outstanding Graduate Awards
This award is given annually to one graduate in each of the school’s divisions (part-time and full-time) who best demonstrates standards of competence and professionalism, a strong social conscience, high ethical standards, and a commitment to the improvement of the legal system and society, as determined by the Faculty on recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee.
Joseph Everette Bush
Undergraduate institution:
University of South Carolina, Upstate
Favorite AJMLS memory:
There are too many good memories. I thrived on the camaraderie and shared experience of law school. It is easier to slog through when you know you aren’t alone. Of all my memories of John Marshall, I will cherish my friendships the most. I couldn’t have done it without my colleagues.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to be given the opportunity to serve as a judicial clerk. Should that opportunity not arise, I look forward to serving the people of Georgia, either in public service or private practice. Further down the road I hope to sit on the bench at some level.
Joshua Harris Elbaz
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia Gwinnett College
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memory at AJMLS was the orientation week before 1L year.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My plans and dream after the bar is to work as an ADA for the district attorneys office in Gwinnett County and then eventually become a criminal defense attorney.
Shombraya Eulaijah Goodman
Undergraduate institution:
The Ohio State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My fondest memory at AJMLS was the Barristers’ Ball. After being remote and not able to connect with my peers, it was refreshing to party with the students and faculty. It was a night to remember.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam I plan to be a business law associate. I’m interested in corporate securities, venture capitalist, and mergers and acquisitions. Hopefully, I can combine the law with my mathematical background.
Mats Donald Rosén
Undergraduate institution:
Colorado State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
One of my most favorite memories from AJMLS is competing in the Regional portion of the 2022 National Appellate Advocacy Competition hosted by the ABA and beating one of the teams that ended up making it to the National portion of the competition.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to secure a position as a Judicial Clerk or some comparable position with one of the State or Federal courts in Georgia. Upon completion of such a position I aspire to become a civil litigator with a large firm in the metro Atlanta area.
Kamali C. Thompson
Lauren Boffill
Excellence In Appellate Advocacy
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a John Marshall Law School moot court competition team.
Mats Donald Rosén
Undergraduate institution:
Colorado State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
One of my most favorite memories from AJMLS is competing in the Regional portion of the 2022 National Appellate Advocacy Competition hosted by the ABA and beating one of the teams that ended up making it to the National portion of the competition.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to secure a position as a Judicial Clerk or some comparable position with one of the State or Federal courts in Georgia. Upon completion of such a position I aspire to become a civil litigator with a large firm in the metro Atlanta area.
Excellence In Pro Bono
This award is given to those students whose pro bono hours are among the top 10% earned in the graduating class. This award is not merit-based.
Joshua Harris Elbaz
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia Gwinnett College
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memory at AJMLS was the orientation week before 1L year.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My plans and dream after the bar is to work as an ADA for the district attorneys office in Gwinnett County and then eventually become a criminal defense attorney.
Nicole Alexandria Rizza
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia State University
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
Will be a family law associate at Meriwether & Tharp.
Timothy Orange
Undergraduate institution:
North Greenville University, Kaplan University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Graduation was for sure my best memory of AJMLS.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I am currently working as a pre-bar associate with Atlanta Divorce Law Group. Once I pass the bar, I will become an Associate Attorney here. The goal is to be here as long as possible gaining as much experience as I can under Retired Judge John Sumner, Esq. At some point, I hope to open up my own firm in North Georgia and then grow and build that firm to expand into South Carolina and potentially Florida. I plan to sit for the Bar in South Carolina in February 2023, after passing the Georgia Bar in July 2022. I plan to advocate strongly for good fathers and help all clients through one of the hardest times in their lives.
Edward J. Henning Award For Excellence In Dispute Resolution
This award is given to an outstanding ADR student at each of the state’s five ABA-accredited law schools. These awards are given in memory of Ed Henning, one of the “founding fathers” of mediation in Georgia.
Andreas Mettler
Undergraduate institution:
Kennesaw State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memories have to be meeting, working, and learning from each of my professors and fellow classmates.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
Working, learning, and someday maybe even starting my own firm.
American Bankruptcy Institute Medal Of Excellence
This award is presented to the student with the highest grade in a bankruptcy course or other area of bankruptcy scholarship.
Antonio Ali Pishvai
Undergraduate institution:
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memory from attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law As a part-time evening student, my favorite memories from AJMLS were meeting other working professionals who also decided to finally give their dreams a chance and go for their law degree, and making lifelong friendships with those in my cohort.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
Upon passing the bar exam, I hope to work as a solo practitioner or in a small firm in the greater Atlanta area.
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award is given to the graduate whose pro bono work has demonstrated outstanding commitment to legal services for underserved communities and their work was impactful.
Derek Andrew Law
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memory from attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School was representing the school as a coach in a national moot court competition. My team members Grace Gomez and Carolina Melguizo were wonderful advocates, and being able to work with these two was a highlight of my law school career.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I aim to work in South Atlanta as a criminal defense attorney with the firm I interned with all through law school, Sexton and Moody, P.C.
I wish the founder the founder of Sexton and Moody, P.C., the notorious Lee Sexton, was able to see this accomplishment. He unfortunately passed last fall. I would like to thank the wonderful attorneys that were my role models through this process: Lee Sexton, Brad Moody, James Boles, and Joanna Hobgood.
I also could not have achieved such an accomplishment without my family and friends that played a pivotal role as my support team.
Carolina Arias-Cediel
Order Of Quill
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Order of the Quill (“Order”) is an honor society that recognizes significant academic achievement in designated required doctrinal courses (“Quill” courses). Students who achieve the required cumulative grade point average in the Quill courses will be eligible for admission into the Order. Members of the Order shall receive certificates of membership and be recognized at graduation.
Lauren Boffill, Scholar
Joseph Everette Bush, Scholar
Undergraduate institution:
University of South Carolina, Upstate
Favorite AJMLS memory:
There are too many good memories. I thrived on the camaraderie and shared experience of law school. It is easier to slog through when you know you aren’t alone. Of all my memories of John Marshall, I will cherish my friendships the most. I couldn’t have done it without my colleagues.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to be given the opportunity to serve as a judicial clerk. Should that opportunity not arise, I look forward to serving the people of Georgia, either in public service or private practice. Further down the road I hope to sit on the bench at some level.
Mats Donald Rosén, Honor Scholars and Marshall of the Order
Undergraduate institution:
Colorado State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
One of my most favorite memories from AJMLS is competing in the Regional portion of the 2022 National Appellate Advocacy Competition hosted by the ABA and beating one of the teams that ended up making it to the National portion of the competition.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I hope to secure a position as a Judicial Clerk or some comparable position with one of the State or Federal courts in Georgia. Upon completion of such a position I aspire to become a civil litigator with a large firm in the metro Atlanta area.
When it comes to preparing for the bar exam, one of the hardest concepts for students is the dreaded ‘covenants running with the land.’ The terms ‘real covenant’ and ‘equitable servitude’ conjure up almost as much dread as the acronym ‘RAP,’ but the reality is that identifying and understanding these concepts to do well on the bar exam isn’t so bad if you have ever been to your local Wild Wings or Applebee’s, and you remember, ‘Pint + Wings.’
PINT + Wings
Although I do love wings, the picture above isn’t meant to make your tastebuds water, but rather to provide you a quick and easy mnemonic to remember the requirements for real covenants. PINT + Wings is an easy way to memorize the requirements for covenants running with the land, as follows:
P:
Privity (Horizontal and Vertical)
I:
Intent
N:
Notice (burden only)
T:
Touch and Concern
+
Wings:
Writing
As a starting point, remember that real covenants (and equitable servitudes) generally either restrict the right to use real property or, alternatively, impose obligations on the owners of real property. In a fact pattern, if you see someone seeking damages to enforce a covenant, that should be a tip-off that the covenant will be a real covenant. Alternatively, if an injunction is sought to enforce a covenant, then that will be an equitable servitude.
The 2021-2022 Law Journal Editorial Board and its Faculty Advisor Editor since 2015, Professor Van Detta, are pleased to announce the election of the six new members of the Editorial Board of the Law Journal for 2022-2023. Be sure to visit the Law Journal site here to see all past publications.
Editor-in-Chief, Chauncey Graham
A Florida native, Chauncey Graham is a graduate of the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. School of the Arts (Music Performance) in West Palm Beach and Florida Atlantic University where he studied history and political science.
Prior to relocating to Georgia to pursue his law degree at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Chauncey served as an outreach director for South Florida’s agricultural community, responsible for connecting Palm Beach County’s diverse population to its agricultural history and importance. He began his professional life in state government as a staffer in the Florida House of Representatives working on a wide range of legislative research and policy initiatives. At the end of his legislative career, he served as Chief Legislative Aide to former Senator Jeff Clemens, rounding out more than a decade in the Florida Legislature, employed in various capacities in both the House and Senate.
Chauncey has an extensive and varied community involvement history that has included serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC); volunteering as a program mentor for Take Stock in Children; and chairing the Civic Engagement and Advocacy Committee of the Urban League of Palm Beach County’s Young Professionals Network. He was also selected as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force for Racial and Ethnic Equality by Mayor Keith James, City of West Palm Beach; as a fellow of Leadership Florida’s Connect Class 11; and a 2018 Fellow of New Leaders Council Palm Beach.
Currently, Chauncey is a rising 3L at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He sought the position of Editor-in-Chief of the Law Journal to continue to refine his legal writing and research skills, develop his collaborative ability, and hone a competent and effective leadership style. He aims to use his strong organizational, leadership, and consensus building skills to maintain, and propel, the momentum of the Law Journal. As a staff editor, Chauncey wrote a legislative summary on Georgia House Bill 18. Sponsored by Representative Sandra Scott and cited as the Police Accountability Act, House Bill 18 was filed as a part of a criminal justice reform package to address police conduct. If enacted, House Bill 18 would require specific procedures to be followed by law enforcement officers when interacting with members of the community and the use of body-worn cameras, revise use of force standards, and create a statewide reporting database for use of force incidents. To date, there has been no movement on House Bill 18 in the Georgia Assembly and it has not been assigned to any committees.
Executive Managing Editor, Monique Cherry
Monique is a rising 3L law student at AJMLS. A Washington D.C. native, Monique journeyed to Atlanta to start her legal education and to be closer to her cousins and siblings who all happened to live in the Atlanta area. Prior to coming to AJMLS, Monique worked in D.C. for a boutique immigration law firm. It was her work in immigration that inspired her to take the leap to becoming an attorney. Of course, since starting law school she has discovered several new passions and areas of interest. Her dream career now would be to get into space law – specifically, working with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.
During her first year as a staff member on the AJMLS Law Journal, Monique wrote her legislative summary on House Bill 534 which amends Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to offenses for illegal drag racing and laying drag. Drag racing in the metropolitan area of Atlanta has become of increasing concern to the general public, as well as law enforcement and legislatures. In addition to the destruction of streets, road signs, and electrical posts, drag racing has caused several unnecessary deaths and injuries. As a result, Governor Kemp amended the old O.C.G.A statute to now include penalties for those who organize the drag race, not just the drivers. This is done in the hopes of reducing the illegal drag activity in the city, to better ensure the safety of Atlanta citizens.
Monique is overjoyed to be joining the 2022-2023 Editorial Board for the AJMLS Law Journal as its newest Executive Managing Editor. Inspired by her interaction with the current board members, Monique wanted to join the editorial board to better support the journal and implement her ideas to streamline the various projects and assignments. Her goal for next year is to facilitate more a community feel amongst the journal members.
Executive Legislative Editor, Jacob Gregory
Jacob Gregory is a 3L in the Part-Time Evening Division and is from Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Gregory holds a degree in Automotive Technology from Southern Crescent Technical College as well as a Bachelors of Science from Clayton State University. Additionally, he has a Film Production Certificate from the Georgia Film Academy and was the Editor-in-Chief for Clayton State’s Bent Tree News. He sought out the position of Executive Legislative Editor because of his adoration for writing and passion for the law as well as to help draw the path of his new career. Moreover, he wrote his Legislative Summary on Senate Bill 241, a Bill creating newfound implications for Absentee Voting in the State of Georgia.
Online Access & Internet Presence Editor, Austin O’Neill
Austin O’Neill was born August 9th, 1995, in Snellville, GA. He graduated from the University of North Georgia in 2018 with degrees in Criminal Justice and Chinese Language and Literature. During that time, he worked as part of a research group that studied the prison GED programs and their barriers to completion. Austin wrote onto Atlanta’s John Marshall Law Journal in the summer of 2021. He sought a position on the Editorial Board because he wanted to use his prior experience with the editorial process to aid in the publication of the law journal. The bill that he chose to write his legislative summary on is HB 290. This bill was introduced to address visitation rights of patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The sponsors’ goal was to ensure that patients had visitation rights for their legal representatives even when a pandemic would restrict that right.
Co-Annual Symposium Editor, Richard Mejia
Richard Mejia is a rising 3L in the full-time day program at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. Before attending AJMLS, Richard attended Troy University where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2017. Since enrolling at AJMLS, Richard has received numerous awards, including being named Outstanding Student of the Quarter in Fall 2021, Outstanding Peer Mentor for 2022, as well as earning CALI awards in Contracts I, Legal Research and Writing II, Administrative Law, and Evidence. During the Summer between his 1L and 2L years, Richard worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Walter Johnson, Federal Magistrate for The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Outside of his law school responsibilities, Richard spends his time playing soccer as semi-professional soccer player for Atlanta Rovers F.C. in the U.P.S.L.
As an associate staff editor for the Journal, Richard wrote a legislative summary on S.B. 202, The Election Integrity Act of 2021. He chose to write about this bill because he is passionate about the democratic electoral process and ensuring that all citizens are afforded equal access to the polls. Richard sought a position on the Law Journal Editorial Board because he saw the opportunity as a chance to build a more prominent reputation for the Journal and to leave a legacy after graduation.
Co-Annual Symposium Editor, Ashley Starnes
Ashley Starnes is a rising 3L at AJMLS who graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) with a bachelor’s degree in Business Strategy and Innovation in 2019. During her first two years at law school, Ashley clerked for two Superior Court Judges and received CALI awards in Torts II, Property I, and Property II. As a Canton, Georgia native, the rich culture of Atlanta has shaped her into the person she is today. Her dream is to “hang her own shingle” or open her own law firm in the city. In her free time, Ashley enjoys gardening, long walks with her Frenchie and boyfriend, and trying new things with her family.
As a junior member of the law journal, Ashley wrote her legislative summary on H.B. 485, a bill attempting to repeal the death penalty in Georgia. Focusing on the political and ideological divide under The Gold Dome with regards to the death penalty, the summary also highlights the existing inequities in the application of capital punishment, including racial biases and the impossible standard of proof for mental disability. Ashley is humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be the 2022-2023 Symposium editor alongside all the unique talents on the journal. She wanted to join the board after having a transformative experience learning from Professor Van Detta and after being inspired by the hard work of the 2021-2022 editorial board. She hopes to continue growing the AJMLS Law Journal by producing one of the best Symposium programs AJMLS has ever seen in February of 2023.
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
The following students won the 2022 Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award for the fourth quarter:
Full-Time Division:
Allyssia Andrews
Jade Green
Dean Moore
Shinnay Richards
Part-Time Division:
Wendy Carlyle
Wendi Lucas
The Selection Committee was impressed by all of the students whose names were submitted for the award. We look forward to continuing to hear about the hard work of our students in and out of the classroom. We are #AJMLSproud!
Law school graduation is an easy thing to overlook. For the past years, you have been stressing about arriving at this point in your life, and yet now that final exams are over the entire world seems to be encouraging you to solely focus on the bar exam and your preparation process. And, in full transparency, I am one of those people who will be pushing you to put your time, effort, and energy into making the bar exam a successful experience. My belief in your abilities and my desire for your success mean that I will constantly push you to do more, to do better, and to achieve.
However, that said, I wanted to take a moment and encourage you to take time this weekend to reflect on all that you have accomplished to get to this point, all of the successes you have experienced along the way, and the amount of time and energy you have invested in becoming a law school graduate. Right now, your Juris Doctor status to be conferred on Saturday puts you in the top percentage of educated people in the United States, and that in and of itself is something to be proud of and appreciate. No matter how well anyone knows you, there are things that you have overcome, moments that you have experienced, and challenges that you have faced that no one else knows, and yet here you are, graduating. You absolutely should take time to be proud and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
I also want to encourage you to take time, prior to getting fully immersed in the world of bar preparation, to take time to thank your significant other, your family, your friends, your co-workers, professors, staff members, and/or anyone else that has been part of your journey. It is all too easy to get focused on the “next big thing” and to forget to stop and appreciate the moment and the people that are a part of it. Graduation is a big deal, and I want you to see it as such.
I share these thoughts with you because time is the most important and precious resource we have, and this week marks the passing of my own father, who died shortly after I graduated and passed the bar exam. One of the most painful moments in my life was attending my own law school graduation and knowing that I was there, alone, and that my father was too sick to attend and unlikely to survive much longer. My mom could not attend because she was taking care of him, and a combination of other family factors meant that I walked across the stage, was hooded, received my diploma, and walked off alone. My friends and peers were there, but I remember watching with envious eyes and a lonely heart as others celebrated with family. All I was thinking then was how much I wished that my family could be there to see all of their hard work in providing me opportunities pay off beyond their dreams. It was a tough day, but it made me realize the importance of taking time to appreciate every single day, and more importantly, taking the time to appreciate those around you who are part of your journey.
The bar exam is a big deal and it is important for your career, but life is about balance. This weekend, regardless of where you are at in the beginning stages of your bar exam process, I highly encourage you to focus on the moment. Express your gratitude, show your love, and be proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished in getting to this point in your life. No one walks alone in this journey of life, and although the next milestone of the bar exam is important, do not forget to stop and appreciate the milestone you are achieving this weekend. I’m very excited for you, your family, and your friends as you move forward. I have no doubt that your graduation will inspire others to walk paths beyond what you can imagine.
The Office of Student Affairs is proud to award the Spring 2022 Outstanding Student Organization of the Semester Award to the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), the Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society (CERLS), and the Public Interest Law Society (PILS). This award recognizes student organizations that have excelled in leadership and made positive contributions to the student experience, the law school, and the surrounding community in a given semester. Included below are some of the events that the organizations featured this semester:
Black Law Students Association (BLSA)
Civil Rights Museum Outing, Community Service Events (5), Black History Month Trivia Night, Speed Networking Event, Study Hall Event, Ice Cream Social, Monthly Fitness Challenge, and BLSA Scholarship (Creation and Fund-Raising)
Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society (CERLS)
Round Table Discussion with Houston 19 (19 judges were invited and participated in the virtual event for law students), Speed Networking Event, Mentoring Program, and CERLS Night In
Public Interest Law Society (PILS)
PILS Auction ($12,000 raised for scholarships), Legal Aid Run, and Legacy Museum Trip
The Selection Committee was impressed by the effort and hard work of BLSA, CERLS and PILS- congratulations on being chosen as the Spring 2022 Outstanding Student Organizations. The Office of Student Affairs would also like to give an honorable mention to the Student Bar Association (SBA) for quality programming this semester to include the: SBA Headshot Event, Black History Month Museum Tour, Barrister’s Ball, Spring Picnic, and SBA Care Packages. The Office of Student Affairs is proud of all of the student leaders’ hard work, quality programming and positivity. We look forward to continuing to work with all students to make the law school and the community better!
