Category: CCJI News

On April 23, 2025, Professor Jonathan Rapping introduced Atlanta John Marshall Law School’s (AJMLS) new Criminal and Civil Justice Institute (CCJI) to a full house at Igniting Change 2025, Igniting Change is an annual event hosted by Gideon’s Promise to celebrate public defenders and inspire a legal community committed to equal justice to support lawyers doing critical work in the fight for our democracy. CCJI is a partnership between AJMLS, Gideon’s Promise, and the Barristers Society (TBS). As Professor Rapping shared at the event, the mission of CCJI is perfectly aligned with the work of Gideon’s Promise as both seek to develop a generation of passionate, skilled, and ethical lawyers to address a justice gap that denies our most vulnerable neighbors meaningful access to counsel and our courts.

Gideon’s Promise awarded its Community Impact Award to The Honorable Gino Brogdon, Sr. and its John R. Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to President Jimmy Carter. President Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, accepted the award. Jason carter reminded the audience of his grandfather’s famous 1978 Law Day speech when he said “[America is] over lawyered and underrepresented.”

This statement is as true today as it was fifty years ago. CCJI was launched to address this challenge.

AJMLS was well represented at the event. Attendees included members of the AJMLS Board of Directors, both the outgoing and incoming Deans, members of the law schools’ faculty, several accomplished AJMLS alumni, and more than a dozen student-volunteers who spent the evening networking with leaders in the Atlanta legal community.

You can visit the event photo gallery here.

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) proudly announces a groundbreaking partnership with Gideon’s Promise (GP) and The Barristers Society (TBS) to launch the Criminal and Civil Justice Institute (CCJI) at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. This initiative establishes an unprecedented collaboration between legal education and frontline advocacy to prepare the next generation of legal advocates – developing compassionate lawyers for everyday people.

The CCJI will serve as a dynamic hub in Atlanta, dedicated to equipping law students and early-career attorneys with the practical skills, values, and mentorship needed to make an immediate impact on local communities. With a mission to advance justice for the underserved, the institute aims to raise the standard of representation in criminal and civil cases while providing invaluable hands-on training to AJMLS students and alumni.

Through this partnership, the CCJI will connect AJMLS students with accomplished legal professionals—referred to as Law Partners—to participate in externships, internships, and mentorship programs. These experiences will bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice, fostering a pipeline of legal talent committed to advocating for justice in Atlanta and beyond. Additionally, all administrative and physical operations for Gideon’s Promise and The Barristers Society will be moving onsite to the Law School this year.

Dean Jace C. Gatewood, the driving force behind the multi-year effort to bring the CCJI to life, has long recognized the need to expand mentorship and immersive learning opportunities for all students. Reflecting on this initiative, Gatewood stated, “This program is truly one of a kind, setting a new standard in legal education. We are proud to lead the way in preparing the next generation of highly skilled and ethical professionals.”

AJMLS, with its legacy of empowering both traditional and non-traditional law students, joins forces with GP, a trailblazer in transforming public defense to ensure equal justice for all, and TBS, an organization dedicated to educating and developing attorneys who are conscious of the various disparities facing their potential clients. Together, they form a partnership that not only addresses the urgent need for high-quality legal representation but also redefines the way future lawyers are trained.

Atlanta Attorney Sam Starks, the founder and President of TBS, will serve as the Executive Director of the CCJI, and will be primarily responsible for identifying and selecting the Law Partners who will volunteer to assist in managing and operating the CCJI. Starks notes, “Equal justice is an aspiration that has never been fulfilled. Through the CCJI, we have a unique opportunity to bring together lawyers who fight for the promise of equal justice everyday with law students who want to join this effort.”

The CCJI will also host workshops, seminars, and continuing legal education programs designed to benefit both students and practicing attorneys, particularly those working in solo or small-firm practices. Additionally, CCJI will provide mentorship and career counseling to AJMLS students and alumni, creating a sustainable support system for legal professionals.

Jonathan Rapping, the founder of Gideon’s Promise, as well as Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program at AJMLS, will serve as the Faculty Director of the CCJI and will work in partnership with Sam Starks to operate the CCJI. Rapping concludes, “AJMLS has long enjoyed a reputation for preparing practice-ready lawyers to represent people who lack access to justice. Through the CCJI we can continue to develop future lawyers with exceptional legal skills, driven by justice-centered lawyering values, and connect them with a network of professionals to serve as mentors. Students will forge a professional identity aligned with their purpose for coming to law school.”

The Criminal and Civil Justice Institute at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School embodies a shared vision for a legal system that delivers just outcomes for all. This innovative partnership marks a transformative moment in legal education and advocacy, setting a new standard for collaboration and impact.

About Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS)
Founded in 1933, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School is dedicated to providing a high-quality legal education to traditional and non-traditional students. With a commitment to academic excellence and community engagement, AJMLS prepares its students to become ethical and skilled advocates who make meaningful contributions to the legal profession. The Law School offers multiple programs: full-time J.D., part-time day J.D., part-time evening J.D., and a co-enrollment option for a Certificate in Criminal Justice. The Criminal and Civil Justice Institute at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and the Criminal Justice Certificate Program at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School are separate but complementary programs.

About Gideon’s Promise (GP)
Gideon’s Promise is a national non-profit organization revolutionizing public defense by building a movement of passionate and capable public defenders. GP empowers attorneys to provide zealous advocacy and drive systemic change within the criminal justice system.

About The Barristers Society (TBS)
The Barristers Society is committed to mentoring and training legal advocates who address the barriers to justice of their clients and various communities. Through innovative programming, TBS develops attorneys who champion justice and equality.

On February 7-9, 2025, more than two dozen Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) students volunteered to participate in several workshops at the Gideon’s Promise 2025 Trainer Development Conference, hosted at AJMLS. The students were assigned a variety of assignments designed to help them work on skills, professionalism, and ethics. As they presented in small-group settings, they were coached by seasoned public defender trainers from across the nation. As our students helped these defenders become more effective trainers and mentors to the teams they supervise, they learned critical lawyering lessons and engaged in invaluable networking opportunities.

Dean Jace C. Gatewood kicked off the weekend by thanking participating defender leaders for investing several days to improve the administration of justice in the places where they work. He also expressed gratitude for the investment they would make in helping our students become better, practice-ready lawyers.

The students found the experience to be incredibly rewarding. One student shared:

“Thank you again for an invaluable experience with Gideon’s Promise Trainer Development. This program has bridged the gap between my law classes and my need for practical experience. This program is needed on a more consistent basis to bring the practical skills and guidance that law students need.”

Another added:

“The hands-on training, the confidence building feedback, and the group support, made every session significant. As strenuous as our work schedules can be, this was a weekend well spent. I truly look forward to volunteering again.”

And:

“The Discovery Cross session taught me the huge difference between preparing for a trial cross examination and a preliminary hearing cross examination. The “funnel method” is hands down the most invaluable tool for information gathering and locking in testimony in the early stages of a case. . . . The closing argument session was invigorating and extremely helpful. I have never felt more prepared to further a career as a professional client advocate.”

You can watch student testimonials here from Kendall (2L), Donte (3L), and MORE!

This annual program is one of many opportunities we look forward to offering our students through the Criminal and Civil Justice Institute as they prepare to serve people who have historically been deprived access to justice and help our profession live up to its promise of equal justice.

AJMLS Student volunteers gather with experienced public defender trainers and supervisors from across the nation as they work together to learn skills to raise the standard of justice where it is most needed.