The Criminal Law Society at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) is pleased to announce a partnership with the Greater-Atlanta Black Prosecutors Association (GABPA). Through this collaboration, the Society has launched a series of trial advocacy workshops that provide students with hands-on experience in essential courtroom practices, including jury selection, opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations, and the introduction of exhibits. In addition to building technical skills, participants gain insight into case strategy and the day-to-day responsibilities of prosecutors, helping them connect classroom instruction with real-world practice.
The Greater-Atlanta Black Prosecutors Association was founded in 2014 as a local chapter of the National Black Prosecutors Association. According to its official website, GABPA was created to advance the art of fair and firm prosecution, to encourage legal education and professional development, to promote fellowship among Black prosecutors, and to support the recruitment, retention, and promotion of Black prosecutors within various prosecutorial offices. The organization hosts programs focused on trial techniques, mentorship, and a pipeline to prosecution that links local law schools with prosecutors offices. GABPA’s membership includes active and former prosecutors, law students, and law enforcement personnel. Membership tiers include active attorneys, associates, and students, which helps make the organization accessible to a wide range of individuals who are interested in the profession.
This series of trial advocacy workshops is especially valuable for students who aspire to careers in prosecution or trial advocacy. It allows them to work directly with practitioners and to develop courtroom skills under guided mentorship. The initiative also responds to two important goals in the Metro Atlanta legal community. The first is to address turnover among assistant district attorneys and solicitors by preparing practice-ready graduates. The second is to create a prosecutorial pipeline that supports and retains law students who are committed to public service.
According to Criminal Law Society President Kyle Cobb,
“The Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School Criminal Law Society aims to balance the scales of justice by making sure that our student members are well-informed and prepared to advocate for either side of the criminal bar at every level. Through several conversations with individuals and representatives who are interested in criminal justice, we were able to birth the first iteration of our ‘Mechanics of Trial Advocacy’ lecture series.”
The idea for this partnership originated with Attorney Jasmine Knight, who served as President of the Criminal Law Society during the 2024–2025 academic year. While working at the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, she recognized the importance of providing law students with structured, practice-based training that strengthens courtroom etiquette, procedural fluency, and trial instincts. In response, she collaborated with GABPA to establish a lecture-based program that combines practical trial skill development with mentorship from experienced attorneys.
According to Mychal Scates, Assistant Solicitor General for Fulton County and President of GABPA,
“This program aligns with GABPA’s theme for the year – Generational Wealth. In this context, generational wealth isn’t just financial . . . . It is about building a legacy of knowledge, opportunity, and access. By investing in law students through hands-on training and mentorship, we are helping to create a pipeline of future litigators, prosecutors, and defense attorneys who will carry forward excellence and equity in the profession.”
This partnership highlights Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s commitment to preparing ethical, skilled, and service-oriented legal practitioners. Through its work with GABPA, AJMLS is helping to strengthen the local prosecutorial community and support the development of a new generation of dedicated courtroom advocates.