Where were you raised: I was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I am an incredibly proud graduate of Norfolk State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). Behold!
What are your future career plans: My immediate interests are split somewhere between Criminal Law and Entertainment and Production Law. However, my ultimate career goal is still to become a Supreme Court Justice.
What do you look forward to as the President: There is so much to look forward to at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. As President, I am eager to see the growth of our law school community as we continue to define the standard of our law school experience and encounter the legal profession.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: There are several goals I wish to accomplish this academic year. I plan to lead with kindness, respect, and professionalism. Above all, I am excited to see an even greater display of student involvement and I want all AJMLS students to experience and recognize the remarkable value that our law school community has to offer.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I want my classmates to know that while it is my distinct honor to serve as SBA President, I am a student first, and that makes me no different from any one of them. Reach out to me. I’m accessible and I look forward to this journey.
Mercedes Dickerson, Vice President
Where were you raised: I was raised in Fortson, Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I went to Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, and I studied Political Science and Spanish.
What are your future career plans: I want to be a criminal defense attorney, but I am open to many fields of law, including family law and environmental law.
What do you look forward to as the Vice President: I am looking forward to supporting the SBA President to lead our executive board and to guide class representatives in their task to advocate for their classmates. I am also excited about collaborating with student organizations to plan school events to increase camaraderie and networking opportunities.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: My primary goal is to implement a unique system of communication between SBA and the student body to ensure students’ needs are met effectively and consistently. Another goal of mine is to collaborate with the AJMLS faculty and staff to educate students about on-campus and off-campus resources, so they can be more successful.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I want my classmates to know they can always approach me if they need someone to talk to. If I do not readily have an answer, I will contact someone who can help. I care about my classmates and will continue to advocate for them.
Grant Schrantz, Treasurer
Where were you raised: I was raised in Sarasota, FL.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: Saint Leo University.
What are your future career plans: To work in corporate law. I want to do litigation and transactional work. I’m interested in business litigation, contract drafting, and sales & secured transactions, to name a few specific areas of law.
What do you look forward to as the Treasurer: Simplifying the funds requesting process for student organizations. Communicating and collaborating with them to make this a great school year.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: My goal is for student organizations to see requesting funds and staying on budget as easy tasks by the end of my tenure as treasurer.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: My door is always open. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding your treasury needs.
Katherine Collins, Secretary
Where were you raised: I was raised in Gainesville, Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I received my Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Sociology from Kennesaw State University. I also previously received my A.A. in Social Work from the University of North Georgia.
What are your future career plans: I am keeping all my options open as I journey through law school, but my passion lies in family law. As a previous foster parent, I also would love to work with juveniles in the foster care system as well as building legislation to fix the issues I have personally seen within the system.
What do you look forward to as the SBA Secretary: I look forward to working on the SBA Newsletter – the Dispatch, and I want to really focus on using communication like that to the best of our abilities to ensure everyone is “in the know.”
What are your goals in the position this academic year: My aim is to build off the momentum we have made in the previous year in ensuring open access to information, clear open lines of communication, and finding new ways to build transparency and openness between the students and the various student organizations to ensure we are all able to get involved and help build the community we desire at AJMLS.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I understand how hard it is to juggle everything — as a part-time, evening student with a full-time job and the added load of children at home, I understand that we are all juggling a lot, and if there is ever something I can do within my role to help ensure our communications are done in such a way that helps you keep it all organized, never hesitate to reach out!
Lamone Graham, Parliamentarian
Where were you raised: I was raised in Atlanta, Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: Kennesaw State University
What are your future career plans: In the future, I plan to be a business owner and a practicing attorney. The business plans are under wraps for now but in terms of law, I am currently interested in four areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Employment, and Entertainment. It may sound like a lot of different things but I am excited, open to learning, and going to go where God leads me.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: As Parliamentarian, my goals are to promote an orderly environment for the SBA and to help my peers feel heard and supported. Law school is not without its own challenges; so having a safe space where student concerns and needs can be shared in hopes of finding lasting solutions, is something I strive to create.
On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) sponsored and participated in the 15th annual Youth and the Law Summit. Each year, Fulton County Juvenile Court has partnered with the Gate City Bar Association; AJMLS; and Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP.
Hosted by former AJMLS administrator and current Fulton County Juvenile Court Judge, Renata Turner, this year’s summit was titled “Straight Talk… No Cap” and welcomed more than 100 teenagers. Dr. Bridgett Ortega, AJMLS Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development, served as a co-chair to the annual event. The event fostered open dialogue for teens to communicate the challenges they face, brainstorm and discuss solutions, and exchange information on what they need to be successful. This year’s presenters included Hank Stewart, President of The Stewart Foundation; Aakeem Woodard, author and certified speaker, coach, and trainer for The John Maxwell Team; Lisa Thomas, Certified Resilience Coach with Dovetail Learning; Coty Martin, founder and President of Adversity University and Executive Director of the MBK Foundation; Reginald Emanuel, Year Up Atlanta; and Julious Khalid, founder of The Young Generation Movement.
The Annual Youth and the Law Summit is held every year during the month of April and continues to be a bridge between our youth and tools they can use to pursue brighter futures. Many organizations helped support this effort and AJMLS is proud to be a part of such a great group.
After over 28 years of distinguished service, Professor D’Agostino, “Dag”, has announced his retirement from teaching at the end of May 2022. He will continue to serve as Dean Emeritus for an additional academic year to complete various projects and publications.
It is with mixed feelings that we announce the retirement of Professor Robert D’Agostino. It is difficult if not impossible to sum up all of his achievements over 28 years of dedicated service.
Professor D’Agostino began his career at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 1995. Prior to joining the Law School and after practicing law for some 15 years, Professor D’Agostino was a tenured professor at what is now Widener Law School in Delaware. From 1981 to 1982, he took a two year leave of absence from Widener to serve as a presidential appointee to the U.S. Department of Justice under President Ronald Reagan, where he served as an Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Civil Rights. Professor D’Agostino also served as Dean of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School from 1996 to 2000, during some tumultuous times for the Law School. He is responsible for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in how it operates today.
Professor D’Agostino has authored more than 30 publications prior to and during his tenure in academia. His publications deal with topics related to bankruptcy, civil rights, and constitutional law. In addition, over the course of his career, Professor D’Agostino has also participated in several U.S. Supreme Court amicus briefs dealing with bankruptcy issues. Professor D’Agostino is a graduate of Columbia University, and he received his J.D. from Emory University.
Please join us in congratulating Professor D’Agostino on his impressive career, and wishing him a long and healthy retirement with his family.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Public Interest Law Society (PILS) hosted its annual “PILS Auction” on March 11, 2022 at Atlanta Tech Village. The event was a success with more than 100 people in attendance and over 65 live and silent auction items. Notable auction items included an Atlanta United Jersey signed by many members of the team, stay-cations at The Candler Hotel and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, and a Royal Caribbean Cruise. The fundraising event raised $11,817 for the Renata Turner Award for Public Interest Law. The Award recognizes students who have made an extraordinary contribution to our community through public interest work and who have demonstrated an interest to continue that commitment.
A heartfelt “thank you” to the students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and event sponsors that made this year’s event one to remember. See you next year at PILS Auction 2023!
From the PILS Society President
Our Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Community,
The Year of The Phoenix! The name that I have given this year for the Public Interest Law Society (PILS). As a reactivated student organization that was dormant for a number of years, the Board and I had our work cut out for us. Not only were we working to establish ourselves as a respected presence on campus, but we also had to make students aware that we were back and ready to be of service. The difficulty of gaining awareness was compounded by us having to return to remote learning for several weeks, shortly after the academic year began.
Nonetheless, the Board and I refused to lower our initial goals and expectations. We knew that our law school community missed PILS. We also knew it was necessary to get the organization back up and going. Public service was needed.
PILS ended the year with over 25 active members. In addition, our social media had significant engagement; one of our videos arguably may be considered to have gone “viral” as the views and comments came in abundance almost immediately after publicly posting it.
Further, our big, culminating event was the 2022 PILS Auction. The AJMLS community, both past and present students, faculty, and administrators, attended in person and showed their support. These groups showed up to the auction in the spirit of the “Masquerade” theme or quickly got into it as soon as they arrived by adorning complimentary masquerade masks. Those who were not able to attend the event donated and sent words of encouragement. The support was massive! We raised almost $12,000 for the next recipients of the 2023 Renata Turner Award!
On behalf of PILS, we want to thank you for your enthusiastic support and belief in our organization and its mission. Our minds are already dancing with thoughts and ideas to make a bigger and better impact next year, as well as how we may host an auction that will have the uphill challenge of topping the most recent one.
PILS is back! Rising from its ashes like the phoenix. Now, PILS is well-positioned to be here to stay! This accomplishment is because of you.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Carlton ‘Cal’ Lewis
President, Public Interest Law Society
2022 Renata Turner Award Recipients
Allyssia Andrews
Our healthcare system is extremely broken and so many people are being victimized by an institution that is necessary for a healthy life, thus my interest in helping others through health care law came about and I am currently pursuing internships in this field. Being awarded this scholarship has blessed me with the opportunity to be able to fully engage in my public interest work this summer. If we want to see true change in this system we have to do everything we can to fix it, and this scholarship will allow me to continue my journey as an advocate for others.
I want to thank everyone who made this scholarship possible. I am so grateful for this support and will do everything in my power to ensure that others will also benefit from it through my service this summer.
Esther Ko
I plan to use the Renata Turner Scholarship to fund my unpaid summer internship at Georgia Legal Services Program in Gainesville. This scholarship will help with my transportation to and from the office as well as giving me a hopeful assurance of being free from financial constraints. I want to personally give a gracious thank you to all the donors who made this possible. Funding for students pursuing a career in Public Interest Law is not easy to obtain, but because of all the wonderful donors of the Renata Turner Scholarship, I am able to adamantly pursue my career in Public Interest Law.
2021-2022 Public Interest Law Society Officers
President – Carlton ‘Cal’ Lewis Vice President / Treasurer – Allyssia Andrews Secretary – Tishana Springer Historian / Special Events Chairwoman – Esther Ko Engagement, Recruitment/Retention Director – Daniela Martinez Outreach Committee Chairman – Darryl Ford II Academic Chair – Dean Moore
Faculty Advisory: Dr. Bridgett Ortega
2021-2022 Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Officers
After 11 years of distinguished service, Dr. Ortega has announced her retirement at the end of July 2022.
Dean Jace C. Gatewood stated, “Dr. Ortega has been a steadfast colleague and friend to all who have worked with her. I personally consider her my mentor and have appreciated her guidance and counsel during my time as Dean. It has been my absolute privilege working with her.”
Dr. Bridgett Ortega, a veteran of the United States Air Force, is the Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She has been a key administrator since joining the team in early 2011 and is also a Sr. organizational consultant and trainer for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, American University’s Justice Program Office and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence. She is a lawyer, researcher, and the Past President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Juvenile Defender Center in Washington, D.C. She is also currently the Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Georgia affiliate of the ACLU.
As the Law School has evolved, so has Dr. Ortega, having earned her master’s and doctorate degrees while also serving in roles such as Assistant Dean of Externship and Pro Bono Services and Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning. She has also managed department programs such as Street Law, Re-entry Forum, and Youth and the Law Summit. As a teaching administrator, Dr. Ortega developed and teaches the Learning from Practice course which includes modules on Cultural Competency, Equity and Inclusion, and Navigating Cultural Difference.
Dr. Ortega has spent over 30 years advocating for criminal and juvenile justice reform. She is a passionate advocate for the incarcerated and their children with an emphasis on compassionate practice in the justice system. She is a National Trainer on subjects dealing with Juvenile and Adult Drug Courts, Compassionate Practice in Problem Solving Courts, Compassionate Communication, Compassionate Family Engagement, Domestic Violence, Equity and Inclusion, Cultural Competency, Improving Outcomes for Children of the Incarcerated and all things Juvenile Justice. Dr. Ortega is the former Deputy Director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Reclaiming Futures Initiative, a juvenile justice reform initiative aimed at creating strategies for intervening in the lives of young people with substance disorders and other issues that bring them into the justice system.
She has been featured in the ABC Nightline “Kids in Court” series and the Frontline Juvenile Justice documentary. Dr. Ortega is the recipient of the ABA Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award for outstanding advocacy in juvenile justice, the NAACP Freedom Fund Civil and Human Rights Award and in December of 2018 she was recognized by the National Juvenile Defender Center as a champion for juvenile justice for her work in defending youth rights. She co-founded the Santa Clara County California Juvenile Drug Treatment Court with the Honorable Judge Thomas Edwards for which she received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for invaluable service to the community. Dr. Ortega holds a Master of Arts degree, Juris Doctorate and a Doctorate Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership. Her published research dissertation is entitled, Compassionate Jurisprudence: As Praxis for Justice.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Ortega on her incredibly impactful career, and wishing her a long and healthy retirement with her beloved family.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) established the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 and named its inaugural honoree from the Class of 1965, Louise Thornton Hornsby. The purpose of this award is to recognize a graduate of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School who has attained more than 50 years of extraordinary distinction and success in their field of endeavor, and whose achievements have brought credit to the Law School and benefited their fellow citizens.
Louise Thornton Hornsby
Born on May 2, 1937, Louise Thornton Hornsby is a true Atlanta native. She graduated from David T. Howard High School in 1954 and attended Spelman College. After graduation, she attended an apprenticeship program at Matthews School of Law – In the 1960s, students could earn a law degree through apprenticeship programs. Unfortunately, Hornsby attempted the bar exam for the first time and was not successful.
Later in the 1960s, when previously segregated schools were opened for African American students to attend, she enrolled at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School to prepare for the bar exam. She graduated in 1965, passed the Georgia Bar Exam in 1966, and was one of the first Black alumni to receive an education at AJMLS. Louise was also the sixth Black woman to pass the bar in the State of Georgia.
After law school, she worked in the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office and also served as a part-time judge for the City of Atlanta Traffic Court. She was appointed by former Mayor Andrew Young as the Solicitor General for the City of Atlanta where she served for a few years before deciding to run for public office.
Louise opened her private practice, The Hornsby Law Firm, LLC in 1996, where she practiced until her retirement in 2022.
Through more than 56 years as a practicing attorney, she has received numerous recognitions, awards, and accolades, and held positions such as: member of the State Bar of Georgia (1966); founder of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program in the City of Atlanta traffic court; recognition for Georgia Bar for civil rights work, and 50 years of practicing law (by National Bar Association); recipient of the R. Prudence Herndon Award; President and Founder of Pyramid Recovery Center (women’s recovery center); President of the Georgia Women’s Political Caucus; member of Leadership Atlanta; member of the Governor’s Georgia Juvenile Master Plan Committee; member of the Revising Atlanta City Chapter; former owner and operator of Entertainment Corporation of America; CEO of DHMRF Foundation, Inc.
Louise is a mother of five children, including Class of 2012 graduate, Kristie Hornsby Battle, and grandmother to ten. She still lives in the Atlanta area, and at 85 years old, is active in her community.
It is the pleasure of the Law School to recognize Louise and her outstanding career at the upcoming graduation ceremony this May.
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) will present The Distinguished Alumni Award to two incredible alumni at the 2022 commencement ceremony. This year’s honorees are Judge Ashley Drake, Class of 2011, and Judge Rhonda Kreuziger, Class of 2001. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who have obtained distinction in their professional careers. Those honored share the same characteristics of leadership, progressive thinking, high standards, uncompromising integrity, commitment, courage, and confidence. Their careers serve as models for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students and alumni. Click here to view past award recipients.
Honorable Ashley Drake
Judge Ashley Drake was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Journalism. She graduated in the top 15 of her class at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and was a member of the moot court team where she competed nationally. She served on the Atlanta’s John Marshall Law Journal where her legislative summary was published in 2011 and was the student founder of the Law School’s mentorship program. She also received the CALI Award for Immigration Law and received academic scholarships from Just the Beginning Foundation and the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation.
Judge Drake began her legal career as a prosecuting attorney for the Fulton County Solicitor General’s Office and eventually transitioned to prosecuting felonies for the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney. As a criminal prosecutor, she gained a significant amount of trial experience and helped thousands of crime victims.
After years of criminal prosecution, Judge Drake left the criminal arena and entered a new area of practice: civil litigation. She started her civil practice career at Bey & Associates, LLC as an Associate Attorney in the litigation section, handling various personal injury matters. She eventually worked her way to becoming the lead associate on the partner’s team, representing victims and their families in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and trucking litigation cases. During this time, she flew to Washington, D.C. twice to lobby Congress on both sides of the aisle regarding the unconstitutionality of mandatory arbitration clauses in civil practice, in hopes of preserving and protecting our 6th amendment right to a trial by jury in civil cases. She successfully completed the prestigious ATLA Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course: Art of Persuasion at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA and was a featured panelist at the American Association for Justice Women’s Caucus in Denver Colorado.
In 2020, Judge Drake joined two of her best friends from law school at Bader Scott Injury Lawyers where she served as a Captain overseeing other Personal Injury Attorneys. She was appointed to the bench as a full-time Magistrate Judge in May 2020 by Fulton County Magistrate Court Chief Judge Cassandra Kirk. She presides over criminal and civil cases in Georgia’s most populated county and is the first female judge of Persian heritage in Georgia.
Judge Drake is a group leader for her local Georgia Association for Women Lawyers (GAWL) mentoring circle and serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Bar Association Women in the Profession Section. She also serves on the Technology Committee for the Fulton County Magistrate Court and is co-chair of the Awards Committee for the Georgia Council of Magistrate Court Judges. She also serves as a mentor for law students, including her nominator, Mr. Carlton Lewis.
Judge Drake resides in Atlanta with her husband and dog. She keeps a copy of the Georgia Bar Association General Aspirational Ideals on her desk and lives by the ideal that: “The dignity and the integrity of our profession is an inheritance that must be maintained by each successive generation of lawyers.”
Honorable Rhonda Kreuziger
Rhonda Bender Kreuziger is a Superior Court Judge in the Griffin Judicial Circuit which covers Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties. She received a law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in December of 2000, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Northwestern State University in Louisiana in May of 1991. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked as a Forensic Serologist with the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and as a Forensic Toxicologist for SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories in Dallas, Texas. During her last semester of law school, she completed an externship in the Special Prosecution Division for the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Georgia.
