Vickie S. Carlton
Associate Professor of Law
vcarlton@johnmarshall.eduEducation
B.A., The University of Alabama, 1994
J.D., Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, 2003
Courses Taught
Civil Procedure, Real Property, Trust, Wills & Estates, Real Estate Closings & Title Law
Career Highlights
Professor Vickie S. Carlton is an Associate Professor of Law at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, where she teaches Civil Procedure, Real Property, Trusts, Wills & Estates, and Real Estate Closings & Title Law. Recognized for her innovative and practice-centered approach to legal education, Professor Carlton is committed to preparing students not only to understand the law but to practice it with confidence, professionalism, and integrity.
Professor Carlton returned to Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2022 after previously serving on the full-time faculty from 2011 to 2014. During her academic career, she has taught a broad range of courses including Civil Procedure, Property, Trusts, Wills & Estates, Remedies, Contract Drafting, Advanced Negotiations, Professional and Academic Success Seminar, Advanced Bar Studies, and Advanced Analytical Methods. She also previously served as an Academic Counselor and later as a Visiting Associate Professor at Savannah Law School.
A hallmark of Professor Carlton’s teaching is her commitment to experiential learning. Her courses immerse students in realistic law practice through simulations, collaborative law firm exercises, drafting assignments, client counseling, oral advocacy, negotiation, and professional problem-solving. Her nationally distinctive Civil Procedure litigation simulation guides students through every stage of a civil lawsuit—from client interviews and pleadings to discovery, depositions, motion practice, and case management—allowing students to develop practical litigation skills while mastering the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
In Property, Professor Carlton integrates traditional doctrinal instruction with contemporary legal issues, encouraging students to critically examine the historical development of property rights, housing policy, and the intersection of property law and social justice.
In Trusts, Wills & Estates, she combines doctrine with hands-on estate planning. Students draft comprehensive estate plans—including wills, trusts, and advance directives—and execute those documents in class while learning the practical requirements of legal practice. She also co-created the Student Probate Immersive Court Experience (SPICE) in collaboration with the Fulton County Probate Court, providing students with opportunities to observe probate proceedings, tour the courthouse, and participate in internship opportunities that connect classroom instruction with real-world legal practice.
Professor Carlton also developed and teaches Real Estate Closings & Title Law, an innovative practice-based course designed to prepare graduates to become residential real estate closing attorneys immediately upon graduation. The course follows the complete lifecycle of a Georgia residential real estate transaction—from contract through post-closing—and provides practical instruction in title examination, title insurance, lender representation, settlement procedures, ethical obligations, closing documentation, and post-closing responsibilities. Through realistic simulations and transactional exercises, students develop the knowledge and practical skills required to successfully represent buyers, sellers, lenders, and title insurers in residential real estate transactions.
Professor Carlton is widely recognized by students for her accessibility and mentorship. She maintains an open-door philosophy, mentoring students throughout law school and beyond graduation. She regularly assists students with career planning, scholarship opportunities, judicial clerkships, internships, and employment placement by connecting them with members of the legal community. Her commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom and reflects her belief that meaningful mentorship is an essential part of legal education.
In addition to her teaching, Professor Carlton has served in numerous leadership roles at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, including Chair of the Admissions Committee, faculty advisor to the Christian Legal Society and the Real Estate Legal Society, and member of several faculty governance committees. She is also an active presenter on legal education, experiential learning, ethics, and professional development.
Teaching Philosophy
Professor Carlton believes that legal education should bridge the gap between doctrine and practice. While a strong foundation in legal theory is essential, students learn most effectively when they actively engage in the work lawyers perform every day. Her classroom emphasizes collaboration, professionalism, ethical decision-making, critical thinking, and experiential learning through realistic simulations that prepare students for the evolving demands of legal practice.
She is equally committed to embracing innovation in legal education. By thoughtfully integrating emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—into her teaching, Professor Carlton equips students with the skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing legal profession while maintaining the highest standards of professional responsibility and ethical judgment.
Scholarship & Research
Professor Carlton’s scholarship focuses on the future of legal education, experiential learning, legal technology, and real property law. Her research explores innovative approaches to preparing practice-ready lawyers, including the integration of simulations, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence into legal education.
Her current research agenda includes the ethical and practical application of artificial intelligence in legal education, experiential learning models, residential real estate law, and the use of AI-assisted technology to identify and redact racially restrictive covenants while preserving the historical integrity of public land records.
Admitted to Practice
2003
Publications
Reimagining Legal Education: Bridging Tradition and Innovation (January 10, 2025).
Available at SSRN:
https://ssrn.com/abstract=5706886
DOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5706886
Outside the Classroom
Professor Carlton has been an active member of the Georgia legal community for more than two decades. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has served in numerous leadership and service roles, including the National Bar Association Women’s Law Division, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, and organizations dedicated to expanding access to justice and legal education. Her professional service reflects a longstanding commitment to community engagement, pro bono service, and mentoring the next generation of lawyers.