Juris Education interviewed Rebecca Milter, the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Recruitment at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School for an exclusive look at what sets the school apart.
What makes Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School stand out from the competition?
Community, ability, and opportunity. Choosing to attend a particular law school is a big decision. AJMLS provides a collegial community. Our students tend to have a strong collaborative work ethic, yet they aren't overly competitive; relationships are built that typically last long after their law school journey. Being open to new opportunities, both off-campus and on-campus, can greatly enhance the law school experience. Whether that is being involved in an externship, an internship, a student organization, or a clinical program, it's important to embrace these opportunities to ultimately be more of a well-rounded law student and future attorney.
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS) stands out from the competition in many ways:
1. Focus on Accessibility and Opportunity
AJMLS is known for providing access to legal education to traditional and non-traditional students, including older students, career changers, and those from underrepresented backgrounds.
The Law School offers both evening and part-time day programs, which are especially helpful for working professionals.
Recognizing an increased student interest in the field of criminal law, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School launched the Criminal Justice Certificate Program (CJCP) in 2018. From 2011-2018, the Law School offered the program as the Criminal Justice Honors Program. Our nationally recognized Criminal Justice Certificate Program (CJCP) equips students with strategies to allow them to shape the criminal justice arena rather than simply being shaped by it.
2. Practical, Skills-Based Legal Training
The school emphasizes real-world legal skills, with strong offerings in trial advocacy, legal writing, and experiential learning.
Clinics and externships in areas such as criminal justice, civil rights, and immigration, allow students to gain hands-on experience.
3. Strategic Location in Atlanta
Being in Atlanta, AJMLS provides access to a vibrant legal market, with many internship, externship, and networking opportunities in government, corporate, public interest, and private law.
4. Personalized Attention and Smaller Class Sizes
With intentional smaller entering classes, students can receive more individualized instruction and mentorship from faculty.
Our environment is described as supportive and community-oriented, which can be a big plus for students who don’t thrive in high-pressure, hyper-competitive settings.
Size, practicality, and flexibility. AJMLS has small class sizes to provide an in-depth practical learning environment. Professors know students by their name, which provides comfort, accountability, and familiarity in the classroom. While doing so, AJMLS offers students full-time and part-time options, allowing them to choose according to their preference. The law school also caters to traditional and non-traditional students. Sitting in a classroom to the right of you may be a 22-year-old from Brooklyn, New York, and to the left of you may be a 50-year-old mother of two from Marietta, GA. The law school prides itself on providing a comfortable and comprehensive law school community for everyone.
Which qualities can students build during their time at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School?
Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School provides the opportunity for legal education to both traditional and non-traditional students who show promise of 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.
Within a diverse environment, the law school seeks to achieve its mission by pursuing the following goals:
- Offer an intellectually rigorous academic program, including opportunities for professional skills education;
- Provide access to a high-quality program of legal education for all qualified applicants by maintaining a flexible program of full-time and part-time law study;
- Instill in students the highest sense of the professionalism and ethical and moral responsibilities required of members of the legal profession;
- Prepare students to anticipate and adapt to future developments in the law;
- Promote the continuous development of a law faculty dedicated to achieving the highest standards of classroom teaching, scholarship that informs their teaching, and service to the legal community;
- Offer academic support programs to students from diverse educational backgrounds;
- Encourage students to engage in pro bono activities and to provide legal services to historically underserved communities upon their admission to the Bar;
- Engage in ongoing self-assessment to ensure that the institution is meeting its stated goals.
Juris Education is proud to interview experts at the nation's most renowned law schools for insights on what makes them unique and how aspiring lawyers can stand out in their applications.