After law school, she worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Griffin Judicial Circuit where she prosecuted felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile matters for Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties from approximately 2002 until 2006.
In 2006, she left the District Attorney’s Office to start her private practice, The Kreuziger Law Firm, P.C. During this time, she also served as Solicitor for the City of Senoia, Solicitor for the Town of Tyrone, and subsequently as a conflict defense attorney for the Georgia Public Defender’s Council in the Griffin Judicial Circuit. In her private practice she represented litigants in the following matters: Criminal Law – both felonies and misdemeanors in Superior, State, Juvenile, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts throughout the State of Georgia and handled matters pro hac vice in Florida; Family Law/Domestic Relations matters, including but not limited to, divorces, child custody, child support, legitimations, contempt actions, temporary protective orders, and, modifications; Personal Injury related cases; Landlord/Tenant matters; Breach of Contract cases; and Criminal and Civil Appeals to both the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.
She was appointed as Interim Judge for the City of Fayetteville Municipal Court from July 2018 until December 2018 and subsequently appointed to the position of Chief Judge for the City of Fayetteville Municipal Court on January 2019 and served in this capacity until August 2020, when she was appointed by the Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judges and the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge to be the full-time Associate Juvenile Court Judge.
In July of 2021, Governor Brian Kemp appointed her to the Superior Court for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, and she was sworn in on August 17, 2021. Judge Kreuziger is the first woman and first person of color to serve on the Superior Court bench for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. She is a member of the Fayette County Bar Association; Spalding County Bar Association; Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges (CSCJ); Georgia Association of Women Lawyers; Federalist Society; Gate City Bar Association – Judicial Section; Atlanta Lawyer’s Club; State Bar of Georgia; State Bar of Wisconsin; and, Save R Kids, International, Board of Directors (2017 – 2020). She is also a former member of Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges (CJCJ) and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ).
She has also served as a presenter to the Fayette County Bar Association – “Preamble – A Great Place to Start! (Preamble to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct)” (February 2022); Thomaston-Upson County Civic Center 1st Annual Black History Month Honoree (2022); recognized by the Mayor of Fayetteville and City Council for “Exceptional Service to the City of Fayetteville” (2020); Leadership Academy for the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, 2009; Guest Instructor for the DUI Case Preparation and Courtroom Presentation at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (2009 – 2011); CLE presenter – “How to Try a Case in a Conservative Jurisdiction – The Importance of Understanding Venue” (2010); CLE presenter – “Preparation and Investigation of a Criminal Case” (2011); Judge for the NCFCA Speech and Debate Competition (2012); State Bar of Georgia Transition into Law Practice Program, Mentor (2010 – 2011); Youth Challenge Academy – Mentor (2013 -2014); AV Pride Career Exploration Program Internship Program – Mentor (2013 – 2014); Regional Mock Trial Competition Judge (2015 and 2022); and, The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Award for Outstanding Service to School and Community Recipient (2001).
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce Judge Rhonda Kreuziger, Class of 2001, as the Law School’s 2022 commencement speaker. Commencement exercises are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on May 21, 2022 at the Georgia World Congress Center Sidney Marcus Auditorium located at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd, Atlanta, Georgia 30313. A live stream of the ceremony will be made available at www.johnmarshall.edu.
“On a year that we honor one of the first African American women to graduate Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, it is befitting to honor another history-making graduate, who is the first woman and the first African American to serve on the Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court bench. I am proud to welcome back Judge Kreuziger as both our commencement speaker and a 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.”
Dean Jace C. Gatewood
About Judge Rhonda Kreuziger
Rhonda Bender Kreuziger is a Superior Court Judge in the Griffin Judicial Circuit which covers Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties. She received a law degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in December of 2000, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Northwestern State University in Louisiana in May of 1991. Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked as a Forensic Serologist with the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory, in Shreveport, Louisiana, and as a Forensic Toxicologist for SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories in Dallas, Texas. During her last semester of law school, she completed an externship in the Special Prosecution Division for the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Georgia.
After law school, she worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Griffin Judicial Circuit where she prosecuted felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile matters for Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties from approximately 2002 until 2006.
In 2006, she left the District Attorney’s Office to start her private practice, The Kreuziger Law Firm, P.C. During this time, she also served as Solicitor for the City of Senoia, Solicitor for the Town of Tyrone, and subsequently as a conflict defense attorney for the Georgia Public Defender’s Council in the Griffin Judicial Circuit. In her private practice she represented litigants in the following matters: Criminal Law – both felonies and misdemeanors in Superior, State, Juvenile, Magistrate, and Municipal Courts throughout the State of Georgia and handled matters pro hac vice in Florida; Family Law/Domestic Relations matters, including but not limited to, divorces, child custody, child support, legitimations, contempt actions, temporary protective orders, and, modifications; Personal Injury related cases; Landlord/Tenant matters; Breach of Contract cases; and Criminal and Civil Appeals to both the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court.
She was appointed as Interim Judge for the City of Fayetteville Municipal Court from July 2018 until December 2018 and subsequently appointed to the position of Chief Judge for the City of Fayetteville Municipal Court on January 2019 and served in this capacity until August 2020, when she was appointed by the Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judges and the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge to be the full-time Associate Juvenile Court Judge.
In July of 2021, Governor Brian Kemp appointed her to the Superior Court for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, and she was sworn in on August 17, 2021. Judge Kreuziger is the first woman and first person of color to serve on the Superior Court bench for the Griffin Judicial Circuit. She is a member of the Fayette County Bar Association; Spalding County Bar Association; Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges (CSCJ); Georgia Association of Women Lawyers; Federalist Society; Gate City Bar Association – Judicial Section; Atlanta Lawyer’s Club; State Bar of Georgia; State Bar of Wisconsin; and, Save R Kids, International, Board of Directors (2017 – 2020). She is also a former member of Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges (CJCJ) and National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ).
She has also served as a presenter to the Fayette County Bar Association – “Preamble – A Great Place to Start! (Preamble to the Model Rules of Professional Conduct)” (February 2022); Thomaston-Upson County Civic Center 1st Annual Black History Month Honoree (2022); recognized by the Mayor of Fayetteville and City Council for “Exceptional Service to the City of Fayetteville” (2020); Leadership Academy for the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, 2009; Guest Instructor for the DUI Case Preparation and Courtroom Presentation at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (2009 – 2011); CLE presenter – “How to Try a Case in a Conservative Jurisdiction – The Importance of Understanding Venue” (2010); CLE presenter – “Preparation and Investigation of a Criminal Case” (2011); Judge for the NCFCA Speech and Debate Competition (2012); State Bar of Georgia Transition into Law Practice Program, Mentor (2010 – 2011); Youth Challenge Academy – Mentor (2013 -2014); AV Pride Career Exploration Program Internship Program – Mentor (2013 – 2014); Regional Mock Trial Competition Judge (2015 and 2022); and, The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Award for Outstanding Service to School and Community Recipient (2001).
Tickets are not required for entry and the event will be live streamed. For general information you can visit our graduation page here and/or our logistics page here for further details.
On March 2, 2022, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Dean and CEO, Jace C. Gatewood, signed his support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination, which was sent to Senate Leadership and the Committee on the Judiciary. Dean Gatewood was one of 38 Black Law Deans that submit the letter of support.
The letter begins,
“We, the Black Deans of U.S. Law schools, write to express our strong and unequivocal support for the Senate’s confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. As leaders in the American legal academy, we believe this confirmation would represent a triumph for this nation. By confirming this honors graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, who has participated in civil cases at the highest levels and has also represented indigent criminal defendants, the Senate will not only add a supremely qualified justice to the Supreme Court, but will also ensure that people from all communities across our nation enjoy the promise emblazoned over the Court architrave that declares “Equal Justice Under Law.””
After a summary of the Judge’s credentials, the Deans conclude with,
“We, the undersigned Black Law Deans, are leaders of the legal academy educating the next generation of lawyers who will serve on our courts, in our legislatures, and in other roles in our justice system. We have signed this letter in our individual capacities, noting our institutional affiliation for identification purposes only. Yet, we are unified in our conviction that Judge Jackson is exceptionally well qualified and well prepared to serve on this nation’s highest Court.”
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Development and Alumni Relations Office is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities each semester. Our donors give generously to AJMLS and the John Marshall Law School Foundation, Inc. to help students cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and educational expenses. AJMLS offers merit-based, need-based, and service-based scholarships. Applications were carefully reviewed by the scholarship committee and we thank the committee for their time.
All inquiries related to the Development and Alumni Relations scholarships below should be directed to Wendy Aina, Chief Development Officer, at waina@johnmarshall.edu. If you are a donor and would like to contribute to the scholarships, please visit our Giving pages or contact Wendy Aina directly.
Congratulations to the Spring 2022 scholarship recipients!
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
The following students won the 2022 Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award for the third quarter:
Full-Time Division:
Jacob Belcastro
Lance Carruth
Derek Fernandes
Brooke Harrison
Esther Ko
Part-Time Division:
Carolina Melguizo
Chayenne Rodriguez
Rochelle Walker
The Selection Committee was impressed by all of the students whose names were submitted for the award. We look forward to continuing to hear about the hard work of our students in and out of the classroom. We are #AJMLSproud!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) joins the White House and Department of Justice in honoring 2L, Rhea Frison, for her volunteer work with the Georgia Legal Services Program’s (GLSP) Rent Assistance Program, addressing the housing and eviction crisis exasperated by COVID-19 in our communities.
On Friday, January 28, 2022, the White House and Department of Justice hosted a virtual event celebrating the work of the legal community and law students in response to the Attorney General’s Call to Action to the Legal Profession, issued on August 30, 2021, to address the housing and eviction crisis. The Call to Action asked lawyers and law students to take immediate action to help their communities through Emergency Rental Assistance application support, volunteering with legal aid providers, helping courts implement eviction diversion programs, among other initiatives aimed at increasing housing stability and access to justice.
Of the 2,100+ law students that dedicated over 81,000 hours serving over 10,000 households, AJMLS 2L Rhea Frison was one of only three students asked to present her volunteer experience at the event. Senior officials in attendance were Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vanita Gupta (Associate Attorney General of the United States), Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo, and Gene Sperling (Senior Advisor to the President, American Rescue Plan Coordinator).
Ms. Frison answered the AJMLS “call for pro bono heroes” during October’s Pro Bono Month where she first volunteered at the Georgia Free Legal Answers Help-A-Thon event assisting the attorneys research and answer inquiries. Through that experience she was introduced to the Rental Assistance Program that GLSP was working on and expressed to leadership that she was ready for more work. She then began serving as a student volunteer at the Rental Assistance Program in October 2021 where she interviewed rental assistance applicants to help complete applications for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, aided high risk evictions in receiving legal help and preventing evictions or utility disconnections, and informed applicants on program incentives and necessary documents to complete applications. Working alongside other Atlanta-area law students, the student volunteers assisted over 350 tenants and obtained more than $2.5 million for clients in need across 100 cities in Georgia.
When asked of her plans for the future, Ms. Frison noted,
“My plans were to go into trans-national or international business law, however, it seems I keep being redirected to public service.” Immediately following her volunteer work she accepted an internship to work with the Council of Superior Court Judges this legislative session, tracking and summarizing bills. “It seems here is where my career is headed towards, but we will see what the future brings.”
The Law School is proud of Ms. Frison’s initiative in answering the Attorney General’s Call to Action and of how she is continuing to serve her community. We look forward to following her journey as she completes her study at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates Marc Reece, Director of Recruitment and Outreach, for his recent appointment to the Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SAPLA) Board of Directors as the Diversity Outreach Coordinator. SAPLA brings together pre-law advisors and law school admissions staff in an effort to provide everyone in the law school admissions process with up-to-date information and expert guidance. Deciding to go to law school, preparing for the application process, deciding where to send applications, and selecting which law school to attend, are all difficult and important decisions and they believe everyone considering a career in the law can benefit from expert pre-law advising.
Reece joined the AJMLS admissions team a decade ago in 2012 as the College Relations Manager. During his time at the Law School he has earned a number of honors, including his induction into the Southern Polytechnic State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame, acquiring his Master’s in Business Administration from Kennesaw State University, and serving as a former Secretary/Treasurer of the Southern Poly Athletic Association. Reece is a frequent panelist and speaker at pre-law events, most recently in 2021 as a panelist at the National Black Law Student Associations Workshop, guest speaker at the Georgia Latino Law Day, featured panelist at the HBCU Pre-Law Summit, panelist at the Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark-Atlanta Law School Panel, Admissions Advisor for the Ronald H. Prep Program, and the Featured Law School representative at Oakwood University’s Virtual Law Week. He will be kicking-off his 2022 serving as the Featured Admissions Representative for the upcoming Road To Law School Workshop hosted by Albany State University on February 12.
We look forward to supporting and following Marc’s journey as he contributes to the mission of the SAPLA Board and it’s goals.
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
The following students won the 2021 Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award for this quarter:
Full-Time Division
Tiara Clemmons
Keith Collins
Mercedes Dickerson
Daniela Martinez
Part-Time Division
Beverly Fratto
Lamone Graham
Marquez Jones
The Selection Committee was impressed by all of the students whose names were submitted for the award. We look forward to continuing to hear about the hard work of our students in and out of the classroom. We are #AJMLSproud!
The Office of Student Affairs is proud to award the Fall 2021 Outstanding Student Organization of the Semester Award to the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). This award recognizes student organizations that have excelled in leadership and made positive contributions to the student experience, the law school, and the surrounding community in a given semester.
Included below are some of the events that the Black Law Students Association sponsored this semester:
Flying Into Success Event
Breast Cancer Virtual Walk
Tailored Tuesdays
Black Law Students Association Mixer and Brunch
Positivi-Tea *This event was co-sponsored with the Charlotte E. Ray Legal Society, Christian Legal Society, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Student Bar Association, and the Student Trial Lawyers Association.
The Selection Committee was impressed by the effort and hard work of the Black Law Students Association. Congratulations, Black Law Students Association, on being chosen as the Fall 2021 Outstanding Student Organization.
The Office of Student Affairs would also like to recognize the Student Bar Association for all of the leaders’ hard work, quality programming and positivity. We look forward to continuing to work with all students to make the law school and the community better! We are John Marshall Proud!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) established its Employee of the Month Program in 2021 to recognize hard working employees, especially as we navigate uncharted times in legal education during COVID-19. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
AJ is a proud alumnus of AJMLS, who began his journey as a student in 2004. After successful completion of the Georgia bar exam, he worked as the Law School’s Reference Librarian and got to know so many students who came in to print or study. Now, he says, the best part of his job as the Alumni Director is reconnecting with all those students who are now alumni.
When asked of his work, his coworkers commented, “He has embraced his new position and continues to jump into more involvement, above and beyond what he is required” and “AJ is such a kind and outgoing team player who is genuinely invested in the success of his alma mater!”
AJ enjoys hiking, reading, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs. His passion for volunteering with youth began when he was in college. He has volunteered with the Buckhead Church High School ministry since 2009 and with kids at the Atlanta Mission since 2014. One of his favorite quotes that drives him to volunteer with kids is “Be the person you needed when you were young.”
AJ is well-known and liked by faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and we are thankful to have him on our team.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Office of Career Services welcomed Sam Mullman, intellectual property expert, to speak to AJMLS students on October 19, 2021.
Sam is an attorney at Wellborn & Wallace, LLC specializing in intellectual property, corporate, and business litigation. In 2020, Sam was a recipient of Georgia State University, 40 under 40 award. Sam currently serves as the Chair of the Southeastern Intellectual Property Job Fair, the largest IP job fair in the Southeast and the second largest IP job fair nationally.
Sam discussed with students, faculty, and staff his journey into the practice of IP Law, the distinctions between common terms such as copyright vs. trademark, and how the area of IP Law touches so many other practice areas.
This guest speaker event was a collaboration among many departments at the Law School, and the AJMLS community thanks Sam Mullman for his time, and for sharing his expertise with our students.
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
The following students won the 2021 Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award for this quarter:
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) established its Employee of the Month Program in 2021 to recognize hard working employees, especially as we navigate uncharted times in legal education. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The September 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Steven Jaudon, Lead Faculty Coordinator.
Steven joined the AJMLS family in 2017 as a Faculty Coordinator and was later promoted into his current role. Steven has always demonstrated a high degree of excellence, professionalism, and integrity in his job performance and continues to provide an exceptional level of support to faculty and instructors. He is always prepared to do his best and to take one for the team.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Steven flew south one winter and never looked back! His hobbies include taking road trips, writing poetry, reading comic books, and discovering new restaurants.
We are very fortunate to have Steven on our team and are so glad he made that trip to Atlanta.
On Saturday, October 16, 2021, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) was pleased to host the 11th Annual Owl Classic Invitation Mock Trial Tournament for Kennesaw State University (KSU). After a one year pause due to COVID-19, the competition welcomed nine teams to the new AJMLS campus in Downtown Atlanta.
Thank you to this year’s coordinators: Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, Callie Christian, and Marc Reece, it was a pleasure to work with you and host the tournament.
Participating Schools
Eastern Kentucky University
Georgia State University
Georgia Tech
Kennesaw State University
Lee University
1st Place
Eastern Kentucky University (Team 1)
2nd Place
Georgia State University
3rd Place
Eastern Kentucky University (Team 2)
Outstanding Witness Award Winners
Rebecca Onwuzuroha (Georgia State), Cristian Gonzalez (Kennesaw State), Uros Ciric (Georgia State), Andrew Dychdala (Georgia Tech), Paul Atherton (Lee University), Carly Frost (Eastern Kentucky), and Ishaa Hope (Georgia State).
Outstanding Attorney Award Winners
Harrison Melton (Georgia Tech), Uros Ciric (Georgia State), Nichole Stringer (Georgia State), Paul Atherton (Lee University), Abby Birch (Eastern Kentucky), Graham Stewart (Lee University), Jabari McCrae (Georgia State), Binayak Pandey (Georgia State), and Ethan Fowlie (Eastern Kentucky). Special recognition for Danielle Underwood (Eastern Kentucky) for earning top attorney ranks on both sides of the case.
First Place Team with AJMLS Director of Recruitment and Outreach, Marc Reece
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School was thrilled to open its new doors for the start of Fall 2021 classes. Welcome to the NEW Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School!
On Friday, October 15, 2021, the Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Alumni Association hosted the inaugural Alumni Homecoming Open House at the Law School.
The event welcomed all AJMLS alumni to the new Downtown Atlanta campus, located in Marquis One Tower in Peachtree Center. Alumni were able to take tours of the new space, mingle with their classmates, meet the 1L class and engage in panel discussions with the new students.
