community integration, our graduates will find meaningful employment and service opportunities in every setting.
TAL: All things considered, AJMLS has been the“ accommodating,” for lack of a better term, law school in Georgia due to its academic flexibility and evening classes. As a two-time alum,( I attended JMLS first when it was not ABA accredited), many of the students were concerned at that time about being able to practice nationally.
ME: Terry, please do not use the term“ accommodating,” as it raises the wrong presumptions. For over 90 years, Atlanta’ s John Marshall Law School( AJMLS) has been a beacon in the state for those who strongly desire to be attorneys. Since its inception, AJMLS has certainly worked to accommodate students who follow a non-traditional path to the successful practice of law. Originally a night school, specifically offering quality legal education to those who needed to continue working full-time, as well as to minorities and women who other Georgia universities were not yet welcoming, AJMLS grew to become ABA accredited and educate all aspiring law students at a competitive level.
90 years later, those core values remain, and the Law School proudly serves both traditional and non-traditional students. Its most recent incoming class represents 15 birth countries and seven native languages!
ABA accredited since 2005, AJMLS offers flexible program scheduling for both traditional and nontraditional students. The three JD programs: full-time, part-time day, and part-time evening allow students to achieve their education goals as a sole concentration or alongside other commitments.
TAL: |
What |
is |
your |
strategy |
to |
ensure AJMLS continues to offer |
flex-learning |
programs |
and |
opportunities? |
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Life experiences are welcomed at AJMLS, and our programs will continue to provide an opportunity for legal education to those who meet the academic standards and are ready to do the work. The student population is diverse in life experiences and professional backgrounds. While this diversity enriches the academic environment, it challenges the institution to meet the educational needs of its 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. Atlanta’ s John Marshall Law School meets this challenge by motivating students to develop intellectually and encouraging them to develop the practical skills necessary for the profession.
TAL: What is your strategy to ensure the law school continues to be relevant and competitive in the legal landscape, not just academically, but also within the local and national communities?
ME: We will immerse ourselves in the community by engaging students, staff, and faculty to continue serving as advocates for the AJMLS mission. Atlanta’ s John Marshall Law School provides the opportunity for legal education to both traditional and non-traditional students who show promise in making positive contributions to the profession, legal system, or society. We are dedicated to preparing highly skilled, ethical, and professional lawyers who possess a strong social conscience.
TAL: Could you see the program branching out to be as competitive as the more elite schools?
ME: No, that will not be our goal. And with very deep respect for the other law schools in Georgia, we do not aspire to replicate their process or programs either. We are fully committed to maintaining our position as the law school in Georgia that offers an outstanding academic and cultural student-
MEMBERSHIP centered experience no matter how individuals came to be interested in becoming an ethical, practiceready, successful attorneys.
TAL: I know you just got here and probably require a bit more research into Gideon ' s Promise which helps ensure indigent defendants have effective counsel, what could you envision or propose moving forward with Gideon ' s Promise and the direction of the school and the future of JMLS ' s legal education in that regard?
ME: AJMLS has just partnered with Gideon ' s Promise and The Barristers Society to launch the Criminal and Civil Justice Institute( CCJI) at Atlanta’ s John Marshall Law School. This initiative established 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 serves 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 connects AJMLS students with accomplished legal professionalsreferred 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.
The CCJI will also host workshops, seminars, and continuing legal education programs designed to benefit both students and practicing
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