The Law School would like to thank it’s event sponsors: Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group – Gore LLC, a personal injury firm based in Roswell, Georgia; and The Fry Law Group, a personal injury firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Also, a special thank you to this year’s Event Chairman, Tavis Knighten.
The AJMLS Alumni Association looks forward to many future successful events, we’ll see you soon!
Director of Alumni Relations, AJ Doucett, with Event Chairman, Tavis KnightenEvent Sponsor, Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert of Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group – Gore LLC Event Sponsor, Randy Fry, of The Fry Law Firm with Gulliana Goehring (The Fry Law Firm) and Dean Jace C. GatewoodDirector of Alumni Relations, AJ Doucett; Chief Development Officer, Wendy Aina; Dean and CEO, Jace C. Gatewood
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates 2012 alumnus, Paul Nam, who was recently named to Georgia Trend 2021 40 Under 40. Paul is currently the Associate General Counsel at InComm Payments in Atlanta.
This year Georgia Trend celebrated 25 years of honoring the state’s best and brightest. The honorees came from every corner of Georgia and represented the nonprofit, healthcare and legal sectors, large corporations, and startup entrepreneurial ventures. As important as their day jobs are, however, they also find time to volunteer and give back to strengthen and grow the communities around them. This year’s 40 Under 40 were selected by the Georgia Trend staff from nominations provided by readers throughout the state who know them well.*
Regarding his time at AJMLS, Paul noted “The moments I remember the most are my time with my friends where we stressed about exams but also spending time together over the weekends to destress.” As a student, Paul and fellow classmate and friend, Wellington Tzou, started the Asian Law Student Association (ALSA) upon Judge Alvin Wong and Dean Harrison-Mercer’s request, and were regarded as the most active organization on campus. After establishing ALSA, Paul became the SBA Treasurer. During his third year, he interned at a financial company and then a general litigation law firm. He also found time to volunteer at Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association events, while also excelling in his classes.
On the life lessons AJMLS professors taught him, Paul said,
“On our first day of property class, Professor Gatewood taught the principle to treat everyone equally and fairly because we are all the same. We are no better than anyone else. He then later told us to learn people’s names around us, including the security guard in the front lobby area. Later in the year, the final exam’s bonus question was, “What is the name of our front door security guard?” I smiled immediately because I knew it, and many of my classmates did not. Just like Professor Gatewood, many professors taught us important life lessons that I still remember and share with others, including Professor Mears’ initiative to always ask why about everything.”
Georgia Trend wrote of their honoree,
When Paul Nam moved from New York to Atlanta to go to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, he lacked a network of friends or mentors to help him adjust. “I told myself, ‘Once I get into a place where I’m a lawyer and can help others, I will,’” he says.
Nam fulfilled that promise. He founded a chapter of the Asian Law Students’ Association and later advised law students and young lawyers through the Korean American Bar Association of Georgia and the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA).
He is now community service chair for GAPABA and serves on the Leadership Council for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. When he’s not negotiating complex contracts for InComm, a global payment processing company, he provides legal services to nonprofit organizations and helps people in need. “I want to reach out as much as I can,” he says.
Originally introduced in the October AJMLS Dispatch, an SBA publication, we are pleased to introduce the 2021-2022 SBA Class Representatives.
1L Full-Time Section A Representatives
Alexis Burnett
Alexis Burnett was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She
completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Central Florida in
Orlando, Florida. Alexis’s future career plans are to become an attorney in the
area of entertainment law. She also plans to become an entrepreneur by having a
couple of her own businesses and nonprofit organizations to give back to her
community. One major goal that Alexis has as class representative is to create
a sense of community amongst her peers by planning events. “It is easy to allow
school to consume our lives, but I think it is also important to build
camaraderie and relationships as classmates.”
Ricky Panayoty
Rickey Panayoty was raised in both Brooklyn and Queens, New York. He completed his undergraduate education at The City College of New York. Rickey plans to practice business law, and start a consulting company advising small business owners and start-ups. One major goal Rickey wishes to achieve in his position as an SBA Class Rep is to help address classmates’ concerns while helping the SBA achieve their goals.
1L Full-Time Section B Representatives
Morgan Knowles
Morgan Knowles was raised and grew up in McDonough, Georgia. Morgan completed her undergraduate degree at Kennesaw State University, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Political Science. Morgan also attended Georgia College and State University for her Masters in Public Administration. After graduation, she would love to work in healthcare law, specifically focusing on mental health regulations and protections. Morgan’s goal as an SBA representative is to be someone with whom her classmates feel comfortable and trust to ensure their voice is represented and heard. Morgan hopes to be able to bridge the gap during the uncertain times caused by the pandemic and help to make new connections with virtual outreach.
Joshua Sachs
Joshua Sachs lived in dozens of cities growing
up. He was born in El Paso, Texas then
moved to the East coast shortly afterwards. He also lived in different cities
in North Carolina and Virginia, both in the city and rural areas. Joshua studied
at North Carolina State University. He started as a physics major, but
ultimately changed his major to sociology. Joshua plans to spend the next
several years in Criminal Defense. Further in the future, Joshua plans to get
into politics to amend some of the areas for improvement he has seen in our
system. He says: “In our current legal system, although you are innocent until
proven guilty, you are effectively punished upon accusation- my career will
revolve around fixing that.” Furthermore, as a class representative, Joshua’s
current top priority is to identify ways to optimize the hybrid learning
approach that the school is taking, to avoid any gap in bar performance that
may arise from an approach that includes virtual learning. I plan to research studies
on best practices for virtual learning and teaching to present to faculty and
students.
1L Part-Time Representatives
Katherine Collins
Katherine
Collins was born and raised in Gainesville, Georgia. She graduated from
Kennesaw State University in May 2021 with her Bachelor of Science degree in
Political Science and a minor in Sociology. In 2016, Katherine received her
Associate in Arts in Social Work from the University of North Georgia.
Katherine hopes to pursue family law while also working within policy work to
be part of the solution in creating necessary policy changes within foster care
to end cycles of trauma, poverty, and addiction breaking apart families. As a
part-time, evening student that juggles a full-time day job and a family that
includes four children, Katherine’s goal is to ensure students like herself
have a voice in the future of AJMLS. “We are often not the image people think
of when they think of law students, and I hope to make our unique needs known
within my position as an SBA Class Rep.”
Lamone Graham
Lamone Graham was raised in Atlanta, Georgia and attended Kennesaw State University. In the future, Lamone plans to be a business owner and a practicing attorney. The business plans are under wraps for now, but in terms of law, she is currently interested in four areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Employment, and Entertainment. Lamone says, it may sound like a lot of different things, but she is excited, open to learning, and going to go where God leads her. As an SBA Class Rep, Lamone’s main goal is to help her peers feel heard and supported. Law school is challenging enough on its own; so having a safe space where student concerns and needs can be shared in hopes of finding lasting solutions, is something she strives to create.
2L Full-Time Representatives
Grant Schrantz
Grant Schrantz was raised in Sarasota, Florida. He completed
his B.A. in English: Professional Writing at Saint Leo University in southern
Florida. Grant is interested in practicing corporate law, either on the
transactional side or shareholder derivatives litigation. Maybe some kind of
government service in the future as well, Grant says. As an SBA class
representative, one of Grant’s major goals is to bring back the Barrister’s
Ball in a safe and healthy manner.
Kendall Taylor
Kendall Taylor was raised in Mobile, Alabama. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama. While Kendall is not sure where life will take her, she is currently planning to start a career practicing law with a focus on domestic relations. A major goal Kendall wishes to achieve in this position is to facilitate communication between the SBA and the student body in whatever way necessary to ensure that the students’ concerns are brought to SBA’s attention. Foster more communication.
2L Part-Time Representatives
Nefertiri Lashley
Nefertiri Lashley is from Brooklyn, New York. She completed her undergraduate degree at City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Nefertiri’s initial goal after law school would be to be an Assistant Attorney at the city, state, or federal level in New York. As an SBA 2L Part-Time Representative, one major goal Nefertiri would like to achieve is effective communication. She would like to create different avenues of receiving feedback from our professors and also be a soluble liaison between students and faculty. Nefertiri would like to assist in building our social media presence and online connections to showcase the future leaders and contributions from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
Carolina Melguizo
Carolina
Melguizo was raised in Medellin, Colombia. She completed her undergraduate
education at Georgia State University. Carolina would like to specialize in
space law. One of Carolina’s major goals is to change the way students view and
feel about AJMLS. Carolina says: “I would like to see some progress towards
making students’ lives easier and happier.”
3L Representatives
Samantha Taylor
Samantha
Taylor was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of
Journalism from the University of Missouri and her Master of Business
Administration from Concordia University. Samantha’s goal is to make the lives
of her peers easier by being a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on, helping
them tackle any challenges that may arise.
Kofi Thom
Kofi Thom was born in Guyana and raised in The Bronx, NYC. He received his B.A. in Political Science from The City College of New York. Kofi would like to be a public interest attorney focusing on voting rights, criminal justice, and healthcare access. An SBA class representative, Kofi’s main goal is to ensure that part time and evening students are fully included in all conversations and activities that flow from the SBA.
Eligible hours must be completed between October 1st and October 31st
There is not a week that goes by where I do not receive a call from someone who has no money, no resources, and no access to legal services. It breaks my heart to refer them to places that offer pro bono assistance only to be told, “I’ve tried them and they cannot take on any new cases at this time.” Study after study has shown that poor Americans find it very difficult to secure quality representation in our costly legal system. At the same time, budget cutbacks for legal services have made it increasingly difficult for not for profit agencies and legal service providers to meet their client’s needs. Financially strapped, they must turn away clients every day because they lack the resources to take on every case. In the United States, Americans need a lawyer’s help for everything from avoiding an unjust eviction to preventing a wrongful conviction. Yet, effective legal assistance remains out of reach for the majority of Americans. This justice gap between legal needs and the services available exacerbates systemic inequities and disadvantages for the most vulnerable populations in our society: people of color, women, immigrants, the elderly, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBTQ, and more. These days, people are more likely to live in poverty and more likely to need legal assistance, such as: claiming protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act, preventing evictions, problems with health care, or domestic violence that often requires, at a minimum, legal advice, and at most, filing paperwork or litigation. The need for pro bono work is evident: “In 2017, 86% of low-income Americans received inadequate or no legal help for civil legal problems.”
The Community Needs YOU!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) has a strong pro bono culture. We recognize the growing severity of unmet legal needs of the poor and disadvantaged in the state of Georgia. As such we encourage and support the participation of our students, faculty, alumni, and staff in pro bono activities. AJMLS provides a broad range of pro bono opportunities to ensure that our law school community can participate in pro bono activities.
October is Pro Bono Month
In honor of the AJMLS commitment to service, all students, staff, faculty, and alumni are hereby challenged to perform as many pro bono hours as possible this month. Everyone can participate! There are service opportunities that do not require legal knowledge/skills, so don’t be shy – simply find a cause and start making a difference. Also, being the fierce advocates that we are, alumni and students will compete for the most hours completed. You can visit the pro bono website here to learn more and view opportunities. For inquiries or to share a pro bono opportunity, please contact the Office of Experiential Learning and Pro Bono Programs.
The AJMLS Pro Bono Program reinforces the mission of the law school and promotes the development of a law school community with a strong social conscious and dedication to improving the legal system and society. Our community needs you for such a time as this.
Dr. Bridgett E. Ortega
Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development
It’s the end of September, and in normal circumstances, that means that many law students are experiencing fatigue, exhaustion, and burn-out, while simultaneously experiencing anxiety, fear, and worries about impending midterms. Add to that mix concerns about a global pandemic, navigating virtual classes, combine that with a sense of isolation that accompanies not engaging in normal routines and social interactions, and you have a recipe for mental fatigue and burn-out. It is little wonder that law students in the current environment find themselves worried about staying on top of their reading, maintaining motivation, keeping up their energy, and performing academically.
Many students are asking themselves how they can re-energize, reinvigorate, and replenish their taxed mental faculties, emotional resources, and physical stamina.
If this sounds like you, then you have come to the right place.
It’s Normal to Feel Bleh
First and foremost, let’s just take a moment and be realistic and let the proverbial cat out of the bag. Everyone experiences some level of mental fatigue and burn-out in law school, especially after the initial rush of energy that accompanies starting a new semester. If you are feeling this way, I promise you that you are not alone, although it may feel that way because there is the general sense that you are not allowed to have a down day or week.
One of the astonishing things about law school is that there is this atmosphere and mindset that everyone must suddenly become superhuman. If someone told you a story about someone not getting enough sleep, regularly staring at a computer screen too long, reading books all night, who is somewhat isolated, and who has an ever-closer approaching set of tests on his or her radar, you would expect that person to be fatigued and approaching burn-out. Generally, it is easier to give others solid advice and share wisdom, and I bet that if I asked you to give the aforementioned person in the story some advice, you would share your best tips and tricks to help them stay motivated, recuperate, and re-energize. However, when it comes to following that advice yourself, you may find that you are resistant to incorporating your own advice and best practices. This makes sense because we are often far harder on ourselves and tend to hold ourselves to standards that we would not expect others to meet. But if you pause and think, that advice that you would give to someone else is good, so maybe it would be helpful to hear that same or similar advice from an external source.
That’s where this advice comes in. It’s based on real world experience from someone who has been there, done that, in terms of both law school and working remotely. It will likely mirror advice that you would give someone else, but may be unlikely to follow yourself. Hopefully, you will find the advice below helpful to your pursuit of success in a very challenging environment, and will also be encouraged to engage in best practices to perform at your best.
Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
This is one of my favorite sayings, and it perfectly applies to your experience in law school. We have so many competing aspects to managing our time effectively, and it quickly becomes easy to sacrifice things like sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and spending time with friends and family. However, like all things in life, balance is key, and if you do not take care of the fundamentals, then you will not be able to excel in other areas. Making sure you are doing the things that are at the core of being a happy and healthy human goes hand-in-hand with making sure you are a successful and high-functioning student..
One of the best ways to deal with mental fatigue and burnout is to actually rest. Get enough sleep, and try to get on a regular snooze schedule. This is especially important when the time changes, as you don’t want to fall off the success wagon just because time falls back an hour. Sleep has numerous benefits, and getting enough will keep you alert, refreshed, and ready to engage with law school materials and professors. Bonus tip: never overlook the power of the powernap.
Although this will sound obvious, eating regularly is important because you need fuel to keep your mental fires burning brightly. However, as someone who struggles with this personally, one of the first things that often goes when stress is high and time feels tight is quality eating (or eating at all). Skipping meals is a recipe to feeling fatigued, and if you find your mind wandering or food commercials diverting your attention, you will definitely want to take note and grab some grub. Try to eat a healthy balance of protein, carbs, and fats on a regular basis, and you will find yourself energized and ready to go.
Once you are rested and carbed up, you will find engaging in physical activity much easier. As someone who had a couple of surgeries during the pandemic, I definitely have experience with how a lack of activity and a failure to engage in normal routines can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. If you want your mental machinery to operate at the highest levels, you have to make time for activity. A brisk walk, yoga, a bike ride, or any similar activity will not only help you burn some calories, but it will also get your blood flowing and lead to the release of helpful neurotransmitters in your brain. Sunlight is your friend, so with the time-change impending, get out and enjoy yourself. A happy brain is your friend, so make sure to exercise regularly!
Speaking of not wrecking yourself, if you have ever seen the movie Castaway (Tom Hanks, Wilson the Volleyball, isolation to the extreme), you may be aware that too much alone time is bad news. However, when you are focused on a task or stressed about an outcome, it is easy to start sacrificing your most important meaningful interactions with friends and family. My advice is simply this: Don’t. If you treat law school like your job (which you should), then you should also enjoy the fruits of your labors. Although work may get busy, you still have to “go home” at some point and engage socially. This is easy to overlook, especially in the virtual world, where “going home” may involve shifting 9 centimeters to the left on the couch or hiding your laptop under the bed for a bit. However, you must make time for your mental and emotional well-being, and engaging with people who care about you is important.
If you take care of yourself, you will be at your best to perform your best!
Limit Distractions
There is one thing that I can confirm about virtual studying, remote working, or being at home generally. You will always be able to find a distraction. It is guaranteed. Whether you have a family, a dog, a cat, a Netflix account, an imaginary friend, or a phone or other device generally, I promise that you will be able to find a distraction that can take you away from your work.
If you want to perform at the highest levels, you have to put aside the distractions and focus. This means turning off the phone notifications, turning off the tv, closing GroupMe, putting your cat down for the first time in five days, and telling your dog that fetch will have to wait 30 minutes. You will always perform better if your attention is not split between multiple activities, and even a momentary distraction such as a new Instagram post, the ‘ding’ of an arriving text message, or the new Taco Bell commercial on tv (I still do not know if it is a taco or a sandwich) can each impact your memory, retention, and engagement with materials. Work when it is time to work, and engage with social media and other distractors later. Focus is key.
Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail
Speaking of engagement, one of the most distracting and mentally taxing things you can do in your life is trying to not do something you really enjoy doing. If you think that I am kidding, I highly encourage you to stock your refrigerator with your favorite food, and then try not to eat it. Not only will you mentally feel like you are missing out, but it will slowly become a bigger and bigger distraction (and by it, I’m talking specifically about you, Reese’s Cups that haunt me). So, how do you follow BOTH of the aforementioned pieces of advice and Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself AND Limit Distractions? You plan it out and you have a schedule.
If you schedule in your fun activities, your necessary activities (again, we are talking about sleep, eating, exercise, and spending time with friends and family), and your schoolwork, you will find it much easier to devote time to each and be fully present when you are engaging in each. If you know that you are going to eat a Reese’s Cup on Friday, it becomes much easier to avoid getting the King Sized version out of your refrigerator while you are trying to write an advice post. Too personal? Sue me (although if you’ve been paying attention in Civil Procedure, you may find standing to be an issue).
All kidding aside, it is much easier to engage in the study of law when you have a schedule. Beyond the times you have to attend class, you should make a schedule for studying, socialization, break times, watching your favorite football team or video, engaging in social media, or anything else that you want to do. The key to successful time management is to give each aspect of your life the dedicated time necessary to be happy, rested, and successful, without feeling like you are sacrificing something entirely. Balance and moderation are important, and you must make time for your well-being.
Know Your Purpose
Last, but never least, is knowing your purpose. If you wake up each day, go to sleep each night, and dedicate time throughout each day to reminding yourself of your purpose and goals, it is much easier to keep going when the going gets tough. Focus on why you are doing what you are doing, and try to maintain awareness of how each thing that you do each day is leading you on your personal journey towards success.
One of the things that I find most helpful in maintaining your path to success and your motivation is visualization. There are three types of visualization that I encourage you to engage in, and although this may sound like a Charles Dickens story, past, present, and future visualization are all valuable.
Past visualization references picturing a time in life when you were successful and happy. Sometimes in the midst of the rigors of law school, it is easy to forget all of the academic, personal, and professional accomplishments that led you to the opportunity to be enrolled in law school, and taking a few minutes to think about your previous success can motivate you towards continuing your success journey.
Speaking of, do not forget to think about the things you are accomplishing now. It is easy to feel like an endless array of cases, black letter law, studying, and writing are overwhelming you, but the truth of the matter is that each day you are accomplishing, learning, and growing. Remembering to give yourself kudos and acknowledging each day’s accomplishments can be both motivating and empowering, so I encourage you to visualize three things that you have accomplished each day.
Finally, remember to visualize your future success and accomplishments. Picture yourself successfully completing an exam, walking at graduation, passing the bar exam, inviting your friends and family to your swearing-in ceremony, and a host of other future events can provide fuel to reinvigorate your fire when it wanes, so make sure to always keep your eyes on the prize.
In Conclusion
On the surface, all of the above may seem like common sense, but it is often the little things that fly out the window when stress grows and time feels short. Please make sure to take care of yourself mentally, emotionally, and psychologically during the rigors of law school. You deserve to be here, you are capable, and you will be successful if you put the time, effort, and dedication into this experience that it (and you) deserve.
Burning-out and mental fatigue are normal, but sometimes stress and problems can move beyond the normal and become problematic. Please always remember that you are never alone and that people care about you as an individual. If you find yourself in need of additional support and assistance, please visit our counseling resources page located at: https://www.johnmarshall.edu/ajmls-students/student-services/counseling-services/.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates 2001 alumna, Judge Rhonda Kreuziger, on her recent appointment as Superior Court Judge for the Griffin Judicial Circuit, covering Fayette, Pike, Spalding, and Upson counties. Upon her swearing-in, Judge Kreuziger became the first female and first African-American superior court judge in the circuit.
Nominated by her predecessor, Griffin Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Christopher C. Edwards, stated, “I know she will fit right into the bench with our four other excellent judges.” Judge Kreuziger was appointed by Governor Kemp on July 20, 2021 and sworn in on August 19, 2021.
While a student at AJMLS, Judge Kreuziger was a member of the mock trial team, editor-in-chief of the The Advocate newsletter, and the first AJMLS student to intern at the Attorney General’s Office. As a forensic scientist, she attended classes both day and night while maintaining her previous career. She credits the Law School’s flexibility with her ability to manage working as a scientist and attending law classes, and describes her experience at the school as “phenomenal”.
“If you are willing to put in the time and effort, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School will afford you every opportunity you need,” says Judge Kreuziger.
This appointment is not her first post on the bench having served the Griffin Judicial Circuit as the Associate Juvenile Court Judge, and previously, Chief Judge of the City of Fayetteville Municipal Court.
Prior to the bench, Judge Kreuziger served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Griffin Judicial Circuit before opening her own law practice. Her practice focused on Criminal Law, Family Law, and General Civil Litigation.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is pleased to celebrate this historic milestone and wishes Judge Kreuziger much success in her new role.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) established its Employee of the Month Program in 2021 to recognize hard working employees, especially as we navigate uncharted times in legal education. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The August 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Hal Morgan, Enterprise Systems Administrator.
Hal joined the AJMLS family in March of 2015. As described by one of his co-workers, “Hal has been exemplary and a model for demonstrated zeal, conviction, and determination to provide great customer care.” Hal’s patience and kindness are ever present, even when he is in a time crunch, he will acknowledge you and make an effort to find a solution to help you.
Hal resides in Kennesaw and his hobbies include golf (though he admits his skills are not at par), exploring new places, mountain getaway trips, camping, watching Georgia football, and spending time with his son.
He is highly appreciated by students, faculty, and staff alike. We are very fortunate to have Hal on our team!
Grammar. The word itself is often enough to trigger anxiety, and depending on your background and experience, you may have various concerns you want to address, but you may not be sure where to go to address those concerns.
Never fear, AABS is here! Below, find a list of ten websites that you can peruse in your own time to work to improve your grammar, answer questions that you may have, and to improve your word wizardry.
Academic Achievement and Bar Success (AABS) Grammar Resources
All full-time and part-time students enrolled at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 are eligible for admission to Advocacy Board. A student may receive an invitation to the organization by successfully competing through the G. Alan Blackburn Moot Court Competition or the Richardson Lynn Moot Court Competition, which is the intra-school competition held before the start of the fall semester.
Executive Board
Edward Hardrick, Chair
Edward Hardrick was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Georgia most of his life. After graduating from Grayson High School, he earned a B.S. in Political Science from the University of North Georgia and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Georgia National Guard as an artillery officer. Just prior to enrolling into law school, Edward completed several training assignments with the U.S. Army at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and Ft. Stewart, Georgia.
Edward matriculated into the Law School in the Fall of 2017. Subsequently, Edward took military leave from Fall 2018 until Spring 2020 to deploy to Afghanistan where he served as an Infantry platoon leader and Fire Support Officer earning the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Award for service during the deployment. Upon returning to the law school in the Spring of 2020, Edward served as Student Bar Association Vice President, earned a CALI Award for Legal Writing, began work as a Student Associate at an Atlanta-based law firm, and received invitations to join Moot Court and Law Journal. Edward was excited to be chosen to lead the Advocacy Board as its next Chair. As he prepares to graduate this upcoming December, Edward is excited to help Moot Court position itself for a successful competition semester in the Spring and ensure its continued success in the coming years.
Bethany Keyes, Vice-Chair
Bethany Keyes is from middle Georgia and is currently a part-time day student at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School with an expected graduation date of December 2022. She has a degree in Business Administration and a degree in Political Science with a concentration in Pre-Law.
Prior to law school, Bethany volunteered with a social media group to help alleviate poverty within her local community. Since August 2021, she has worked as a Student Associate at a law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bethany honorably accepted a Vice-Chair position on the Advocacy Board because she has always had a passion for the law, helping others, and advocating. Further, this opportunity will allow her to collaborate with peers and refine her research, editing, and writing skills.
Mats Rosen, Vice-Chair
Mats Rosen, a full-time 3L student at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, is from Glenwood Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Colorado State University in 2017 with a B.A. in Sociology along with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. Mr. Rosen has always had a passion for learning and excelling in whatever position he asked to serve in. Helping others in times of need has been the mission that he seeks to carry out, a mission he assisted with during his time as an intern at the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. Mr. Rosen hopes to take the experiences that he has learned from that organization and law school and apply those skills in his role as an attorney.
He has earned CALI Awards in Contracts I, Civil Procedure I, Criminal Procedure, and Legal Writing, and Research Analysis III and is also one of the Line Editors on the Law Journal. Upon completion of his second year, Mr. Rosen was invited to join the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Board. He sought a position on the Executive Board to assist with member recruitment and retention to further grow the organization as he begins his transition from law school to legal practice.
Michael Stewart, Vice-Chair
Michael Stewart is originally from Warner Robins, Georgia and grew up in the Houston County school system. After high school, Michael attended Kennesaw State University where he participated in three campus choirs as well as the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity. Michael earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Kennesaw State University in December 2018 before beginning at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in the Fall of 2019.
In his spare time, Michael is heavily involved in the theater industry of Georgia including serving on the Board of Governors of a non-profit and community theatre in Perry, Georgia and serving as adjudicator for the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards (Shuler’s). Michael is very excited to get more involved in extra curricular activities at Atlanta’s John Marshall and is looking forward to a great year serving as Vice-Chair of Moot Court.
Joshua Elbaz, Fundraising Chair
Joshua Elbaz was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Suwanee, Georgia for most of his life. After graduating from North Gwinnett High School, he earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Georgia Gwinnett College.
Joshua entered Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in the Fall of 2019 with high hopes and a lot of ambition. During his 1L year, Joshua began interning with attorney Lawrence Lewis with hopes of becoming familiar with the field of Criminal Defense and trial work. Joshua had continued to intern with Attorney Lawrence Lewis throughout his law school journey and has participated in close to 10 jury trials since he began law school. Joshua served as an SBA representative during his 1L year, and as a Peer Mentor Director during his 2L year. Joshua founded the Student Trial Lawyers Association (STLA) during the summer of his 2L year with the hopes of helping and guiding other law students who want to be trial lawyers after school. Joshua currently sits on the executive board for Moot Court, which he was invited on, as well as The Student Trial Lawyers Association, which he founded.
The most frequent concerns I hear from students around any shift to a virtual environment are in regards to staying focused, paying attention, and making sure they continue to learn and expand their knowledge. Many students express frustration around the difficulties of concentrating in a remote classroom and are concerned that their performances may suffer. The good news is that although this learning environment can create new challenges, it is one that you can survive and even thrive in. These tips work great in any virtual learning environment, whether in law school or preparing for the bar exam.
Here are my top ten tips for maintaining focus, attention, and learning in the virtual world:
1. Designate a space.
One of the interesting things I’ve noticed about myself over the past year is my tendency to perform better when I set aside an area that is just for working. I think of it much like going to the gym. Once you walk in the door, you are likely to flip a mental switch and your expectations shift as to what to expect in that environment. When you hear the sounds of weights clanking, treadmills grinding, or someone like me complaining that I cannot get the double knot out of my shoes, you know where you are and what you are there to accomplish.
Virtual learning is the same way. If you attempt to work from a space where you often engage in other activities, whether it’s sleeping, watching tv, or reading a book, it can be hard not to let your mind wander. Set aside a space where you live to engage actively with your learning environment, and try not to do other things there.
That said, I remain very aware of the constrictions of working from home for many, and you may not have a space that is readily available to be set aside. In that case, I recommend that when the time comes for a class that you change the space around, effectively creating a work environment. This could be something as simple as setting out some highlighters and some books, moving a vase, or clearing off the table, but the key is that you have a transition moment for the space and your learning. When you know you are entering your proverbial mental gym, your expectations, mindset, and mood will adjust accordingly.
2. Turn on your camera.
Trust me, I know. The thought of making sure you are camera-ready can be concerning, but being on camera is important. For starters, it involves you directly in the class, as opposed to observing from afar. The awareness that others can see if you are paying attention operates similarly in class, and your tendency to avoid staring at the ceiling and singing show tunes will decrease dramatically when you know someone might see.
All kidding aside, being on camera also helps your professor to engage with you. One of the biggest things I struggle with within the virtual environment when engaging with students is being able to see expressions. Oftentimes, I assume that I am making my point, only to see looks of confusion in my audience, and that helps me realize that I need to try a different approach, speak more clearly, or revisit the differences between my base knowledge and what I think I am communicating, versus what my audience is receiving. Help yourself stay engaged, and help your professor to engage with you, and stay on camera.
3. Turn off your phone.
This is a big one. Turn off your phone (or at least silence it), turn off your notifications, and flip it upside down until class is over. Phones are a big distraction generally, and they tend to lead to rapid shifts in attention while simultaneously allowing opportunities to zone out. Buzzfeed has some top ten lists that are more humorous than this, but it won’t help you learn what you need to know for class. Give your phone a break.
Also, the urge to text, WhatsApp, etc., is another phone no-no that can prevent you from focusing in class. As soon as you send that first message or receive that first message, your attention is partially devoted to awaiting the next message, which makes it hard to stay in the present moment.
4. Do not browse the internet.
This is another danger zone (cue Top Gun music).
I avoided the urge to Google what year the movie Top Gun came out right then, but that only goes directly to my point. The internet is a lovely place full of a variety of sources of news, information, entertainment, and so much more, but it is also an easy place to mentally meander for hours exploring the history of the movie Top Gun instead of paying attention in class. Resist the urge to go on an endless search for the world’s best strawberry cheesecake recipe (but if you have one, feel free to let me know) and stay in the moment.
I am not oblivious to the fact that sometimes in class something may be said that encourages you to explore information or to search a definition, but I encourage you to wait and stay focused on your class. Instead of diverting your attention during class, do what I recommend in number 5.
5. Make a list and take notes.
In the modern world, we want what we want, and we want it now. Just ask anyone who has ever delivered Thai food to me at 2:00 a.m. However, pursuing knowledge by searching the internet or frantically flipping through a book can be a huge distraction from what your professor is saying/showing on your screen, so save that for later. Making a list and taking notes can also help you stay on track with your learning, ensuring that you complete assignments (it feels great to check off an accomplishment), and helps you stay accountable to yourself.
Not only does creating a list give you something to do later to ensure you are maximizing your learning, it prevents you from missing out on anything said in the present, and it also keeps you actively engaged after class is over. There will be plenty of time after your class hours to search out terms and explore cases (and you may even find time to track down that strawberry cheesecake recipe), so maximize your engagement in class.
6. Immediately review after class.
This should be on your list whether you are in-person or virtual, but it is something that students sometimes forget when online. When we are at home or in our own space, it is very easy to immediately click ‘end meeting’ and turn to a streaming service such as Disney+, but ‘What If?’ you didn’t? (That reference to a Disney+ Marvel show was 100% intentional).
Instead of immediately shifting your attention to the next thing on your to-do list, review what you just covered in class, your list, and your notes. You may find gaps in your note-taking, areas that you need to explore or uncover questions for your professor that you can make note of before you forget. Think of it like utilizing someone’s name in a conversation after you meet them – you are much more likely to remember a name if you use it when addressing the person, so make sure to actively engage with your material before you have time to forget (and if you are reading this, I’m sorry Taylor – I’ll remember next time!).
7. Join an accountability group.
Just as you want to maintain focus and review after class as an individual, you also want to have accountability with others to assist you in staying on track (and to assist them as well!). Knowing that you will be meeting with others to discuss cases, black letter laws, bright-line rules, and lecture notes help ensure that you stay on track. Discussing things with others is not only beneficial for your learning, but will help you fill in gaps, find new ways of thinking about things, and ensure that you are focusing on the right things.
When it is just you being accountable to you, it is easier to slip up, but when you know others will be counting on you and that you have a role to play in a bigger group it will help you perform better. This is beneficial if you schedule your group meeting on the same day that you have class, and has the bonus of serving as an additional review that will help you retain information in the long term.
8. Noise-canceling headphones.
Distractions are dangerous, and no matter how laser-focused your eyes are, if your ears are tuning into something else, you can rest assured that you are tuning out. I often think of my dog when she thinks someone might be dropping off a pizza at the door, no matter where her eyes are, her ear is up and her head is tilted. It’s hard to maintain focus on one person speaking when you are concerned about pizza delivery, and this carries over to class as well.
If noises, others talking, or your neighbor’s unrelenting bass (my issue) are a problem, then invest in some noise-canceling headphones. This will help you keep your focus on class, and not on plotting your next angry knock on your neighbor’s door. Listening with focus, combined with active note-taking and list-making, will help you learn and retain information better.
9. Snacks.
Eat. It should go without saying, but I often fall victim to the angry grumbling distraction that is my hungry stomach. Sometimes, because we are not following a live, in-person schedule, we do not plan the simple things like remembering to eat meals on a schedule. When you are at home, it is much easier to forget to pay attention to the clock, and you can find yourself struggling to stay focused in class when you know that extra-large pepperoni pizza is in the kitchen waiting for you.
It is always good to have a handy, non-distracting snack and beverage nearby, just in case. What do I mean by non-distracting? I mean that it shouldn’t be difficult for you to open, runs the risk of spilling all over your shirt, or requires 40 paper towels to maintain clean hands during class. Having something to snack on and something to drink can keep you mentally alert and focused during class, especially when you forget to eat the meal prior.
10. Exercise.
Let me be clear here. I am not suggesting that you attend class from a treadmill or while spinning away on an exercise bike. Instead, what I am recommending is that you remember to step away from your desk. One of the biggest pitfalls of remote learning or working is that you can inadvertently spend too much time in your workspace. You need to remember to take a break from the screen!
There are also a ton of benefits to exercise, from increasing feel-good neurotransmitters to cardiovascular health, and it also is a great way to relieve stress. If you are someone who has concerns about the virtual learning environment, finding good ways to release stress and relieve anxiety is important, and one of the best ways to do so is to exercise. Even if you just take a walk outside for 15 minutes or walk up a few flights of stairs, you will find plenty of benefits from exercise.
Hopefully, you found these ‘Top Ten Tips to Maintain Focus in a Virtual Class Environment’ to be helpful, and I encourage you to explore and develop additional tips to ensure that you make the best of the virtual experience. It is a different environment, but one that you absolutely can thrive in and where you can achieve a high level of learning and success.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development, Dr. Bridgett Ortega, recently presented at multiple sessions at The National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) Conference – RISE21 in National Harbor, Maryland.
RISE21 was held August 15-18, 2021 and brought together judges, law enforcement officials, treatment providers, drug and veterans court coordinators, researchers, celebrities, leading authorities on best practices in adult, juvenile, and veterans substance abuse treatment, drug court graduates, veteran treatment court graduates, probation officers, attorneys, consumer advocates, and experts in the treatment court field. The attendees gained new tactics, insights, and increased ability to improve the success of their treatment courts.
In-line with her dissertation and expertise, Dr. Ortega presented at two sessions on Compassionate Jurisprudence and one session on Compassionate Communication and Family Engagement.
Dr. Bridgett Ortega, a veteran of the United States Air Force, is the Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. She has been a key administrator since joining the team in early 2011 and is also a Sr. organizational consultant and trainer for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, American University’s Justice Program Office and the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence. She is a lawyer, researcher, and the Past President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Juvenile Defender Center in Washington, D.C. She is also currently the Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Georgia affiliate of the ACLU.
Dr. Ortega has spent over 30 years advocating for criminal and juvenile justice reform. She is a passionate advocate for the incarcerated and their children with an emphasis on compassionate practice in the justice system. She is a National Trainer on subjects dealing with Juvenile and Adult Drug Courts, Compassionate Practice in Problem Solving Courts, Compassionate Communication, Compassionate Family Engagement, Domestic Violence, Equity and Inclusion, Cultural Competency, Improving Outcomes for Children of the Incarcerated and all things Juvenile Justice. Dr. Ortega is the former Deputy Director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Reclaiming Futures Initiative, a juvenile justice reform initiative aimed at creating strategies for intervening in the lives of young people with substance disorders and other issues that bring them into the justice system.
She has been featured in the ABC Nightline “Kids in Court” series and the Frontline Juvenile Justice documentary. Dr. Ortega is the recipient of the ABA Livingston Hall Juvenile Justice Award for outstanding advocacy in juvenile justice, the NAACP Freedom Fund Civil and Human Rights Award and in December of 2018 she was recognized by the National Juvenile Defender Center as a champion for juvenile justice for her work in defending youth rights. She co-founded the Santa Clara County California Juvenile Drug Treatment Court with the Honorable Judge Thomas Edwards for which she received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for invaluable service to the community. Dr. Ortega holds a Master of Arts degree, Juris Doctorate and a Doctorate Degree in Organizational Management and Leadership. Her published research dissertation is entitled, Compassionate Jurisprudence: As Praxis for Justice.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is proud of Dr. Ortega’s service to her community and students, and looks forward to championing her continued leadership in and out of the classroom.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates Professor Jonathan Rapping, Director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program, for his recent honor receiving the Alumni Professional Achievement Award from The University of Chicago.
The Alumni Professional Achievement Award recipients are accomplished luminaries in any professional field. These alumni’s achievements have brought distinction to themselves, credit to the University, and real benefit to their communities.
When asked of his recent honor, Professor Rapping reflected, “This award is incredibly meaningful to me because my experience at the University of Chicago helped set me on a path to live out my vision for myself as part of a larger effort to make the world more just. As a Professor at AJMLS I am able to help students define their vision for how they want to serve. Atlanta’s John Marshall did not expect me to leave my previous work to become a law teacher. Instead, it welcomed me bringing that work into my teaching and scholarship to train a student body to carve a career path consistent with our mission to develop the lawyers of tomorrow who will serve those who have historically had the least access to justice. I am honored to be able to live the professional achievement that this award recognizes through my work at AJMLS.”
Outside the classroom, Professor Rapping is the founder and president of Gideon’s Promise, a nonprofit organization with the mission to transform criminal justice by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice for marginalized communities. In addition to his full-time teaching at AJMLS, he is also a visiting professor at Harvard University Law School.
Professor Rapping recently authored Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice (2020), building on an extensive collection of scholarship and informed by his work in the field. In the book, he argues that cultural transformation is critical to realizing justice in America’s criminal legal system and provides a blueprint for achieving that vision. In 2014, Professor Rapping received the prestigious MacArthur Genius Fellowship for his cutting-edge approach to justice transformation. He is the co-host of Gideon’s Promise: The Podcast, along with his wife and Gideon’s Promise co-founder and executive director, Ilham Askia. Professor Rapping’s work was also the inspiration for the award-winning HBO documentary Gideon’s Army.
Congratulations, Professor, it is our honor to support your mission and champion your successes. AJMLS students are afforded the very best criminal justice education from you.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates Adjunct Professor, John Melvin, for his recent publication, Georgia Objections at Trial, Second Edition. The ebook is a publication for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and is an invaluable guide that helps judges, lawyers, and law students navigate the Georgia Evidence Code. The publication is current through 2021 and the new edition provides evidence scenarios and the reasons behind the rulings.
Professor Melvin, who has taught evenings at AJMLS since 2012, teaches Trial Advocacy and is the current Assistant Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Having tried 180 trials during his time at the Cobb County, Dekalb County, and Gwinnett County District Attorneys’ Offices, he brings the wisdom of his quarter-century of courtroom experience to the publication and classroom. During his time as a prosecutor, he served as Acting District Attorney, Chief Assistant District, Deputy Chief, Public Integrity and White Collar, and Senior Assistant District Attorney. Professor Melvin is also a lecturer at the National College of District Attorneys and served on the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council Basic Litigation committee.
Professor Melvin’s courtroom and leadership experience has brought invaluable lessons and insight to AJMLS students in the classroom and we are thankful for his near decade of service to our students.
Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is delighted to announce its recent move to
One Marquis Tower in Downtown Atlanta. After a multi-floor construction
project, designed by Stevens & Wilkinson, the Law School took possession of
its pristine new campus on August 6, 2021. AJMLS is now housed on three full floors
of One Marquis Tower and comprises almost 60,000 square feet of classroom and
office space, including a spacious law library and courtroom. The move from
midtown to downtown culminated after months of construction led by general
contractor Humphries and Company, who completed the project is less than 24
weeks.
In connection with its move, the Law School received its largest in-kind donation from the American Cancer Society of premium office furniture. The Atlanta nonprofit donated enough furniture to furnish every office, conference room, and common area in the new facility. The American Cancer Society’s donation represents the second largest donation in the Law School’s history, the first being the donation of all the Law School assets upon its conversion to nonprofit by Dr. Michael C. Markovitz, Chairman of the Board of the Directors and long-time friend. Dr. Markovitz’s generous donation is in-line with his nearly 30-year relationship with the Law School, repeatedly going above and beyond to ensure its success.
“The gift by the American Cancer Society is without a doubt the single most important gift the Law School has ever received,” said Dean and CEO, Jace C. Gatewood. “Without their generosity, this move would not have been financially feasible for the Law School without incurring a large amount of debt.” Gatewood continues, “In the coming weeks, we will find some way to permanently honor their gift and show our gratitude.”
“I speak for the entire Board of the Law School when I say we are completely delighted with Dean Gatewood’s leadership in all matters, and especially as regards the move. Law school staff rose to the challenge of coordinating the complexity of issues that all came together in a successful move on an accelerated schedule. Bravo to everyone involved,” said Chairman, Michael C. Markovitz.
Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School is thankful for its generous supporters, growth, and
ability to better serve its students, alumni, and legal community.
Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School – different on
purpose.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Professor Elizabeth Jaffe’s 2016 article on swatting was cited in the Concurring Opinion in the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in People v. Pagano, 2021 WL 1570350. In this case, the Defendant was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a child as a passenger and having an open container in a motor vehicle. The Defendant filed a motion to dismiss arguing the traffic stop was unlawful. The District Court granted the motion and the Circuit Court affirmed the decision. The State appealed and the Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the decision. The Defendant appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court and the Court reversed and remanded finding in favor of the Defendant. In the Concurring Opinion, Justice Zahra cited to Professor Jaffe’s 2016 article in footnote 2.
The footnote is based upon an article written by Professor Jaffe in which she addresses the crime of swatting. The footnote reads “In recent years, individuals have used spoofing technology to make fake 911 calls in order to prank or harass individuals. See Chapter 284, 45 McGeorge L. Rev. at 585; Jaffe, Swatting: The New Cyberbullying Frontier After Elonis v. United States, 64 Drake L. Rev. 455, 456 (2016).”
Professor Jaffe has been on faculty since 2006. She teaches Domestic Relations, Legal Research, Writing & Analysis I & II, Pretrial Practice & Procedure, and Depositions. She has conducted extensive scholarly research with the focus on education law and the legal response to bullying, and has several published articles in this area. In addition to published articles, she has presented at the Symposium “Cyberbullying in America: A Discussion of Liability, Policy, and Progress” and has received national media coverage for her expertise in this area of law.
Thank you for your continued contributions to both AJMLS and the legal community, Professor Jaffe. We appreciate all of your efforts!
The Academic Achievement and Bar Success (AABS) Outstanding Alumni Service Award is awarded annually to an outstanding alumnus of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) for extraordinary service and leadership in supporting graduates as they prepare to take the bar exam. Recipients of this award will have demonstrated a willingness to go above and beyond to assist bar takers on their path to success by dedicating their time, energy, and expertise to their alma mater and recent graduates in extraordinary ways. AJMLS has a favorite saying, “Our students come for law school but find a community,” and recipients of this award will have demonstrated a true commitment to that sense of community by lifting others to new heights.
The inaugural recipient of this award is Mandira Sethi, AJMLS Class of 2020, currently a Staff Attorney at Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Even though Mandira was very busy working on a wide array of immigrant visas and nonimmigrant petitions during her first year as a practicing attorney after many successful years as a diligent and successful paralegal, she dedicated many hours of her free time to supporting students preparing for the July 2021 bar exam. Not only did she participate in AABS discussion panels, check-in regularly with the Assistant Dean of the Department, and willingly share her experiences, but she also met regularly with students and offered her insights into successful bar preparation and essay writing. Mandira was available to any alumni who reached out, whether she was acquainted with them or not, and her efforts will undoubtedly pay off for all of the bar takers that she worked with.
AJMLS is proud to name Mandira Sethi the first recipient of the AABS Outstanding Alumni Service Award.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) faculty are diverse in trial, classroom, and scholarship experience, with a strong international presence. When stateside, Professor Burch teaches a variety of courses at AJMLS, including Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law; and presents at conferences such as the recent Law Teaching Strategies for a New Era: Beyond the Physical Classroom Conference.
Professor Burch is set to argue before the Palau Supreme Court, Appellate Division next week. On Friday, August 13th, Professor Burch will represent the Republic of Palau in oral argument in the case of Ochedaruchei Clan v. Oilouch, where she will be presenting argument on the issue of sovereign immunity. Professor Burch is assisting the Republic of Palau’s Office of Attorney General while she is on a leave of absence from the Law School.
In addition, Professor Burch’s chapter titled: “Blasphemy! Skills-Based Constitutional Law Online” has been published by Carolina Academic Press in “Law Teaching Strategies For a New Era”. Professor Burch’s chapter discusses how to design formative assessments that scaffold skills acquisition and provide opportunities for students to acquire competency in course material.
Atlanta’s John Marshall students have had the pleasure of learning from Professor Burch since 2003 and we look forward to her classroom return.
Each day, the campus looks entirely different and more ready for us to open our doors. Did you know, our classrooms have stadium seating? There are options for students to sit or stand depending on their comfort level.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) established its Employee of the Month Program in 2021 to recognize hard working employees. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The July 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Cynthia Crawford, Director of Human Resources.
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Cynthia joined the AJMLS family in 2008. Prior to joining the Law School, she was a Collateral Specialist with Citizens Trust Bank. After several years, she worked as a Human Resources Specialist with a government contracting company, and IT trainer for another organization.
Cynthia wears many hats, from office manager, to counselor, to graduation coordinator, and is more than Director of Human Resources. Whenever we need a helping hand, Cynthia is there to assist.
Cynthia resides in Fairburn, Georgia and is also a proud alumna of Morris Brown College, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, and Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity, Inc.. These memberships allow her to serve her community, which is one of her passions. We are very fortunate to have her on our team!
We’re almost ready! Books are being set-up in the library and furniture, computers, and AV equipment are being installed. Right on track for the start of the fall semester.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to continue its Employee of the Month Program. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The June 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Michael (Mike) Gatewood, Assistant Building Engineer.
Prior to joining Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in March 2020, Mike served the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for 20 years! He worked in the juvenile justice division where he worked directly with court adjudicated youth in a residential setting. Mike noted that working at AJMLS in the facilities department has been a welcomed challenge and change of career. He looks forward to working with and continuing to meet the employees at AJMLS as everyone returns to campus this fall.
Mike joined the AJMLS family just prior to the pandemic and has been on-site nearly every day since. He has been described as always nice and works with a smile! Mike operates with a high degree of excellence, professionalism, and customer service. We are very fortunate to have Mike on our team!
As we approach orientation and the fall semester, the campus is getting closer and closer to occupancy. The furniture is arriving and the library shelves are being installed.
Where were you raised: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I received my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Public Relations minor, from The Howard University in Washington, D.C.
What are your future career plans: I plan to be an Intellectual Property Attorney with a focus in Entertainment and Business Law.
What do you look forward to as the SBA President: As SBA President this year my main goal is to rebuild our community. We have relocated and are finally able to attend in person classes after a year. There are so many connections that students and faculty have to make with one another as well as with the outside legal network. I plan to work on rebuilding that network and community.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: We are all in this together. The SBA is here to help, hear and advocate for you. We are John Marshall Proud!
Keith Collins, Vice President
Where were you raised: I was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I am so proud to be a graduate of one of the greatest HBCU’s,(Historically Black College or University) in all the land, Norfolk State University. Behold!
What are your future career plans: I rarely say this out loud to other people, but I want to be a Supreme Court Justice, one day. I also have interests in Criminal Law and Intellectual Property.
What do you look forward to as the Vice President: The thing I look forward to most as the Vice President of this Student Bar Association is bringing my personal platform to our student body and faculty. I believe in the oneness of the human experience and I am excited to see what greatness all of John Marshall can achieve when we share our personal experiences among our community, so that we can better understand one another, collectively.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: My greatest goals this academic year are: (1) to promote and develope more opportunities for scholarship and academic achievement on campus, (2) to gain a recognizable identity as a #johnmarshallproud student body in the legal community, and (3) to lead with kindness and professionalism in every endeavor.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I want my classmates to know that I am here for them. I’m the guy that will speak to everyone, I’ll ask any question that you need answered, and I love finding opportunities to meet new people and share friendship.
Mercedes L. Dickerson, Secretary
Where were you raised: I was raised in Fortson, Georgia.
Where did you complete your undergraduate education: I went to Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, and I studied Political Science and Spanish.
What are your future career plans: I want to be a civil rights attorney and open my own law firm with a focus on providing legal services for low-income minorities. I also want to open a non-profit organization that supports impoverished women and children.
What do you look forward to as the SBA Secretary: I look forward to helping increase communication between the student body and faculty and the administration. I also look forward to serving as the Editor in Chief of the SBA Newsletter.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: My goal is to provide a transparent account of the SBA’s goals and our performance executing them. I also strive to maintain an open line of communication with my fellow classmates, so I can accurately represent their concerns to the SBA executive board and John Marshall’s administration.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I am very passionate about helping my fellow classmates, and I welcome all students to come to me with any questions or concerns they have.
Hanna Canavan, Treasurer
Where were you raised: I was raised in Douglasville, GA.
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: Kennesaw State University
What are your future career plans: I’m currently seeing all of what law school has to offer; however, my passion and the reason why I chose to attend law school was to become a criminal defense attorney.
What do you look forward to as the Treasurer: I look forward to assisting as a member on the executive board, participating in the different committees and events, and helping student organizations with the logistics behind the scenes.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: To be open and transparent with the organizations and student body.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I am always available by text, call or email if there is a situation in which you need my immediate help. Just give me a shout!
Dylan Annis, Parliamentarian
Where were you raised: I was raised in Dacula, Georgia
Where did you complete your undergraduate and/or graduate education: I completed my undergraduate degree at Kennesaw State University with a degree in Marketing.
What are your future career plans: Following graduation, I hope to look forward to a career practicing law with a focus on complex civil litigation.
What do you look forward to as the Parliamentarian: As Parliamentarian, I look forward to contributing to helping the SBA Board and other organizations establish successful and reoccurring events that AJMLS students can look forward to every year.
What are your goals in the position this academic year: This year I hope to help every new organization establish methods and procedures that help the organization run smoothly and efficiently for years to come.
What do you want your classmates to know about you: I want all my classmates to know that I am always just a call or text away. I look forward to being a part of your network, both personal and professional, or years to come.
Each week, the rooms become more defined for their intended use and the aesthetic finishes more apparent. The mock courtroom, the offices, the podiums, and study rooms; we can’t wait to welcome everyone this fall to our new campus!
The July 2021 bar exam is right around the corner, and this is a stressful time. As the bar exam dates get closer, future examinees tend to put a lot more emphasis and react more strongly to how they performed ‘today.’ The sense of time running out, combined with the elusive (and impossible) search for perfection on practice questions and essays, leads to people suffering as they strive to understand why today they scored x, but yesterday they scored y. Furthermore, this leads to fears about what is going to happen in the future when they might get z score. These concerns are normal in the process, but not realistic as a method of approach and to perform your best.
I attached the graph above to remind you that your best is going to vary daily, and although you have invested plenty of time and effort up to this point, you will still have days that are up and down in terms of your daily scoring. Please remember that your up days shouldn’t lead you to be overconfident, and that your down days shouldn’t destroy your confidence. Instead, I encourage you to simply keep in mind that each day is an opportunity to improve, and fluctuations will occur. These are normal, and one single day will neither make nor break you when it comes to ultimately being successful. Additionally, if you step back and think about it rationally, each day you are encountering different items, specific nuances, varying levels of difficulty, and will have varying levels of mental energy and focus. You are not a machine, and you should not expect bar prep to be an assembly line process where everything looks the same at the end of each day.
“Success is not built on success. It’s built on failure. It’s built on frustration. Sometimes it’s built on catastrophe.”
~Sumner Redstone
Remember that bar exam preparation is not about being perfect and knowing everything. Bar exam preparation is about studying, putting forth the effort, and learning from your mistakes as you progress. In fact, making mistakes and learning from them is part of the path of progress.
What many people see as failure on any particular day is not that at all, but rather it is an opportunity to learn a nuance, uncover a misunderstanding, or gain an insight. It is an opportunity to see a literal red X in your bar prep programming now so that you can eventually get the proverbial green light of success notification from the Board of Bar Examiners later. This is a difficult time period, but it is one of opportunities that you have worked towards for years, and now is your time to shine. See each day as an opportunity to gain knowledge and set your sights on success.
I know that you can do this. Strive to learn something new each day and improve, dedicate your time to bar preparation, and treat yourself with kindness. You have been successful your entire life to arrive at this point, and you can continue to be successful moving forward. The bar exam is a difficult challenge, but it is an achievable goal for you to accomplish. You simply have to keep working hard and believing in yourself the way that I believe in you.
You can pass the bar exam! You’ve got this! Keep working hard and take advantage of each day on your journey to successfully becoming an attorney and receiving that celebratory news letting you know that you passed the bar exam!
Keep working hard and turn your dreams into reality!
The team continued to see more progress on the floors and ceilings this week. The classrooms, offices, and common areas are looking great. Construction is still on schedule and we look forward to welcoming students back to campus this fall.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Linda A. Klein, immediate past president of the American Bar Association and Shareholder at Baker Donelson, as an Advisor to the Board of Directors. Linda’s leadership experience and work at the American Bar Association, which is the largest voluntary professional association in the world, are welcomed assets to the team during this exciting time of growth.
Ms. Klein regularly counsels on business dispute prevention and resolution, contract law, risk and crisis management, media relations, ethics and governance. She is particularly experienced in advising the construction, pharmaceutical and higher education industries. She also advises lawyers, architects, accountants and other professionals at risk for large claims or their licenses.
Ms. Klein is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, Who’s Who in America and Chambers USA. She is regularly named to the Super Lawyers top 100 lawyers in Georgia. In 1998, following her term as the first woman to serve as president of the State Bar of Georgia, Georgia Trend Magazine named her one of the 100 most powerful and influential Georgians.
In the American Bar Association, she previously served as chair of the House of Delegates, the association’s policy making body. She has also served as chair of the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, and chair of ABA Day, the Association’s Congressional outreach effort. She is a recent member of the Council of the ABA Section of International Law and also serves as a columnist Law Practice Management Magazine. In 2013 Ms. Klein had the honor of being a McGlothlin fellow on the campuses of William and Mary’s Business and Law Schools. She delivered the commencement addresses at Georgia State University College of Law (2017), Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (2017), Pepperdine University School of Law (2016), Washington and Lee University School of Law (2012), and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (2018). In 2009, Ms. Klein was honored with the Randolph Thrower Award for Lifetime Achievement and was named to the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers. In 2004, the American Bar Association honored Ms. Klein with the prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award.
She currently serves on the executive committee of the Buckhead Coalition, on the advisory boards of Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. She is a past president of Southface Energy Institute, the Board of Directors’ Network, (now On Board), the Caucus of State Bars, and past chair of both the Institute for Continuing Legal Education in Georgia and the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. She also served a six-year term on Baker Donelson’s Board of Directors.
Ms. Klein has authored numerous published works. Her lecture schedule has included presentations in France, Sweden, Spain, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Croatia, Poland, and Canada, but most extensively in the southeast United States. She is a member of the American Law Institute, and a mediator and arbitrator, frequently serving as a neutral as well as a client advocate.
Linda joins the following members of the Board of Directors:
Dr. Michael C. Markovitz, Ph.D.
Chairman
Dean Frank T. Read
Vice Chairman
President & Dean Emeritus, South Texas College of Law
Kwaku C. George (KC)
Director, National Development Council
Honorable Carol W. Hunstein
Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia
Adam Malone
Partner, Malone Law
Patrise M. Perkins-Hooker
County Attorney, Fulton County, Georgia
Kevin Ross
President, Kevin Ross Public Affairs Group LLC
Dean James P. White
Consultant Emeritus, Section of Legal Education & Admission to the Bar, American Bar Association
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) congratulates rising 2L, Ashley Starnes, who was awarded a summer judicial internship from the Georgia Latino Law Foundation (GLLF). Ashley will be completing her summer internship with the Honorable Judge Joe C. Bishop of the Pataula Circuit.
As part of its commitment to supporting Latino law students in their search for the career they want, each year, the GLLF provides connections to the bench through its judicial internship program.
Ashley helped us learn a bit more about herself with the interview below.
What led you to pursue a career in law?
“I wanted to pursue a career in law in order to be part of this country’s judicial system and try to improve the areas where that system may fail.”
Why AJMLS?
“I went to Georgia Tech and knew I did not want to leave Atlanta. AJMLS offered me a wonderful scholarship and a chance to pursue my dreams in the city I love. It was a no-brainer!”
What does the future look like for you after graduation?
“I hope to land a clerkship with a federal judge after I graduate and have dreams of opening my own general practice firm one day.”
What will you be doing this summer with your internship?
“This summer, I am interning for the Honorable Judge Joe C. Bishop of the Pataula Circuit. He is a wonderful mentor. I am excited to learn about all different areas of law, practice my memo and order writing, and experience the courtroom with a Judge’s eyes!”
Who inspires you?
“I am inspired by my family. They have always supported me through tough times and instilled values of community, compassion, and diligence. They are the reason I strive for success today.”
Congratulations again, Ashley, we hope you have a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you again in the fall.
In addition to the standard weekly photos from the construction site visit, the library staff helped give us some library specific images. The study rooms are looking great!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to continue its Employee of the Month Program. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The May 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Scot Goins, Director of Academic Achievement and Bar Success.
Prior to joining Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in September 2020, Scot worked as a Regional Director for Kaplan Bar Review, but his experience ranges from working at a big New York law firm, to teaching business law, and includes building several successful startups from the ground up. He started his career at AJMLS as the Director of the Office of Academic Achievement and Bar Success, where he focuses on student service, utilizing data analytics for programming outcomes, and most importantly, the success of students. He is of the firm belief that the bar exam, like law school, should be a stepping stone on the path to being an impactful attorney, and he strives daily to help students realize their dreams and potential. Scot is also the author of his department’s blog, Law School Brief.
Originally from Virginia, Scot enjoys mountain biking, hiking with his dog Lucy, and cheering for his undergraduate alma mater, the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He also enjoys spending time with his niece and nephew, Halona and Chayton, as well as traveling the world and exploring different cultures.
Scot joined the AJMLS family during the pandemic and has embraced his new position and continues to jump into more involvement, above and beyond what he is required. Scot consistently demonstrates a high degree of excellence, professionalism, and integrity in the performance of his duties and routinely shows a willingness to extend himself to help others at AJMLS. We are very fortunate to have Scot on our team!
Each week, we are blown away by the natural light that fills our new space. All the little details from signage to finishes are being solidified. We look forward to the weekly meetings to see all the progress… and never tire of seeing the grand spiral staircase.
The Law School is incredibly proud of its graduates. Your perseverance and resilience during this challenging time is a testament to your professionalism and work ethic. We look forward to following your careers and championing all your future successes.
Valedictorians
This award is given to the valedictorian from each of the school’s divisions (full-time and part-time).
Miriam Perfecto, part-time program
Undergraduate institution:
University of West Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My top favorite memories were when I was chosen as Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law Journal for the 2020-2021 year and when I found out I was Valedictorian.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My dream is to start my own law practice one day.
Morgan Eipper, full-time program
Undergraduate institution:
University at Buffalo
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Practicing for the 2020 Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition. Although I did not get to actually compete due to COVID, I found lifelong friendships during the countless weekends we spent practicing.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam, I would like to work for an international law firm or an international corporation as a business attorney.
Outstanding Graduate Awards
This award is given annually to one graduate in each of the school’s divisions (part-time and full-time) who best demonstrates standards of competence and professionalism, a strong social conscience, high ethical standards, and a commitment to the improvement of the legal system and society, as determined by the Faculty on recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee.
Morgan Eipper, full-time program
Undergraduate institution:
University at Buffalo
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Practicing for the 2020 Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition. Although I did not get to actually compete due to COVID, I found lifelong friendships during the countless weekends we spent practicing.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam, I would like to work for an international law firm or an international corporation as a business attorney.
Tessa Martin, full-time program
Undergraduate School:
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio
Favorite AJMLS Memory:
Getting appointed Managing Editor of Law Review and working with my fellow colleagues on Law Review. Our virtual meetings during Covid were fun and we always helped motivate and push each other.
Plans after bar exam:
I am excited to practice in the field of family law and personal injury. My goal is to be an excellent litigator and advocate for my clients.
Ashley S. Lewis, part-time program
Undergraduate institution:
Benedict College (Columbia, SC) and University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) for Paralegal Certificate
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (Specifically 2018)- This was a dinner to remember, I was able to help decorate the student lounge and students, faculty, and staff were able to drop-in for a hearty dinner. The food was delicious and the love that was spread reminded me of my very own family thanksgiving. I am happy that AJMLS is now a part of my extended family! I will never forget the joy and support the school has provided me over the past four years!
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My future aspiration is to become a corporate finance and securities attorney. However, I want to always ensure I am giving back to the community in which I live, whether through pro bono or community service efforts. One of my favorite organizations is the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (i.e. AVLF).
Promiss Yvonne Yarber, part-time program
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia Southern University
Favorite AJMLS Memory:
I believe that I have too many fond memories and am unable to pick just one. From attending events, to serving on the SBA Executive Board, to creating lost lasting friendships, I would not trade my experience at this school for anything in the world. It has been one of the most fulfilling time periods in my life.
Plans/ dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam I hope to begin a career as a closing attorney. I also hope to engage in pro bono services and one day create a scholarship fund to give back to AJMLS students.
Matthew James Repella, part-time program
Miriam Perfecto, part-time program
Undergraduate institution:
University of West Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My top favorite memories were when I was chosen as Editor-in-Chief of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law Journal for the 2020-2021 year and when I found out I was Valedictorian.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My dream is to start my own law practice one day.
Megan Maloney Sale, part-time program
Undergraduate institution:
University of Georgia
Favorite AJMLS memory:
I have many favorite memories, but the most special is becoming great friends with the night students. What an amazing atmosphere the school creates for those of us that are traveling through law school on the less beaten path.
Plans after the bar exam:
After the passing the bar exam I will be joining a corporation as in-house counsel. I hope to give back to the AJMLS community as much as the AJMLS community has given to me over the past four years. What an honor and a privilege to attend AJMLS.
Excellence In Appellate Advocacy
This award is given to the outstanding student participant on a John Marshall Law School moot court competition team.
Mandira Sethi
Undergraduate institution:
Emory University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Picking one AJMLS memory is so difficult for me, as I had so many that truly shaped me into the person I am today. The first would be in my 1L year, being cold-called in Professor Van Detta’s Contracts class, to this day, I still remember the terrifying feeling. I remember fumbling through the hypo, but in that moment things changed. That day I gained a mentor for life, what I learned from Professor Van Detta is something I will never be able to fully describe into words. It is a memory I will cherish forever.
My second would be competing in the Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition and becoming Chair of the Moot Court Advocacy. Moot Court is an invaluable experience to all students, it helps us perfect our oral and legal writing skills.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
Ten years ago, I started my path in immigration law as a paralegal with the goal of helping immigrants, like myself, come to this country and pursue their dreams. Now, as an Immigration Attorney, I hope to give back to the community.
Zachary Warfel
Undergraduate institution:
Kennesaw State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Spending hours in the library studying just to get a C+ on a final.
Plans/dreams after the bar:
I plan to work at Wakhisi-Douglas and hopefully make a lot of money.
Excellence in Pro Bono
This award is given to those students whose pro bono hours are among the top 10% earned in the graduating class. This award is not merit-based.
Morgan Eipper
Undergraduate institution:
University at Buffalo
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Practicing for the 2020 Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition. Although I did not get to actually compete due to COVID, I found lifelong friendships during the countless weekends we spent practicing.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam, I would like to work for an international law firm or an international corporation as a business attorney.
Ashley S. Lewis
Undergraduate institution:
Benedict College (Columbia, SC) and University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) for Paralegal Certificate
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner (Specifically 2018)- This was a dinner to remember, I was able to help decorate the student lounge and students, faculty, and staff were able to drop-in for a hearty dinner. The food was delicious and the love that was spread reminded me of my very own family thanksgiving. I am happy that AJMLS is now a part of my extended family! I will never forget the joy and support the school has provided me over the past four years!
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
My future aspiration is to become a corporate finance and securities attorney. However, I want to always ensure I am giving back to the community in which I live, whether through pro bono or community service efforts. One of my favorite organizations is the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (i.e. AVLF).
Tyler White
Stacy Williams
Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award
This award is given to a woman from each Georgia law school based on academic accomplishments and contributions to women’s issues.
Brittany Lenoch
Undergraduate institution:
Kennesaw State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Earning top appellee oralist in Professor Dalton’s legal writing class and a position on moot court
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I’ve accepted an offer to work for a small criminal defense firm that I’ve interned for since 2015. I plan to primarily practice criminal defense, but also hope to work on juvenile and family law matters.
Edward J. Henning Award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution
This award is given to an outstanding ADR student at each of the state’s five ABA-accredited law schools. These awards are given in memory of Ed Henning, one of the “founding fathers” of mediation in Georgia.
Damilola Elizabeth Olatunde
Undergraduate Institution:
Georgia Southern University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
I have lots of wonderful memories. One memory that left an imprint on me was during my first year of law school. I was struggling and finding it hard to adjust to law school. It was my first time answering a question correctly in Professor Van Detta’s contract class. Disclaimer: It can be a little difficult to give a completely correct answer. But this event made me feel like I could make it through law school.
Plans/dreams after the bar:
Take a break, travel, look for a job and continue working on my organization for orphans in Nigeria.
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award
The Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears Pro Bono Award is given to the graduate whose pro bono work has demonstrated outstanding commitment to legal services for underserved communities and their work was impactful.
Yvette Hill
Undergraduate institution:
Morgan State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
I have several invaluable memories at AJMLS, but my favorite is working in the school’s business office as a receptionist. It afforded me the opportunity to build priceless, lifelong relationships with John Marshall staff, faculty, and students.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I have been working with the Clayton County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender under the Third Year Student Practice Act since January 2020. As a result, I have been offered (and I have accepted) a permanent position upon passing the bar. My ultimate goal is to continue working as a Criminal Defense Attorney, and to possibly become a Civil Rights Attorney.
National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Law Student Award
This award is given to a third-year law student who who best exemplifies the following characteristics:
Contributes to the advancement of women in society
Promotes issues and concerns of women in the legal profession
Exhibits motivation, tenacity, and enthusiasm
Demonstrates high academic achievement
Earns the respect of the faculty and administration
Kristian Postma
Undergraduate Institution:
North Georgia College & State University
Favorite AJMLS Memory:
My favorite memory from AJMLS is getting to know my professors. On one particular emotionally challenging day, Professor Baker sat with me and shared his wisdom about not losing yourself or your perspective during law school. I made it a point from that moment on to remind myself daily of my true purpose and to exercise some grace! Also, the friends I made during my law school career are INVALUABLE.
Plans/dreams after the bar:
After the bar, I will be a Staff Attorney with the State Court of Cherokee County.
Pro Bono Distinction
This distinction is given to students who have completed 75 hours or more of pro bono work during their law school career.
Yvette Hill
Undergraduate institution:
Morgan State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
I have several invaluable memories at AJMLS, but my favorite is working in the school’s business office as a receptionist. It afforded me the opportunity to build priceless, lifelong relationships with John Marshall staff, faculty, and students.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
I have been working with the Clayton County Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender under the Third Year Student Practice Act since January 2020. As a result, I have been offered (and I have accepted) a permanent position upon passing the bar. My ultimate goal is to continue working as a Criminal Defense Attorney, and to possibly become a Civil Rights Attorney.
Order of Quill
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Order of the Quill (“Order”) is an honor society that recognizes significant academic achievement in designated required doctrinal courses (“Quill” courses). Students who achieve the required cumulative grade point average in the Quill courses will be eligible for admission into the Order. Members of the Order shall receive certificates of membership and be recognized at graduation.
Charles Carr, Scholar
Undergraduate institution:
Georgia State University
Favorite AJMLS memory:
My favorite memory at John Marshall is debating and arguing about cases in professor Rapping’s criminal justice classes. I learned a lot about criminal law and procedure, but I also learned about how the criminal justice system works and what to expect and watch out for in the courtroom.
Plans/Dreams after the bar exam:
I plan on working as a prosecutor in either the District Attorney or Solicitor General’s office.
Morgan Eipper, Honor Scholar and Marshall of the Order
Undergraduate institution:
University at Buffalo
Favorite AJMLS memory:
Practicing for the 2020 Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition. Although I did not get to actually compete due to COVID, I found lifelong friendships during the countless weekends we spent practicing.
Plans/dreams after the bar exam:
After the bar exam, I would like to work for an international law firm or an international corporation as a business attorney.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to continue its Employee of the Month Program. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The April 2021 Employee of the Month recipient is Hilary Waldo, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications.
Prior to joining the Law School in February 2012, Hilary worked as an Account Executive at the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and previously as the Marketing and Events Coordinator at Solutions Bridal. She started her career at the Law School as the Director of Meeting and Conference Services managing the Blackburn Conference Center and miscellaneous Law School events. Having both a marketing and events background, she gravitated towards more marketing-themed projects and transitioned to the Admissions team as the marketing lead in 2013.
Originally from Florida, Hilary enjoys the sunshine and cheering for her alma mater, the Florida Gators. Outside of AJMLS, she loves spending time with her husband and college sweetheart, Austin (AJMLS ’14), and her kids, Claire (4), and Calvin (2). Also in her free time, she maintains an unrequited relationship with plants and gardening, and a mutual love with cooking. She often buys orchids or other unsuspecting high maintenance plants with reckless abandon.
Hilary is an awesome member of the team. She is positive, flexible, always makes herself available, and has strong communication skills. We are very fortunate to have her on our team!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) 1L, Shannan Young, PharmD, MBA, was recently awarded the Alan Rumph Memorial Fellowship for her summer internship with the Georgia Department of Community Health and also the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The fellowship is awarded annually to commemorate the life of Alan H. Rumph, an exceptional healthcare attorney who served the Georgia Bar Health Law Section and the Georgia Bar in an exemplary fashion as a trusted advisor, friend, and mentor.
Young is a part-time evening student who earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from the University of West Georgia, her Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from American Intercontinental University, then her Doctorate of Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She also served in the U.S. Army Reserves for eight years as a healthcare sergeant/combat medic. After practicing as a staff pharmacist, then surgical pharmacist in Atlanta, she opened her own pharmacy consulting group, Varxiant Consulting LLC, which she continues to lead as the Chief Pharmacist while attending Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
At AJMLS, Shannan is in the top 5% of her class and on the Dean’s List after her first year of study, was named an Outstanding Student of the Quarter for Fall 2020, and earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award® for Contracts in her first semester of law school. She is also the Student Bar Association 1L Class Representative, a Diversity and Inclusion Student Committee Member, Barbri Representative, Southern Regional Black Law Student Association Social Action Director, American Bar Association Student Liaison – Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health IG, Gate City Bar Student Member, and Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Student Member.
Shannan engaged in answering a number of questions for us to help our community get to know her and her journey better.
What led you to change careers?
“Most of my career decisions were the result of me responding to a need or a cause that directly impacted someone I cared about, I call it my hero’s journey. My personal trek into unknown territory to retrieve something that my family or I needed. Each new adventure planted the seeds for this next adventure. Additionally, having taken all of the adventures that I have, I have often noticed that the people that make decisions are very far removed from the processes that they control. As a result I feel that it is my duty to speak up having witnessed health inequity and systemic racism not only as a minority, as a woman, as a soldier, as a patient, as a family member of a patient who was mistreated by the healthcare system, as a healthcare provider, and soon as an attorney.”
Why AJMLS?
“AJMLS offered a flexible program that worked with my schedule as a consultant pharmacist.”
How do you balance work and law school?
Once I figure that out, I will let you know. Honestly as hard as law school is, the demand of it is a lot like my life as a multi passionate adult outside of school. I have always had a tendency to take on a lot of things at once and oddly enough I feel like I do best when I am running around like a chicken with its head off. One thing that I can say helps me is that outside of reading my textbook and reviewing my class notes, I listen to the Barbri lectures whenever I am in my car, I think the repetition helps me. Other than that I try to write everything down so I can keep track of all the things I need to do and I constantly tell myself that I can, I will, and I must see this through.
What does the future look like for you after graduation?
I don’t know exactly but I am optimistic. My goal is to be at the decision-making table relying on my acquired knowledge, my experiences, and my personal connection to the realities of my community to make meaningful change as it pertains to the health and welfare of minorities and other disenfranchised groups.
What will you be doing this summer with your internship?
A little bit of everything! This summer I will be splitting my summer between the Department of Community Health and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. I am primarily hoping to get some insight into policy approaches to address health disparities and the development/implementation of policy at a local and state level. Additionally, I have been asked by two different law firms to assist on independent projects so I am excited about that especially because it will give me some exposure to state and federal litigation.
Who inspires you?
I am forever inspired by all the minorities and all the women that have paved the way for me to be able to do everything that I have done and will do in the future. I am also forever inspired by everyone who has been able to turn tragedy into triumph and to overcome adversity.
It is our pleasure to be a part of Shannan’s journey and we wish her all the best in her internships this summer. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
On Saturday, May 22, 2021, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) presented The Distinguished Alumni Award to two incredible alumni at the 2021 commencement ceremony. This year’s honorees are Judge Angela Duncan, Class of 1996, and Corey Martin, Class of 2009. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to alumni who have obtained distinction in their professional careers. Those honored share the same characteristics of leadership, progressive thinking, high standards, uncompromising integrity, commitment, courage, and confidence. Their careers serve as models for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School students and alumni.
Honorable Angela Duncan
Angela D. Duncan is the newest Superior Court Judge in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit and was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from North Georgia College and served in the U.S. Army Reserves from March 1987 to March 1995 as a light-weight vehicle mechanic.
She later attended Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School part-time attending both day and night classes while also maintaining a full-time job. Throughout her study, she sought to experience different areas of law by working at a different firm each year of law school. She learned every aspect of private firms, from working in the file room to becoming a law librarian assistant and court runner. She also experienced many different law practices prior to graduation, from labor law and appellate work to personal injury and criminal defense.
While continuing her practice, Judge Duncan served as a Judge in the Cities of Chamblee, Snellville, Doraville, and Norcross Municipal Courts and as a part-time Judge for the Magistrate Court in Gwinnett County before she was appointed as a full-time Magistrate Court Judge in 2016. She was the Chief Judge in the City of Chamblee when Governor Kemp appointed her to the Superior Court bench.
Judge Duncan’s passion for service is not just reserved for the legal system in Gwinnett County. When she is not presiding over court proceedings she can be found out in the community participating in one of the many outreach programs she is a member of, including the Veterans Resource Center and serving as a board member for Gold Star Monument.
Corey Martin
Corey Martin is the Founder and Managing Partner at The Law Offices of Martin & Associates located in Douglasville, Georgia. His law practice focuses on Criminal Defense, Immigration and Personal Injury. He is a Senior Adviser for Martin Financial Solutions and Counsel for J&A Sports Management. He graduated with Honors in 2009 from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and received his undergraduate Math Degree from Excelsior College. While in law school Corey externed with the IRS, Douglas County Solicitor General’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security- Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Corey is an eight (8) year military veteran and is the Supervising Attorney of AJMLS’, Veterans Legal Clinic located at Fort McPherson, Georgia. The Legal Clinic represents veterans free of charge in misdemeanor criminal cases throughout the State of Georgia. He is an active member of the AJMLS Alumni Board and frequently volunteers to help students prepare for the legal field.
Corey is a 2020 Daily Report Distinguished Leaders Award Honoree and the recipient of the 2020 State Bar of Georgia, William B. Spann Jr. Award. He is also a Douglas County Partner in Education, a Douglas County Juvenile Court Administrative Council Member, a Match Mentor, a Partner of Fundacion Voces Unidas and a member of several Boards.
Weekly update from the site team. Dean Jace C. Gatewood and administrators meet with the designers on-site to review progress and work through challenges. Renovating a state-of-the-art campus facility in a pandemic is no small feat.
The front desk area will welcome current and future students into their law school. You’ll find screens on the walls listing upcoming campus events and a law school directory.
On Saturday, April 24, 2021, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) sponsored and participated in the 14th annual Youth and the Law Summit. The 2021 summit was successfully held virtually due to COVID-19.
Under the leadership of Dr. Bridgett Ortega, Associate Dean of Career Services and Professional Development, Mr. Paul Wilson and ten AJMLS students volunteered to help support the first-ever virtual Youth and the Law Summit led by Judge Renata Turner and the Juvenile Court of Fulton County. Judge Turner is a long-time friend of the Law School and previously served as its Assistant Dean of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning. This year’s event, titled “Dreams 2 Reality”, was co-chaired by Darrick McDuffie, senior counsel at Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP, and Dr. Bridgett Ortega.
The Youth and the Law Summit is an annual event that focuses on providing meaningful and impactful education and support to teens and parents on a variety of life and legal issues. This year, the summit was organized into breakout rooms where parents and teens could attend interactive sessions with top professionals and ask questions in small groups. Each AJMLS volunteer was tasked to assist in each room along with several other administrative tasks that helped the summit be successful and have over 100 participants.
Many organizations helped support this effort and AJMLS is proud to be a part of such a great group. AJMLS stands true to its commitment to the community and looks forward to helping again next year!
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce Judge Angela Duncan, Class of 1996, as the Law School’s 2021 commencement speaker. Commencement exercises are scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on May 22, 2021 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Atrium Ballroom – 265 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303. A live stream of the ceremony will be made available at www.johnmarshall.edu. Due to a cancelled event in 2020, this year’s commencement welcomes graduates who finished their degree December 2019 through May 2021.
“I am honored that Judge Duncan accepted our invitation to be this year’s commencement speaker. Her background and rise to the top of the legal profession are emblematic of the quality of legal professional Atlanta’s John Marshall Law strives to create. We are truly proud of her success.”
– Dean Jace C. Gatewood
About Judge Angela Duncan
Judge Angela Duncan was appointed the 11th Superior Court Judge for Gwinnett County in 2019. Gwinnett County is Georgia’s second largest county and this position was created by Governor Brian Kemp to assist in the increasing caseload. Duncan was Gwinnett’s first openly gay Superior Court judge as she joins a handful of other officials who are members of the LGBTQ community and hold high profile positions in the county.
Judge Duncan has worked as a Gwinnett County Magistrate Court judge for the past 15 years and was the chief judge for the city of Chamblee’s municipal court at the time of her appointment. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from North Georgia College and served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1987 to 1995.
Duncan attended AJMLS part-time attending both day and night classes while also maintaining a full time job. Throughout her study, she sought to experience different areas of law by working at a different firm each year of law school. She learned every aspect of private firms, from working in the file room to becoming a law librarian assistant and court runner. She also experienced many different law practices prior to graduation, from labor law and appellate work to personal injury and criminal defense.
It was during her third year of study, and work at the former Gambrell and Stolz, that her interest was piqued in serving on the bench. Irwin W. Stolz, Jr., who served on the Georgia Court of Appeals from 1972-1977, was an excellent mentor and teacher during her employment at the firm.
When asked what it meant to return to her alma mater in this capacity, she said,
“It is an honor to be asked to come back and be the 2021 Commencement Speaker. Never did I believe as I gave my sweat and tears to the halls of AJMLS that I would receive this honor. It is amazing to see how AJMLS has grown over the years since I have graduated. I am so proud of what the school and its alumni have accomplished over the years.”
– Judge Angela Duncan
Tickets are required for entry and the ticket window has closed. For general information you can visit our graduation page here and/or our logistics page here for further details.
It’s exciting to see the classrooms and offices take shape and to see the once empty space turn into a law school. Skilled attorneys will walk these halls.
The Office of Student Affairs is pleased to announce the names of the students who were selected for the Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award. This award is designed to recognize the contributions and efforts of students who excel in and/or out of the classroom and are dedicated to enriching the law school and greater communities.
The following students won the 2021 Outstanding Student of the Quarter Award for this quarter:
Full-Time Division:
Meredith Shea
Kamali Thompson
Jason Warren
Part-Time Division:
Lauren Boffill
Whitnie Carter
Jazmin Dilligard
Jessica Jones
The Selection Committee was impressed by all of the students whose names were submitted for the award. We look forward to continuing to hear about the hard work of our students in and out of the classroom. We are #AJMLSproud!
In Part One of this series on Advance Bar Prep, we discussed the importance of “Understanding Your Why” to help you maintain motivation, to encourage daily success efforts, and to help you avoid creating mental barriers to your own success. Part Two of this series will discuss another oft overlooked component of bar exam success, “Friends and Family.”
If you step back and think about your life on any particular day, you will quickly realize that other people and your interactions with them play a big role in your day. Positive interactions can lift you up and inspire, and alternatively, negative interaction can drag you down and demotivate you. It makes sense that if your normal daily life can be positively and negatively impacted by others, if you then add bar exam study and stress into that mix, these interactions will have increased weight. A positive interaction can lift you up when you feel like you cannot possibly watch another video, do another practice question, or read one more outline. On the other hand, a negative interaction can distract you from your work, make you question how you are balancing your life, and lead to feelings of frustration and guilt. It makes sense to think about your relationships early.
Obviously, despite the beginning of your bar preparation, you will still interact with other people and be impacted by them. The key to enhancing the positivity and supportive nature of these interactions, while simultaneously minimizing any negativity, frustration, and guilt, is to do some early preparation. By having conversations with your friends and family about your journey and the time requirements of your studies, setting aside time in advance to spend with them, and managing others’ expectations of your time and availability, you can save yourself stress and frustration down the road. Here are three tips to help you be successful on the bar exam by actively managing your relationships in a way that supports your success.
1. Let your friends and family know what you are doing.
This may sound obvious, but taking the time to communicate with your friends and family about what you will be doing from graduation until you take the bar exam can help you avoid a lot of pitfalls down the road. Although it may seem like everyone should understand that you will be busy studying as you prepare for the challenges of the bar exam, the truth of the matter is that anyone who hasn’t engaged in such a rigorous undertaking may not understand why you need to spend so many hours every single day studying. It may seem instead that you are neglecting them, have poor time management, or that they are just not your priority. If you take the time in advance to discuss what your daily schedule will be like, let them know a timeline, and ask them for their patience before you begin your studies, you will potentially avoid a lot of problems and stress down the road.
2. Make your friends and family a part of your weekly schedule.
Generally, the importance of time management during bar prep is understood, and ensuring that you have time to watch lectures, review your notes and outlines, engage in practice questions, write essays, and other important things is simply a matter of assigning a time and day to them. This process is important as it helps you stay on the right track to success, but it is equally important to schedule time to spend with friends and family as well. Bar prep is time consuming and intensive, but it should not encompass every hour of every single day. Instead, treat it like a job, and when you are not working, make time to reconnect with friends and spend time with family. This will not only help you maintain positive relationships, but it will help keep you healthy, supported, and balanced as you engage in the rigors of preparing for the bar exam. If you get in the habit of scheduling and valuing others’ time before you start prepping for the bar exam, you will find that it is much easier to continue that habit during your prep.
3. Remember that other people have lives outside of bar prep.
This is one of those things that makes sense when you stop and think about it, but is not so easy to keep in mind when you are preparing for perhaps the most important test of your life. If you think back to the beginning of law school, you will likely remember a sense of disconnect with those who were not in law school because of how embedded you were in the process of legal education. No one outside of law school understood the perils and fears associated with the Socratic method, why you feared losing a highlighter, or why the letters IRAC made you cringe. The bar exam process is the same while you are in the middle of it for you, but it is also the same for those that are outside looking in at you. Just as they may not understand what you are going through, try to keep in mind that you may not understand what they are going through as someone who supports you and cares about you, and try to be open to communication and also inquiring about things that are not related to bar prep. Not only will it give you a nice break, but it will also help ensure that you stay connected with the people that matter most. Make sure that you actively engage with others before you begin your process, and it will be easier to maintain that communication and stay engaged during your preparation.
The aforementioned things are important for your mental and emotional well-being, but they will also help you on the exam. One of the most common refrains I hear from bar exam takers is about how lonely the process is, and how cut-off they feel from friends and family. If you actively engage in the aforementioned before (and during) your bar prep, you will find yourself better prepared and better able to handle the stress and rigors of the process.
In Part Three of this series, we will take a look at how you can “Make Your Commercial Course a Success Before Day One” and discuss a variety of ways that you can ensure you hit the ground running when your commercial course starts.
The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) Office of Experiential Learning & Pro Bono Programs is proud to announce that Yvette Hill, Class of 2021, has helped coach her team participating in the Young Litigators Project (YLP) to victory two years in a row!
Each year, AJMLS students participate in the Young Litigators Project run by Soulstice, Inc. that recruits attorneys and law students to work with teams of high school and middle school students to educate them on the law and appellate procedures. More specifically, attorneys and law students help their teams understand fact patterns, how to analyze statutes and case law, how to write a brief, and prepare for an oral argument. On March 5, 2021, YLP hosted a Moot Court competition where each team, with the help of their coaches, presented their oral argument before a panel of judges and attorneys. All of the teams that participated did very well and competition was very strong. When the competition ended and results were announced, the team that Yvette helped coach would claim the top spot once again. Great job!
Thank you, Yvette, for your commitment to pro bono service and the community and a special thanks to everyone who participated, volunteered, and supported YLP this year. There is no contribution to this service that is too small.
The drywall install is progressing nicely this week. The rooms are really starting to take shape and outlines of classrooms, offices, and corridors are looking great.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is delighted to continue its Employee of the Month Program by celebrating TWO wonderful employees. The peer votes were tied this month so the celebration is twice as fun. AJMLS appreciates the efforts of its employees who strive to achieve goals and fulfill the vision of Atlanta’s John Marshall. Outstanding employees deserve to be recognized both as a reward for exceptional performance and as a model to others. The program seeks to recognize hard work and achievement in the workplace and is a peer-to-peer recognition program.
The March 2021 Employees of the Month are Hermelda Branford, Departmental Assistant and Rebecca Milter, Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment.
Hermelda Branford has been a seasonal or part-time employee with the Law School since 2012. Her many valuable roles support the staff from the office of the Registrar to the office of Financial Aid to the Faculty Administration during exam periods. She has been described as “collegial” and consistently dedicated to being present, almost daily, even during these unprecedented times. She greets you with a smile and is always willing to assist in any capacity that she can. Hermelda enjoys that the flexible schedule allows her to be available for her grandson who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.
“I have been fortunate to work under the direction of directors and administrators while building good rapport with everyone since 2012. I have acquired valuable skills and language of the law as well as picking additional responsibilities at every opportunity. I would be remiss if I didn’t express thanks to those who participated in my endeavor. Most of my support and gratitude goes to the office of the Registrar and the office of Financial Aid.”
– Hermelda Branford
Prior to Atlanta’s John Marshall Hermelda was an employee of Clark Atlanta University for fifteen years. There, she worked in the Division of Student Affairs as an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Student Center Management and later Assistant to the Dean of Students, and finally, Program Coordinator for the School of Social Work – Master Program in Academic Affairs.
Rebecca Milter has worked in the Office of Admissions since 2010, first joining the team as the Admissions Counselor and now serving as the Executive Director. Rebecca goes above and beyond, ensuring that all admitted students are excited and connected. She is dedicated not just to the incoming class, but to the school as a whole. She has remained dedicated and determined to bring in an incredible class, even during a pandemic! She is pleasant to work with and willing to help in other areas. When she’s not working, Rebecca enjoys spending quality time with her five-year old daughter, Eleanor Gray, and old english sheepdog, Sadie Sue.
“I love being apart of aspiring attorneys’ dreams. I have the unique opportunity to encounter students at the beginning of their journey. I find the greatest fulfillment in my role when I am able to watch those same graduates I counseled years prior, walk across the stage to receive their diploma. It is such a joy to know I played a part in making their dream a reality.”
– Rebecca Milter
Prior to joining the Admissions team at AJMLS, Rebecca lived in New York City and helped open Stella McCartney’s US public relations office, then worked at GUCCI on 5th Avenue in VIP client sales.
Congratulations to Hermelda and Rebecca! Thank you for all you do for Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and its students.
In part one of this series on advance bar prep planning, I want to discuss the importance of engaging in a thoughtful, purposeful approach at the beginning of the bar preparation process. Too often, recent law school graduates wait until the start date of their commercial bar prep course to engage in the bar preparation process, neglecting to engage in advance planning and then struggling with time management, motivation, anxiety, and an overwhelming sense of being behind. In this segment of the series, I want to introduce the first of four key components to successful advance planning in order to optimize your chances for being successful in your studies and passing the bar exam.
The first of these early planning components is ‘understanding your why.’
‘Understanding your why’ is a phrase that I utilize to assist students in preparing for the rigors of bar preparation. I truly believe that one of the reasons that students flounder and struggle with fatigue, self-doubt, frustration, and fear is because they lose sight of why they are participating in the process.
I’ll give you an example. Picture yourself watching a man in a suit pull up in a Tesla, jump out, and immediately dive into a dumpster. This behavior is perplexing on the surface, and you may find yourself pondering what in the world this gentleman is doing. However, if I told you that he accidentally threw his wallet away, along with his life savings that he was taking to a new bank, this behavior would quickly make sense. Understanding the man’s ‘why’ helped you understand what he was doing and his motivation for doing so.
However, many students forget to engage in this self-reflection before and during their bar prep process. Instead of thinking about everything that motivated them to be successful prior to the start of bar prep, many students instead think about the barriers between them and success, such as the long hours of study, the drudgery, essay writing practice, the possibility of failure, and a plethora of other unhelpful things. Not only does this not assist law school graduates in passing the bar exam, it actually demotivates them because they get too caught up in the day-to-day instead of focusing on the ‘why’ they are doing what they are doing. If you do not fully understand why you are doing something, it is hard to be motivated to engage in that activity for hours each and every day.
This then leads us to the question of how do we get students to successfully engage in changing their patterns and effectively engage in understanding their why?
“Stop rehearsing life’s failures. Use your beautiful imagination to visualize success.”
~Cheryl Richardson
As the above quote reflects, instead of getting caught in the mental trap of thinking about all of the barriers between you and success, let me encourage you to instead engage in the following mental exercise at least three times a day during the days leading up to the start of your bar preparation course, and to continue engaging in a similar manner daily during the bar prep process. As part of your daily schedule, I suggest that you perform the following mental exercise:
Take a deep breath and close your eyes. Think about every success that you have had that has led you to reaching this moment in time. Next, think about the most important people who sacrificed or assisted you in getting to this point. Then, imagine what it would be like to triumphantly tell those people about successfully passing the bar exam. Finally, try to feel your joy and happiness when you imagine receiving your passing score, and think about how proud you will be of your success.
Although this is a simple exercise, when performed regularly, it keeps you focused on several key things. It reminds you of your past success, and gives you confidence that you can be successful in the future. It helps you to appreciate where you are and how you got to the point in your life where you have the opportunity to realize your goals and become an attorney. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, picturing yourself being successful on the bar exam and sharing that moment with others is a powerful visualization technique that will instill confidence and motivate you.
Don’t believe me? Try engaging in that exercise now and write down how you feel afterwards. I think you will be pleasantly pleased. You will come to realize that you have a choice in how you approach bar prep, and that the coming months are not full of barriers to your success, but are instead paved with stepping stones on your path to achieving your goal of passing the bar exam.
Denis Waitley has a famous quote which sums it all up nicely, “When you visualize, you materialize.” Remember, you have the power to make your dreams a reality, and you control your journey to success. Put the work in, and you will succeed.
In the next part of this series, we will examine another often overlooked factor in bar success, ‘Friends and Family’. Until then, work hard, and remember to visualize daily to assist you in making your dreams of becoming an attorney a reality.
Weekly team site visit – excellent progress this week seeing the wall layouts and drywall ready for install. The floor to ceiling windows let in great natural light.